C-2 Steering Wheel Shimmy!

[Chris R.]

I am in the final stages of completing the dash removal and refurbishing in my 64 Convertible. The removal and send off to Corvette Specialties of Maryland were easy! Reinstalling the dash and especially reinstalling the steering wheel have been tedious at best.

Everything is buttoned up but I now have a terrible shimmy in the steering wheel. The cover for the turn signal lever is very loose and the steering wheel has, probably, 1/2" of play in any direction. I haven't driven the car, the steering wheel turns the tires but it's just not right.

The fluted end of the steering column is seated to the proper depth in the rag joint. The other 2 clamps in the engine compartment seem to be tight. The supports under the dash are tight. The steering wheel seems to be in the right position. Is there something I'm missing? Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Michael W.]

Re: C-2 Steering Wheel Shimmy!

I don't think you mean 'shimmy', but actually 'free play'. Shimmy is only observed while the car is in motion and is a form of lateral wheel vibration felt in the steering.

1/2" of free play at the steering wheel is not unusual at all. We're all used to modern cars that have zero play at the wheel and expect our old toys to magically become the same.

If you're convinced that the play is still excessive, have someone move the wheel back and forth while you try to find the location of the slop. It could be in the steering box itself, pitman arm, idler arm,power steering control valve, tie rod ends, etc etc.

[Chris R.]

Re: C-2 Steering Wheel Shimmy!

Perhaps shimmy is the wrong term. The steering wheel physically moves from side to side and up & down. It doesn't feel solid when you grab it. It almost feels like it's loose inside the housing but all the fasteners seem to be tight. Are there bearings or bushings somewhere inside the housing? Is there a slot or position that the steering wheel must seat into? The steering wheel was out of the car for almost a month and I cleaned and repainted the housing but that's all. It just sat in the corner of the garage reminding me that I couldn't drive the car!

I did have a heck of a time getting the steering column to seat in the rag joint and get the 12 pt. bolt to thread so I must have loosened something in the steering column. I just don't know how to fix. Thanks.

[Paul L.]

Re: C-2 Steering Wheel Shimmy!

The upper bearing is in place?

[Wayne Kindschy]

Re: C-2 Steering Wheel Shimmy!

Chris,

It sounds like in the process of installing the column you hit the end of the shaft and drove the upper bearing out of its seat. If you remove the steering wheel you should be able to identify the damage thats been done and go from there. Paul's post has a picture of what things should look like.

Wayne

[Paul L.]

Re: C-2 Steering Wheel Shimmy!

Was there a resolution to the problem?

[Chris R.]

Re: C-2 Steering Wheel Shimmy!

Still working on the play in the steering wheel. I'm in the process of ordering both the upper and lower bearings. I'll try replacing them and hope that fixes.

Thanks for all the responses. Chris

[Paul L.]

Re: C-2 Steering Wheel Shimmy!

Thanks Chris. I always like to see an end to a thread. Much appreciated!