C2 67 Horn Button Ground Path Question

[Stephen L.]

I have my steering column apart and was studying the ground path for the horn button.

There is no apparent way for a reliable path to ground.

The black horn ground wire from the horn relay attaches to a slipring assy which in-turn contacts one side of the horn button. The other side of the button is screwed to the steering hub. This hub is "splined" to the steering shaft which is collapsible (slider) It appears that the only path to ground is thru the shaft bearings and associated housing to the car metal framing. The bearings are greased so the electrical path must pass thru the grease. Am I missing something? There is a flange attached to the lower half of the steering shaft that is spring loaded against the lower bearing housing. Is this the electrical path?

Any ideas....

[Wayne W.]

Re: C2 67 Horn Button Ground Path Question

I would imagine that all of those points are potential grounds. The thing has worked for 40 years. Why worry about it?

[Page C.]

Re: C2 67 Horn Button Ground Path Question

There is also a ground path thru the rag joint(ground jumper wire) to the steering box which is bolted to the frame.
Page Campbell

[Joe C.]

Re: C2 67 Horn Button Ground Path Question

Steve:

There are a number of ways in which "Bubba" can provide a ground path. The proper way, and the way your car was built, was with a copper "ribbon" providing continuity thru both halves of the steering coupler ("rag joint"). This ribbon is very hard to see, because it lives on the inside of the joint. If you provide good lighting, and use a mirror to look inside the joint, you should be able to see the ribbon. It is very thin, and has probably turned black by now, due to oxidation/dirt/grease/paint, so not easy to see. If your horn works, and there are no extra ground wires in the vicinity, then I suspect that your coupler is intact with the ground ribbon in place.

Joe

[Stephen L.]

Re: C2 67 Horn Button Ground Path Question

I do have a rag joint with the copper flex link. There are no "Bubbaisms" on the car. Even the steering sector box shaft is only grounded thru the bearings and associated grease. My horn works! I was just trying to determine if there was a true ground path (such as a slipring to ground) from the steering shaft to case ground that did not pass thru a greased bearing.

When I dismantled my steering column I found the collapsible cage had been dented allowing the cage to rub on the steering shaft. This was inside the plastic sheath that covers the collapsible area. There was no apparent damage to the outside of the plastic sheath where it might have been dropped or hit.

The steering column has not been previously dismantled nor has the car been in any wrecks. (I've owned the car for 24 years.) If the steering column had been collapsed due to a wreck or impact it would have "expanded" in this area...not collapsed against the shaft. It was only "dented" on one side not all around as would have been the case if subjected to impact.

As part of my restoration, I removed the dent to what appears to have been its original configuration.

Maybe the cage was dropped during assy at GM and no one noticed the dent as its covered with the plastic sheath.