9T8Bird

Hello fellow 93-02 F body owners, Im sure we are all aware of the pivot pin slop that occurs in these cars. I have come up with a solution better than OEM parts.

What I am having done is having the stock pivot pins plated so that they are roughly .002" bigger.

The stock pins measure .373" and a 3/8ths bushing is .375"-.376".

I have found correct flange bushing that can be installed into the elongated aluminum hole that the Pivot pins ride on, this requires drilling out the aluminum piece and pressing in an interference fit bushing and thus a new bronze bushing for the larger plated pins to ride in, and should cure the problem.

My plater got the pins as of today, and when i get them back I will be making a writeup on the fix as well as possibly making "kits" available to other members.

Keep visiting back often for progress as I know many people want a solution!

Thanks!
Kenny

************************************************** ********
UPDATE: 1-12-14. Repair Successful Pictures Included!!!!!
************************************************** ********
This repair is not an easy one at all and my original plan with the brass bushing did not work out, so disregard the brass bushing in the first picture, Instead, I used a 3/8th steel sleeve/spacer for the oversized plated pins to be installed into. Here are the pictures of how I repaired the slop. Refer to http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...ck_Rebuild.pdf for getting the column this far apart. Keep track of all these pieces and how they go together!

If anyone wants me to generate "kits" I may do that if enough interest is expressed, or if you want, you can send me you columns minus steering wheels and airbags, and Ill ship them back fixed.

Old pins and measurements vs. Nickel plated pins and measurements


Get the column down this far...


You can see the pivot pin clearly. Issue is behind it.


Remove pivot pins with special tool.


Here is the aluminum hole that is supposed to be round and not egg shaped, this is why the column has so much slop in it.


Drill out said hole to the Outside Diameter of 3/8ths sleeve. I stepped this one to .50". BE CAREFUL not to damage the two protruding tangs, they are a guide for the ignition switch cam, without them, the column will not function correctly. TAKE TIME AND BE PATIENT HERE.


Drove in sleeve flush with tangs.


Cut and filed excess sleeve away to make a flush bushing.


Drive in plated pins with a punch. These will fit very tight now!


Right hand side pin drove into existing hole, no bushing needed on that side on this particular column.


Column is tight, and I could not be happier!
Cheers!
Kenny

jsteele90

iTrader: (13)

awesome, that slop drives me crazy.

Uneverknow

iTrader: (1)

Hmm I'd like to see some pics to see what your talking about! My 00 ss has slop in the steering and I thought my only option is to get a new rack and pinion. If you can give me more information I'd really appreciate it thanks!

BlackBetty99SS

iTrader: (1)

The OP is referring to the slop in the column and not the steering of the vehicle. The next time you're driving check and see by holding the top of wheel and pulling down. In both my cars there is a noticable amt of movement and it is annoying!! Sub'd for results GL OP

ramairetransam

iTrader: (18)

in for more info .

Empatho

iTrader: (16)

nice, cant wait for the write up.

dhctss

iTrader: (3)

Yes i have same problem and it is very annoying

im-not-guilty

iTrader: (4)

Spent about 4 hours tring to fix mine one day.....
Did not release the pins was the problem ...thought it was the bolts that backed off deep down it the column ..... Any way did a little welding and grinding on my stock pin... It's better but I'm still not happy........
Did some research and found a oversized pin on a corvette website and it was like $50 .... Could not spend that much on a $.050 pin ... I'll see if I can dig up the site

im-not-guilty

iTrader: (4)

Here it is
http://www.zr1specialist.com/HAT%20W...lumn%20pin.htm

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

I'm interested to see the OP's write-up. I'm not sure if this plan ^ is a great fix since it only addresses one side.

BTW - If you are doing a write-up, this guide is a great place to start: http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...ck_Rebuild.pdf

9T8Bird

Thanks for that^ Ill link that in my writeup as well!

***UPDATE 1/6/14***
I will have my plated pivot pins tomorrow or Wednesday, plater was able to put .001" on them so they are .002" bigger. Have bushings and everything else ready, should go down this weekend with any luck!

Thanks all!

Texas Blue

iTrader: (7)

Sweet!

Streetlegal?

iTrader: (25)

Could you not just machine some dowel pins to fit in the bushings instead of plating the old pins? I could be wrong but it looks like they just press in.

9T8Bird

You could, but i think the cost would be much greater this way, and an oversize pin is just a bandaid for a worn out aluminum housing that is expensive to replace, and a 3/8ths bushing is the closest ticket. Plating the old pins makes them fit very tight into a 3/8ths bushing.

Overtime the inner and outer piece develop loosness, im trying to correct this.

Streetlegal?

iTrader: (25)

Well I can make a set of pins for free so that's why I ask So basically you are going for a 0.001" press fit into the bushings correct?

9T8Bird

TTT with pictures!

9T8Bird

TTT
Just trying to get as much exposure as possible.

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

Good thread, but there are limits to the self-pimping that will be tolerated.

Beautikill

Are there bigger and clearer pictures available? These pictures are super tiny and when you zoom in a little bit they become very blurry. TIA

drain89

iTrader: (13)

How could I go about getting a set of these pins and sleeves?