Tilt Column Pin "Fix"
Tilt Column Pin "Fix" Since I can remember my column moves down and to the left when you push down on the steering wheel. Since I have been Autocrossing this car, that is very annoying. So last year when I installed a wheel I decided to do something about it. I replaced the LH pin with an oversize pin. This helped dramatically, but when you push down hard on the wheel it would still move. Seems I do this when I am AutoX driving and it is really distracting. The fix would be to replace the AL carrier which is no longer available, therefore it is very pricey to locate one in good condition or NOS. It also means complete teardown of the column.
This is what I did. I pulled the tilt pin out of the LH side again. This is not very difficult. Just remove the tilt handle by unscrewing it. Then pop off one plastic cover, it pushes towards the front of the car. Then pop of another cover, you have to squeeze this and pull forward in car. The pin is removed by threading a machine screw into it and prying it out, I did the prying with a small hammer. Once the pin was out (oversize pin by the way) I cleaned it. My column had a quite a bit of grease and oil in the bores for the pin. If it did not I was going to put grease in the bores. I put JB weld on the pin. All over the pin. Pounded the pin back in and waited a day. The JB weld set up and the lubricants on the column bore kept it from sticking, so the tilt still works. I doubt it is possible to get the pin out now.
I would not endorse this method, but it worked for me, and I'm just sharing for those frustrated with not solution. I was prepared for having it not work and ruining the column and/or not having the tilt function. My column now is rock solid. I did nothing with the RH pin.
This is what I did. I pulled the tilt pin out of the LH side again. This is not very difficult. Just remove the tilt handle by unscrewing it. Then pop off one plastic cover, it pushes towards the front of the car. Then pop of another cover, you have to squeeze this and pull forward in car. The pin is removed by threading a machine screw into it and prying it out, I did the prying with a small hammer. Once the pin was out (oversize pin by the way) I cleaned it. My column had a quite a bit of grease and oil in the bores for the pin. If it did not I was going to put grease in the bores. I put JB weld on the pin. All over the pin. Pounded the pin back in and waited a day. The JB weld set up and the lubricants on the column bore kept it from sticking, so the tilt still works. I doubt it is possible to get the pin out now.
I would not endorse this method, but it worked for me, and I'm just sharing for those frustrated with not solution. I was prepared for having it not work and ruining the column and/or not having the tilt function. My column now is rock solid. I did nothing with the RH pin.
TECH Addict
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,628
Likes: 30
Since I can remember my column moves down and to the left when you push down on the steering wheel. Since I have been Autocrossing this car, that is very annoying. So last year when I installed a wheel I decided to do something about it. I replaced the LH pin with an oversize pin. This helped dramatically, but when you push down hard on the wheel it would still move. Seems I do this when I am AutoX driving and it is really distracting. The fix would be to replace the AL carrier which is no longer available, therefore it is very pricey to locate one in good condition or NOS. It also means complete teardown of the column.
This is what I did. I pulled the tilt pin out of the LH side again. This is not very difficult. Just remove the tilt handle by unscrewing it. Then pop off one plastic cover, it pushes towards the front of the car. Then pop of another cover, you have to squeeze this and pull forward in car. The pin is removed by threading a machine screw into it and prying it out, I did the prying with a small hammer. Once the pin was out (oversize pin by the way) I cleaned it. My column had a quite a bit of grease and oil in the bores for the pin. If it did not I was going to put grease in the bores. I put JB weld on the pin. All over the pin. Pounded the pin back in and waited a day. The JB weld set up and the lubricants on the column bore kept it from sticking, so the tilt still works. I doubt it is possible to get the pin out now.
I would not endorse this method, but it worked for me, and I'm just sharing for those frustrated with not solution. I was prepared for having it not work and ruining the column and/or not having the tilt function. My column now is rock solid. I did nothing with the RH pin.
This is what I did. I pulled the tilt pin out of the LH side again. This is not very difficult. Just remove the tilt handle by unscrewing it. Then pop off one plastic cover, it pushes towards the front of the car. Then pop of another cover, you have to squeeze this and pull forward in car. The pin is removed by threading a machine screw into it and prying it out, I did the prying with a small hammer. Once the pin was out (oversize pin by the way) I cleaned it. My column had a quite a bit of grease and oil in the bores for the pin. If it did not I was going to put grease in the bores. I put JB weld on the pin. All over the pin. Pounded the pin back in and waited a day. The JB weld set up and the lubricants on the column bore kept it from sticking, so the tilt still works. I doubt it is possible to get the pin out now.
I would not endorse this method, but it worked for me, and I'm just sharing for those frustrated with not solution. I was prepared for having it not work and ruining the column and/or not having the tilt function. My column now is rock solid. I did nothing with the RH pin.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,798
Likes: 16
From: St.Charles MO
This is on my to do list... I remember seeing a guy with i think a third gen use a large hose clamp to wrap around the steering column and hold that tilt pin in from coming out.
Did you have to remove the steering wheel for this?
This is what I did. I pulled the tilt pin out of the LH side again. This is not very difficult. Just remove the tilt handle by unscrewing it. Then pop off one plastic cover, it pushes towards the front of the car. Then pop of another cover, you have to squeeze this and pull forward in car. The pin is removed by threading a machine screw into it and prying it out, I did the prying with a small hammer. Once the pin was out (oversize pin by the way) I cleaned it. My column had a quite a bit of grease and oil in the bores for the pin. If it did not I was going to put grease in the bores. I put JB weld on the pin. All over the pin. Pounded the pin back in and waited a day. The JB weld set up and the lubricants on the column bore kept it from sticking, so the tilt still works. I doubt it is possible to get the pin out now.
What is the JB Weld fortifying in this solution? Is it capturing the enlarged pin by making it too fat to back out? Or is it sticking to the aluminum carrier, rebuilding the round hole that once existed from the factory?
I put the enlarged pin on my car, and it felt okay for a bit, but now has the same 7 O'clock wobble, if a bit less pronounced.
I put the enlarged pin on my car, and it felt okay for a bit, but now has the same 7 O'clock wobble, if a bit less pronounced.
What is the JB Weld fortifying in this solution? Is it capturing the enlarged pin by making it too fat to back out? Or is it sticking to the aluminum carrier, rebuilding the round hole that once existed from the factory?
I put the enlarged pin on my car, and it felt okay for a bit, but now has the same 7 O'clock wobble, if a bit less pronounced.
I put the enlarged pin on my car, and it felt okay for a bit, but now has the same 7 O'clock wobble, if a bit less pronounced.
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Teching In
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Thanks for the info Since I can remember my column moves down and to the left when you push down on the steering wheel. Since I have been Autocrossing this car, that is very annoying. So last year when I installed a wheel I decided to do something about it. I replaced the LH pin with an oversize pin. This helped dramatically, but when you push down hard on the wheel it would still move. Seems I do this when I am AutoX driving and it is really distracting. The fix would be to replace the AL carrier which is no longer available, therefore it is very pricey to locate one in good condition or NOS. It also means complete teardown of the column.
This is what I did. I pulled the tilt pin out of the LH side again. This is not very difficult. Just remove the tilt handle by unscrewing it. Then pop off one plastic cover, it pushes towards the front of the car. Then pop of another cover, you have to squeeze this and pull forward in car. The pin is removed by threading a machine screw into it and prying it out, I did the prying with a small hammer. Once the pin was out (oversize pin by the way) I cleaned it. My column had a quite a bit of grease and oil in the bores for the pin. If it did not I was going to put grease in the bores. I put JB weld on the pin. All over the pin. Pounded the pin back in and waited a day. The JB weld set up and the lubricants on the column bore kept it from sticking, so the tilt still works. I doubt it is possible to get the pin out now.
I would not endorse this method, but it worked for me, and I'm just sharing for those frustrated with not solution. I was prepared for having it not work and ruining the column and/or not having the tilt function. My column now is rock solid. I did nothing with the RH pin.
This is what I did. I pulled the tilt pin out of the LH side again. This is not very difficult. Just remove the tilt handle by unscrewing it. Then pop off one plastic cover, it pushes towards the front of the car. Then pop of another cover, you have to squeeze this and pull forward in car. The pin is removed by threading a machine screw into it and prying it out, I did the prying with a small hammer. Once the pin was out (oversize pin by the way) I cleaned it. My column had a quite a bit of grease and oil in the bores for the pin. If it did not I was going to put grease in the bores. I put JB weld on the pin. All over the pin. Pounded the pin back in and waited a day. The JB weld set up and the lubricants on the column bore kept it from sticking, so the tilt still works. I doubt it is possible to get the pin out now.
I would not endorse this method, but it worked for me, and I'm just sharing for those frustrated with not solution. I was prepared for having it not work and ruining the column and/or not having the tilt function. My column now is rock solid. I did nothing with the RH pin.
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Verdad Gallardo Yes, it still has zero play. I really hope you didn't jinx me 
I have been AutoX this car all year and I notice I do pull on the wheel pretty good. And getting in and out I have found myself pulling on it as well.
I have been AutoX this car all year and I notice I do pull on the wheel pretty good. And getting in and out I have found myself pulling on it as well. 
After I did mine I made it a conscious effort every time getting in and out of the car to NOT touch the wheel any more, always pull myself or my seat via the A pillar or door handle. I remind every service guy that works on the car to not pull on the wheel. After ~4 years its still OK for me. Not a DD, just nice day and AX only driving. I also have a race seat which I think also helps me not have to use the steering wheel itself as leverage to keep my butt in the seat.
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Autocross I know it’s off topic, but where do you guys autocross. Are your cars specifically setup for the track? Stick or auto? I went last year to hooked on driving event at njmp with my 02 WS6 automatic. Planing on hitting Watkins glen in July and pocono in August. Not sure if I should keep using this car or get a track car. I do use her as a daily except in the winter. Granted I just got her Labor Day of 2019.
My car is specifically setup for Autocross. Stock the car is mildly awful for track or autocross by today's standards. My car is a stick as are most that autocross, an auto is fine if your gearing is correct for the speeds. SCCA is where to start looking for local groups running Autocross. I believe most groups use motorsportsreg.com so you could go there and search as well.