94 model tilt steering colum

[bracketshark]

I just bought this 94 short bed truck and have just installed the new motor and transmission, and new brakes. Now its time for the interior, the spring that pushes on the shifter handle must be broke. I took the pin out and removed the handle but the spring would not come out. Any suggestions on how to remove it or where to get colum infomation will be appreciated. Thanks

[mbumgua]

Do you have any experience with steering columns? If you do then take it apart and see what is broken, then replace it. If not you can go to a junkyard and find a good used column like yours and replace it. Or buy a service manual from helm and learn from it.

[bracketshark]

Originally Posted by mbumgua

Do you have any experience with steering columns? If you do then take it apart and see what is broken, then replace it. If not you can go to a junkyard and find a good used column like yours and replace it. Or buy a service manual from helm and learn from it.

I have a lot of experience on these trucks but none on the steering columns. I said the spring is broken and I already knew I could replace the whole column with a 200.00$ unit from a salvage yard. It seems unreasonable to do that for a spring. I have a manual just thought someone here could tell me a easy way to fix it! So thanks for nothing.

[mbumgua]

If you have no expertise on steering columns then how do you know "the spring must be broke"? The spring could be missing. Any how you have to take the column apart to fix it. So you have a manual--use it and take the column apart.... then you can diagnose the problem and fix it. These columns are notorious for loosing up inside. You also did not say whether or not you have a tilt column. Just get brave and take it apart, diagnose and fix it. Last column I bought was 25 bucks for an 89 s-10--with tilt-- Post back if you take it apart and still have problems. People reading these forums are here for two reasons--to get help or to help.Good luck.

[bracketshark]

As I said, I took the shifter handle out, I can see the spring is in there, it sits in a pocket. It must be broke it don't work and it will not lift out with a scribe, I don't know if its held in by some means. I guess I should have just asked, can the spring be removed without dissassembling the column. You said you have to take the column apart to fix it, are you sure of this? Also I won't have to "get brave" to take this apart, just hoped it wouldn't be neccessary to replace a spring that is visible with the shifter arm removed. I'm sure you think your helping but you really have'nt told me anything that leads me to believe you know about steering columns. I'll post back when I fix it. One more thing the title of this thread is: 94 model "tilt" steering column.

[bracketshark]

Today I replace the shifter spring in the TILT colum, it was BROKE. It will come out by removing the shifter pin and shifter arm, then use a small screw driver and needle nosed pliers to remove from its mounting hole. The new spring , which was 6$ and some change from GM, will go back in easier than the original was to remove. One interesting thing, the spring must be for a tilt colum, the straight colum spring is larger. I hope this will help someone else in the future and I'm sure glad I didn't follow the suggestion to take the entire assembly apart to repair this. 15 minute repair tops.