Loose Steering wheel...

srx70024 · September 25, 2003

The steering wheel on my 95 K1500 is a little loose. Has a little bit of play in it. How does the horn pad come off ? I want to pull the horn pad off to see if the nut needs to be tightened, but don't know how the horn pad comes off.

Are there any screws that come in from the back that I should know of before I go prying on it ?

Thanks all.

SBCStang · September 25, 2003

Don't start messing with it if it's equiped with an air bag. You'll have to remove that first to get to the steering nut. What kind of play is there? I know there was a recall (or TSB can't remember) stating that the nut and bolt that hold the steering shafts together can come loose. Look under the dash where the steering column goes through the firewall. There is a U Joint there. The bolt that goes through the joint to hold it to the shaft can come loose. Hope this helps.

srx70024 · September 25, 2003

Oh yeah, the air bag I forgot about that. Very good point. I will check out the steering shaft like you said.

Thanks

Wingnut · September 28, 2003

Is it the wheel thats loose, or the steering?

You should also check you idler arm/pittman arm. That would give you some "play" in the wheel, and cause the truck to wander around the road somewhat.

99-2door · September 28, 2003

If you are talking about wobbly loose, then you need to check your wheel or the tilt joint. The tilt would get loose on 94 and older quite a bit. I have never seen a 95-up do it though. If you mean slack in the steering, it could be any number of things. Shocks, tie-rod ends, ball joints, steering couplings, idler or pitman arm, loose wheel If it is bad you need to park the truck until you find out what is wrong.

srx70024 · September 28, 2003

I should have clarified "loose". Wobbly loose, not steering loose. The steering wheel moves up and down with a little play. I'll have to check the steering joint as mentioned above.

99-2door · September 29, 2003

I should have clarified "loose". Wobbly loose, not steering loose. The steering wheel moves up and down with a little play. I'll have to check the steering joint as mentioned above.

Even if that joint is bad, your wheel shouldn't be able to travel like that. Even when the column is completely removed from the truck the wheel doesn't do that. You have a problem inside the column.

topo4u2 · September 29, 2003

I agree with 99door,

I have a 95K1500 and have no loose steering like you say, but if its wobbly then sounds like either the main bolt came loose or the tilt bolts are loose? Getting the wheel off is not too big a deal even with the air bag...just did it myself a few months ago, but the tilt bolts are another story.