Steering column is loose! I can move it left-to-right.

[MJ 4.0]

I have an 88' Comanche. My steering column, (right where it pivots at the tilt wheel), is loose. I can move it left to right about an inch or so. Also, when I do this with it running  it cuts out my bluetooth audio I have plugged into the lighter. Also, I've noticed over the past few months, If I hit a bump on the road, the engine seems to fall on its face, but then immediately picks back up. This seems to random and doesn't happen all the time. I'm thinking I got a ground short or an ignition wiring shorting out inside the steering column. I'm not that mechanically inclined so I'll have to rely on a local mechanic to fix it. Can this loose steering column be fixed or will I have to replace the entire column? If so, will the Cherokee columns fit in the Comanches? Mine is maroon in color so may be difficult to find.

 

Thanks for any insight. 

LB

 

[MagicJames]

The bolts inside come loose. You have to strip it down from the steering wheel and tighten them. Pain in the @$$ job if you ask me. There are a couple of tutorials on youtube. And you'll need a couple of special tools for the job I think. 

[derf]

Common problem on GM tilt columns.

 

The fix is a little tedious.  And you need 2 specialty tools.  Both not expensive.

 

Basically you tear it apart all the way.  Then the last piece is where the loose bolts are.  Add some red locktite and tighten them up.  Then put the whole thing back together.

 

There's a lock ring on the steering wheel and you need a tool to press the wheel down enough to get it out.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Powerbuilt-648466-Steering-Wheel-Plate/dp/B004KED7RU

 

The pivot pins in the tilt joint need a special tool to make pulling them easier.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Performance-Tool-W80652-Steering-Remover/dp/B000Q6JBL2

 

[MJ 4.0]

1 minute ago, derf said:

Common problem on GM tilt columns.

 

The fix is a little tedious.  And you need 2 specialty tools.  Both not expensive.

 

Basically you tear it apart all the way.  Then the last piece is where the loose bolts are.  Add some red locktite and tighten them up.  Then put the whole thing back together.

 

There's a lock ring on the steering wheel and you need a tool to press the wheel down enough to get it out.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Powerbuilt-648466-Steering-Wheel-Plate/dp/B004KED7RU

 

The pivot pins in the tilt joint need a special tool to make pulling them easier.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Performance-Tool-W80652-Steering-Remover/dp/B000Q6JBL2

 

Awesome! Thank you!

[MJ 4.0]

10 minutes ago, MagicJames said:

The bolts inside come loose. You have to strip it down from the steering wheel and tighten them. Pain in the @$$ job if you ask me. There are a couple of tutorials on youtube. And you'll need a couple of special tools for the job I think. 

 

10 minutes ago, MagicJames said:

The bolts inside come loose. You have to strip it down from the steering wheel and tighten them. Pain in the @$$ job if you ask me. There are a couple of tutorials on youtube. And you'll need a couple of special tools for the job I think. 

 

11 minutes ago, MagicJames said:

The bolts inside come loose. You have to strip it down from the steering wheel and tighten them. Pain in the @$$ job if you ask me. There are a couple of tutorials on youtube. And you'll need a couple of special tools for the job I think. 

Ok, thanks!

[derf]

44 minutes ago, MJ 4.0 said:

Awesome! Thank you!

Actually, the lock ring is under the steering wheel.

 

You'll also want a steering wheel puller...

 

https://www.amazon.com/OEMTOOLS-25200-Steering-Wheel-Puller/dp/B000CMHKP4/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Mu56UPU2CJwiDX0Qtj3U87t_zQ29xRJwPExPdhnSuQVA1t5fy-49o5rtz_YoApSUT5arpiCcMPRaav8mgwOo8An6ZNXedQwcqCYR-tm4AHipavGORL03XsSdfmsWCyX4uwS6RkO5LoGWK-C10j1l-DnFBKkaACs02hshexndms6YCdoVK6eXS3q3yrZeKhn9Mq_d2KcCB-0XSo66jOYAIw.N_phbGg4qRzUzPKEBwXmFP5Y4YexQJpcIh9jsczImx8&dib_tag=se&keywords=gm+steering+wheel+puller&qid=1786037173&sr=8-6

 

You can google "GM steering column rebuild" and I bet there are some videos showing the process.

[AZJeff]

Here is a really detailed explanation of how to rebuild your GM tilt mechanism to work like new again.

 

Fixing a loose tilt column

[jodawill]

You don't need to buy the steering wheel puller or the wheel lock remover. You can borrow them from an auto parts store for free. They come in the same kit.

 

Anyway, I see your problem. Your truck is upside down.

[Eagle]

On 8/6/2026 at 12:40 PM, derf said:

Common problem on GM tilt columns.

 

The fix is a little tedious.  And you need 2 specialty tools.  Both not expensive.

 

Basically you tear it apart all the way.  Then the last piece is where the loose bolts are.  Add some red locktite and tighten them up.  Then put the whole thing back together.

 

NO!

 

Red Loctite is "permanent hold" for large fasteners. It requires heat to remove. While it's not likely you'll ever need to disassemble the steering column for service, it is possible. If so, noboy will expect those screws to be essentially welded in, so they'll break something.

 

Use blue Loctite.

[derf]

1 hour ago, Eagle said:

 

NO!

 

Red Loctite is "permanent hold" for large fasteners. It requires heat to remove. While it's not likely you'll ever need to disassemble the steering column for service, it is possible. If so, noboy will expect those screws to be essentially welded in, so they'll break something.

 

Use blue Loctite.

Normally I only use blue.

 

But the steering column is an exception.  It will never have to be disassembled again.  So red is appropriate in this specific case.

[Eagle]

5 hours ago, derf said:

Normally I only use blue.

 

But the steering column is an exception.  It will never have to be disassembled again.  So red is appropriate in this specific case.

 

The problem is that if you use red, if there is EVER a need to remove those screws -- nobody is going to know or remember to apply heat (and if they did accidentally remember, I can't think pointing a Bernz-O-Matic torch into the guts of a steering column would go well), so it's 99.837 percent certain the heads will either be stripped or broken off and which the steering column will have to be replaced.

 

Blue will do the job, and can be serviced in the future.

[ghetdjc320]

That particular section of the steering column where those bolts lie, is very deep in the column. I can’t see anything that would be accessed in the part of the column that is not already accessible. One of the few bolts I wouldn’t mind welding in place .

 

It should be noted though that even without the full disassembly, you can access one or two of those bolts without the special tools to remove the locking pin. I’ve seen people get a couple of those bolts out, add your favorite thread locker and reinstall. 

[derf]

1 hour ago, Eagle said:

 

The problem is that if you use red, if there is EVER a need to remove those screws -- nobody is going to know or remember to apply heat (and if they did accidentally remember, I can't think pointing a Bernz-O-Matic torch into the guts of a steering column would go well), so it's 99.837 percent certain the heads will either be stripped or broken off and which the steering column will have to be replaced.

 

Blue will do the job, and can be serviced in the future.

If it's together with red locktite, you never need to take it that far apart ever again.

[Eagle]

11 hours ago, derf said:

If it's together with red locktite, you never need to take it that far apart ever again.

 

Maybe. Probably.

 

I'm notoriously risk averse. I see nothing to be gained by taking that risk when the blue Loctite will do the job just fine.

[A-man930]

22 hours ago, Eagle said:

 

The problem is that if you use red, if there is EVER a need to remove those screws -- nobody is going to know or remember to apply heat (and if they did accidentally remember, I can't think pointing a Bernz-O-Matic torch into the guts of a steering column would go well), so it's 99.837 percent certain the heads will either be stripped or broken off and which the steering column will have to be replaced.

 

Blue will do the job, and can be serviced in the future.

 

Personally, I suspect that the surface prep is hardly ever good enough for red thread lockers to work to their full potential.