Hello All,
I’m not sure if this is correct, but my wife and I have a OEM/Factory Tilt-away steering column installed in our 1969 428 Cobra Jet Mach One Mustang and we are having issues with it.
The column tends to wobble a bit when it’s in the locked steering position. The car drives and steers fine and it doesn’t appear to want to “unlock” from the “locked” position, it just acts like it wants to flip into the “tilt-away” position.
Please feel free to contact me via email at:
brunokiss1@aol.com
Thanks in advance for your help and advice with this matter.
Brian and Shelley Streeter
Battle Creek Michigan
There are two distinct mechanisms in the column, tilt and swing away. When you push the turn signal lever towards the dash it should unlock the tilt function. The wheel can then tilt to a preset number of positions. It sounds like this is working properly. The swing away function is triggered by vacuum pulling a cable that runs up to the release mechanism. When you return the column to the driving position the cable should be drawn back and the column should latch into place. Is this he part that is not working correctly?
Welcome to the group! I take it you have already tried adjusting the cable tension at the vacuum actuator? If the pin is not seating completely into the casting I think there would be excessive play in the cable in the locked position. The U shaped connector will be almost up against the cable housing when the pin is fully seated. Also look at the pic where I remove the dash pad to show the actuator location. Notice where it is in relation to the brake pedal hanger. Since DW reconditioned it I think it will be safe to assume the pin and the casting are not excessively worn and everything is properly lubricated.
Don,
Thanks again for the information. I will share this with our Mechanic as soon as possible. As you have surmised, the tilt/up and down function is working properly. From talking to DW a couple of weeks ago and reading your post, I’m really thinking that the U-connector and cable are not seating properly against the actuator, thus allowing the “looseness” in the steering wheel. I’m not sure what is going on but I’m confused as to the exact location, if there indeed is supposed to be one, of the spring or whatever it is that is supposed to activate the internal diaphragm that operates the safety mechanism thus allowing the car to start or not start. Our mechanic thinks one is supposed to be inside the housing so he made one and put it in.
We have had no problems with the car starting, driving or the column tilting up and down since the spring was installed.
Our mechanic thinks that the spring he made is what makes the diaphragm work correctly engaging the safety feature to allow the car to start.
I’m going to try to attach a picture of the spring and housing.
Thanks again for your help with this matter.
Brian and Shelley
Brian,
There is no spring required in the 68-69 tilt-away activation vacuum motors. It actually would work against the vacuum action…not a good thing. If the cable is adjusted properly, no need for it.
Start by disconnecting the tilt-away activator cable from the white/black vacuum motor and see if the motion stops or is reduced. There was a similar issue not that long ago which was cured in this manner. Cable was just too tight and didn’t have enuf room to return to the full “lock” position.
Some presumptions that will also need to be made…
- you have the little spring and canceller ring on the bottom of the steering wheel
- you have a stock steering wheel and it is sitting in the proper relationship with the top tin sleeve on the column. ie not tooo close to the tin, rubbing etc OR not too far away…excessive gap.
Try, and check these items and report back!
Cheers!
Steve
Steve,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. The pictures in my last post are what we have in our car. Our mechanic made the spring that is in the pictures as he thought it was supposed to be installed on the inside of the housing as a mechanism to release the diaphragm/plunger to release the safety switch for allowing the car to start. Our mechanic is out of the State and we won’t be able to get back with him until he gets back from his trip.
As for the cancellor ring and spring on the bottom of the steering column, could not be certain as I did not do the install.
The steering wheel is the original OEM wheel and is mounted properly as far as being able to steer/drive the car. As for being the proper distance from the items you mentioned, not sure about that either.
We will be more than happy to keep you posted on the progress as we troubleshoot this issue.
Thanks again,
Brian and Shelley
I now have a cat with tilt away but the lock assembly/solenoid was not mounted can someone post a picture of how that assembly mounts?It seems to want to be on the right side of the Colum but I just cant find a way to make if fit there.
