Steering Column Repair: loose steering wheel, hi doug, steering wheel

Question
hi Doug iv got an 88 GM pick-up with loose wheel. iv gone into the bowl area and removed tilt pins etc. and tightened four bolts that were loose. but wheel still loose does this mean tube tabs are broke off. if so why do the bolts tighten up. is my only remedy a new column now. or am i forgetting something. any help will be greatly appreciated. thanks GARY

Answer

Broken steering column Hi Gary:
It sounds like you have a good command of the column.  My guess would be that the tube is torn, right where you tightened it.  If you feel like tearing it down again, you can see where it begins to rip.   When you tighten the bolts, you are actually drawing a plate up while drawing the aluminum stand down.  they are clamping themselves to a section of the steering column tube that is cut out like the letter "C".  The problem on many of the older trucks, is that the tube begins to rip and what you are clamping eventually breaks off with the plate and aluminum stand still attached.  You can tighten it all day, but if it rips away form the rest of the column, it doesn't help anymore.  I have attached a picture of a tube after the aluminum stand is removed with an arrow pointing to the section that rips,
We have welded these tubes and repaired them before, but you will need to completely remove the column, tear it down a little further than you did and make your welds from the inside.  The outside of the tube needs to be the same size so the aluminum stand still slides over it.  
Or, we can do that for you if want to ship the column to us (minus the steering wheel).  Our charge would be $175 + return shipping (usually about $15.00)
Feel free to email us directly @ info@stolenandrecovered.com for more details on shipping & repairs
I hope this helps