Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Steering wheel center part is loose and wobbly (Read 1219 times) previous topic - next topic

Steering wheel center part is loose and wobbly

Our top of steering wheel center is loose.  It is our horn button, too. 

Top wobbles, but does not tighten, horn works, but that is just a wire out of the center part.

Looking from side there is not much holding this part to the steering wheel.

Re: Steering wheel center part is loose and wobbly

Reply #1 –
Could the spring be partially collapsed? Not much to go wrong in that mechanism. Here's some photos from my 95.
jor

93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Steering wheel center part is loose and wobbely

Reply #2 –
You probably already checked but there is a nut under the horn button that kinda holds everything together. Mine loosens up occasionally.

Roland
1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers

Re: Steering wheel center part is loose and wobbly

Reply #3 –
How do I lift off the soft center that you are holding in your hand, John.

Removing it would allow me to see how things go together.  And see the nut Roland mentioned.

Doesn't this steering wheel adjust by rotating the center?

Re: Steering wheel center part is loose and wobbly

Reply #4 –
The soft center "horn button" is just a "press fit".  Use a butter knife or similar tool (not sharp edged) and gently work it around the edge of the center piece.  Lift up as you go, and it will pop out of the recess.

The big "adjusting ring" that allows the wheel to scope in and out is retained by the central nut.  I suspect it is loose, as mentioned by Roland.  The photos below may give you another view of the assembly.  It's pretty simple, once you expose it.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Steering wheel center part is loose and wobbly

Reply #5 –
Thank you. Sure looks like that is what is loose as the big ring is flopping.  Can't wait to get out to our parked coach.

Will get back with results.

Re: Steering wheel center part is loose and wobbly

Reply #6 –
In my photos above, you can see a metal "tang" sticking up next to the "spokes" of the locking ring.  The tang is a mechanical stop that limits the rotation of the locking ring in both directions.  After you tighten the central nut, before you replace the horn button, test the operation of the locking ring.  It has to be in exactly the right position on the shaft to allow it to fully lock and unlock.  If your ring has moved, you may have to play with it a bit to get it back in the proper position.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Steering wheel center part is loose and wobbly

Reply #7 –
Our loose steering wheel horn center is not loose anymore.  Thank you Chuck, Roland & John. 

Nice to learn something new about how our coach works. 

Yep, the center metal horn mounting just popped out with the coaxing of a butter knife, removed wire horn connection, removed the 'loose' problem center nut and lifted out the big ring to see how it goes together.  I swapped the star lock washers with a split locking washer to help keep the center nut tight.  Wire back on horn button and put it all back together. 

All is tight and horn button works. 

Thanks for taking time to share your knowledge

Re: Steering wheel center part is loose and wobbly

Reply #8 –
Barry, did you check to see if the telescoping feature works? Before buttoning things up?
If I recall, our telescoping feature only works if the nut is "just so tight" and I could still rotate the horn portion to lock/unlock the telescoping feature.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Steering wheel center part is loose and wobbly

Reply #9 –
That is what I thought, that too tight will prevent the big ring from turning.  Does the big ring's mounting hole connect to a slotted spline on the center bolt?  And when the center bolt is rotated the steering wheel telescope can be adjusted.  Our telescope is out fully and has not been changed for years, and I think it is 'frozen' in place.  Rotating the big ring both ways against the stop did not loosen anything.  I was concerned about forcing it, and happy to leave it in its current positon.

Re: Steering wheel center part is loose and wobbly

Reply #10 –
Once you turn the horn to release give the wheel a bit of 'percussion persuasion" with your hand/fist. I did that with my wheel and then it moved freely.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD
 

Re: Steering wheel center part is loose and wobbly

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Barry & Cindy –
Does the big ring's mounting hole connect to a slotted spline on the center bolt?  And when the center bolt is rotated the steering wheel telescope can be adjusted.
The series of photos below may help illustrate the operation of the telescoping column.  I had mine apart when I was looking for a very irritating "squeak" when I turned the steering wheel.  And also just because I like to take stuff apart to see how it works...

Anyway, the photos show the sequence of reassembling the steering wheel.  The first two photos show the column scoped "IN" and then scoped "OUT".  The horn rotating contactor ring goes on first, followed by the big spring.  This spring is what makes your steering wheel pop up when you unlock it.  Next, the steering wheel mates with the splined section of the shaft, then the metal "tang washer" goes on top of the steering wheel hub, and both of them are retained by a large nut.  The black locking ring that positions the scoping section fits on the smaller threaded shaft at top center of the column, and the mounting hole indexes on the flat side of the circular piece.  When you turn the locking ring, you are only turning the center portion of the shaft, which then moves something (?) down inside the column to lock it in place.

You can see that it does not matter how much you tighten the nut holding the black locking ring - this does not affect it's function.

The really sharp-eyed members will note that (when taking these photos) I initially installed my steering wheel with the spokes pointing the wrong way (up, toward the windshield, instead of down).  :facepalm:

If it's possible to do something wrong...I will.  I often learn my best lessons (sometimes painfully) by Trial & Error.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"