2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Rock solid bushing, need help...

[FHerault]

It's me again, I put a lot of time on the truck this days, time I should spend working... and things are going worse...



I installed the Rock solid bushing today, with the column on the truck. Not much room there...

I have problems with the retainer, that I don't have but I have already posted about that...



My main problem is that the shift lever on the column under the hood, has moved backward... when I saw that, I put it in place with a prybar but when I went in the cab and turn the wheel, the shift lever turned too , the lever in the cab also When I put it in P, and turn the wheel, I can hear the lever under the hood moving and changing gear, but the lever in the cab stay in P but try to move...

Do you think I have broken something in the column or it's just an adjustment ?



I'm going the hard way with the truck, it remembers me hard work hours on my old gmc 6. 2, and it's not good...

 

[DIESELWRKS]

wish I could help buddy mine is sitting on the shelf waiting for the bushing fairy to put mine in. I have a cracked rib right now and dont want to touch mine yet. have you called the company any help from them. good luck

 

[FHerault]

Thanks for the good words, Dieselwrks. I wish you a prompt recovery.



I'll wait for answers of other members who, perhaps, had the same problem or know how to fix it. If I could repair tomorrow and be at work the day after, I'll be lucky, thanks to the TDR...



Yes, I've e-mailed RockSolid and I'm waiting for the answer, I'll let you know if this can help someone else. I think I've made a mistake during installation, letting the shift lever collar moving backward ; stupid idiot, I wanted to work fast... but my instruction sheet didn't mentionned this detail, I should have consult the TDR before, to have later instructions, since I think I have an old kit (without retainer ?!)

 

[FHerault]

An idea ?... no one ? :-(

 

[FHerault]

Finally put the column out of the truck...



After inspecting all the parts, I think I understand what doesn't work and how the shift lever mecanism works too...

The lever on the column is attached to a tube, that is wrapped around the steering shaft. At the other end of the tube, under the hood, an other lever is attached to the transmission linkage... but in fact there are two tubes, of 2 different diameters, it's telescopic in case of a crash I presume. The tubes are secured one witch the other by small pieces of white plastic, certainly a "weak point", that will break in case of crash to let the tubes moving, one in the other...



So when I've hammered (not so hard, be sure) the rock solid bushing on the shaft, the shift tube has moved backward, breaking the plastic tooth

I can move the shifter, but there is no effect. The first tube turns but not the second because of the small broken plastics...

So if you want to put that bushing on and you have an automatic, be sure to secure the shift lever collar at the bottom of the column before playing with the hammer... if my instruction sheet has mentionned that, I would perhaps not be at the point to change the whole column...

#ad


Here is a pic of the column.

In the deformable tube, you can barly see the shift tube where the plastic tooth were. I've press-drilled a hole to let me screw a little... wood screw to secure the shift tubes together. I've made that on the other side too.

The screws are not very strong, enough to secure the tubes but not enough (I hope... ) to hold up in case of a frontal crash. The screws have to be about only 3/8 max (lenght), to not touch the steering shaft inside the column.

#ad


This pic is to show the bottom of the column, there are holes in the tubes and the steering shaft that I think are for alignment purpose. If you can see through to the other side, the steering wheel and the shift levers should be correctly aligned... The fix seems to work properly, the shifters move together again

#ad


The last pic is to show the bushing in place. I can't push it further in the collar, without hammering it much harder... And it is very tight, so tiht on the steering shaft that when I turn the wheel, it moves my shifter if it is not at the P position... to tight ?

Perhaps I should turn the wheel 2 or 3 hours to make it loose...

I have to re-install the column in the truck but I don't know what to do with the bushing, let it in place anf secure my shifter with a strap or discard it and put the old parts in place... #@$%!

Your comments and ideas are welcomed, anyone else had this issue ?...



It took me about 45 minutes to write that post with the pics and my poor english (sorry... 'merican ) but perhaps it can help someone...

 

[FHerault]

My feed back on this issue...

I ended making very little holes in the bushing to inject wd40 in it. After 45 minutes moving the steering weel (the shaft was getting hot !) and adding wd40, the effort needed decreased a lot. Then I re-installed the column, after a test drive, I had to re-adjust the shift indicator and the linkage to the transmission (when I the shifter was on P, it was in fact in R !) and now it works great, a little stiff again, but it comes better after each drive session.



The bushing seems to be a good improvement, I have drived several times on the road were the wobble was happening and the death wobble is gone !... But !!!!

I think the bushing could act like a steering dampener because of his tighteness, and it could mask real problems or wear on other steering components, so I think it's important to check regularly (and before installing the bushing) all the components and repair or adjust them.

Okay, now I put my winter wheels and go to an alignment (that I know is bad) !!!



Rocksolid finally answer me today, too late for helping me (a spam issue on the e-mails) but I thank him for his clear answer, he confirmed my doubts on the plastic tabs (that I have broken when hammered the bushing) !

 

[nutter3]

Thank you for the post. That should help me and the other procrastinators, who have the bushing, but haven't installed it.

 

[David411]

I hate this bushing, regret it everyday. Its great if your in a warm climate and doesn't go below zero degrees. Below -10*C the thing contracts and makes your steering an incredible chore.

 

[FHerault]

I hate this bushing, regret it everyday. Its great if your in a warm climate and doesn't go below zero degrees. Below -10*C the thing contracts and makes your steering an incredible chore.

What you say scares me a bit... how will it work at -40 ????

wait and see...

 

[odieub]

yeah i put one on a 94 5-speed i had a few years ago and when cold was very hard to drive. more bad than good.

 

[David411]

What you say scares me a bit... how will it work at -40 ????

wait and see...

Yah minus thirty and forty is just stupid, the steering wheel needs to be forcefully turned with both hands and you have to really yank on it. If you live in a cold northern climate like I do I would say pass on it. I have no issues with it in the spring and summer months but as soon as it gets cold steering becomes a real chore.

 

[FHerault]

Yes it's very cold in winter here, I hope the little holes I've made in the bushing will help when it's very cold, if not I will think about it in the spring and put back a beering...

It would have be great knowing that Before installing this bushing !

 

[abranz]

definatly agree with the above. With temps near zero the steering wheel will not correct during a turn. I will need to replace the entire column with a used one now. Sometimes upgrades can be serious downgrades.

 

[Ramtuf1]

Check out this thread:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...clunk-rattle-solved-column-bushing-fix-8.html



If you go down to ProspectorTims approach to the repair (around threads 96 to 123) he details the installation and then the repair in detail. In specific thread 110, click on the numbers to check out the pictures. I had the same issue you had with it going in hard and then damaging the plastic dawgs which align the shift column. Mine was also moved inwards with a hard fitting bushing. My shift lever would move up and down with the turning of the steering wheel and it also would not self align. The bushing was affected greatly by temperature. If you read the entire thread (like 17 pages) you will see it was experienced by others as well.



After I followed the repair and had the bushing sized so it fit without any interference, I have many years of use and couldn't be happier. This can be a pain to get installed properly but you will be very happy with the out come.

 

[Ramtuf1]

In addition. I don't care what the temperature is, it works like a charm.