The dental tools are a good option but most people will not have these available. I used nylon fishing line. Insert at 9 o'clock position and wind one end behind the wheel until it is at approximately the 3 o'clock position. Then, stabilize the front of the geared wheel with one finger and pull the line carefully. The wheel will come right out. Afterward, insert the proper sized spacer, grease everything with abundant white lithium grease and replace the nut. Very simple! This is a great thread!

 

My tilt went out a couple days ago, searched, found this, worked like a champ. For me on my 97, there were a couple things I noted that I didnt recall reading here.

There was a bracket that kinda clamped down on the cover to the worm gear assembly. I just bent it out of the way but probably could remove it with proper socket. The screws on the cover wanted to strip but a nut driver took them out no issue. I believe it was a 7/16 nut driver. The nut on the shaft of the gear wheel is 10mm. I used two garden hose washers behind the wheel and that was all that was necessary for my fix.

Total time invested, including trip to home depot, 1 hour. Total cost, 1.19.

HUGE Thanks for this write up!

 

so i drove around like my grandma for about 30 mins. searched for a thread, found this. and wow. threads like this makes me wish i knew more about our cars so i can contribute something useful.

 

Did thia mod a few weeks ago, worked like a charm.

 

cant wait to get home and try this!!!! thanks

 

i did this over the weekend and was able to bring my steering wheel down from the highest position that it had been stuck at for the longest time. i did get lazy and never installed new washers since i figured i'll never move the steering wheel ever again, and will slap my friends if any of their hands get close to the switch. the hardest part imo was getting the steering column casing/shell off and which actually got me sweating at one point. after that was just unbolt and observe though i did somehow succeed in losing 1 screw for the casing and 1 bolt for the motor cover during the 30 min install time span. props to the OP!

 

does the steering wheel need to be removed to remove the plastic cowling around the column or does it come apart in two pieces because it does not seem to want to come apart and i dont want to break i removed all three screws already thanks in advance

 

Outstanding fix. It works. Thanks a bunch. I used garden hose washers to do the job. You don't know how much I appreciate the fix. Mine is working perfect now.

Again, Outstanding repair fix. 95 sc400

////////////////////Clint

 

GREAT FIX - I just did my 98 SC300. It took 2 Hose Washers ($0.49 for a pack of 6, LOL). Works like new.

 

same question here....im nervous to mess around with the casing. anyone?? thanks in advance.

 

sooooo how is that plastic shell casing removed??? i wanna try to get this done tonight. thanks again.

 

what in tarnations is going on here! lol. can somebody please help me out on how to take the plastic cover case off!! gyarr, ive waiting an entire day lol. im not a dumba$$ i just dont want to break it :/

 

pull/yank em apart and out of the dash towards you.

 

sweeeeeet. thank you so much. and this is applicable to all years??

 

I just did this on my 94 SC400. Works perfectly smooth now.

FYI, I used 9/16 stainless steel washers, one under the blue gear and one on top of it.

I did also clean out some of the gunk once I pulled the blue gear out, then lightly lubed the gears with white lithium grease as I reassembled it.

Thank you! Best $600+ I never spent!


Tim