Check your tilt columns

[sstock]

Built my T in 2011, got a couple thousand miles on it and noticed while down at the NATs cruising around Lake Tahoe that the column got a wiggle in it while the car is at speed. Closer inspection revealed the tilt mechanism had developed slop in it. When I got home, I pulled the receipt and called Speedway and told them this column was falling apart, they asked what part number it was then offered up to send me a new GM column at no charge and call tag to return the bad column. They also picked up the shipping both ways. Real pleasd with Speedway's customer service. The column was made by CPP and is one of those defective units made abroad. Apparently there are some Helix tilt units that are falling apart also. Read a thread on a guy that just finished his car and pulled it out of the garage and the tilt mechanism and steering wheel completely disengaged leaving no way to steer the car. If you are wondering do a google search on it.
Steve

 

[EX JUNK]

It seems like Speedway stepped up to the plate and did the right thing. That off shore stuff is pretty iffy at best and that is why I ALWAYS try to buy "MADE IN THE USA" products.

Jim

 

[sstock]

Amen, lesson learned.

 

[benT]

That's scary stuff Steve. I'm with Jim, when it comes to steering and suspension parts, I want to know where it came from and by whom. Good to know that Speedy Bill took care of ya!

 

[Golly]

I have re posted this from the suspension section. Our hot rod club had an evening with the CEO of the LVVTA, and they had one of these Helix tilt columns there. The one that broke. Due to the design, when the plastic ball in the tilt part collapses, ALL connection to the other half of the column is gone. It is not like the GM style units where it will still drive the other half of the shaft but with a ton of play. It appears also that the CPP ones are similar in design, with no fail safe connection.


This has come out from down here in New Zealand from our "Low Volume Vehicle Technical Association" (LVVTA) who work on safety stuff for our hot rods and home built cars, so that our Government leave us alone.

A while back they did all manner of testing of Magnum tube axles as a couple of them collapsed down this part of the world. And then they published their findings and the world is now a safer place. I guess you could say they are a bit like SEMA.

Now they have had a look at some Chinese knockoff tilt columns that also fail. THe article with the pikkys is over at our NZ Hot Rod Magazine forum and you can find it here:

http://www.nz-hotrod.com/vbulletin/...VVTA-Aftermarket-Steering-Column-Safety-Alert

The Low Volume Vehicle Technical Association (Inc) has identified that some serious safety defects exist within a number of aftermarket steering columns, which, if not replaced, could result in a total loss of steering control of the vehicle to which it is fitted.

Most of the affected columns are known as ‘tilt’ columns – typically used in hot rods, street machines, and custom cars - which are designed to tilt up and down to aid entry and exit, and can also be used to alter the position of the steering wheel. These unsafe columns – initially discovered by wide-awake LVV Certifiers - have the appearance of being American-made (sometimes arriving in American packaging) but are in fact manufactured in China, and employ sub-standard components and manufacturing processes within the tilt mechanism, and in some cases poor weld quality of the steering shaft sections.

LVVTA’s inspections of some of these dismantled brand new unsafe columns have showed that the tilt mechanism consisted of a poor-quality plastic bush with an insufficiently-engaged pinning system. ‘Slop’ was evident in the brand new column, and the design appeared to be such that the plastic bush and pin system had the potential to completely fail, rendering a vehicle unable to be steered. This theory has in fact just been proven in practice during the last week of April 2013, when exactly such a failure happened to Auckland’s Paul Haaker whilst manoeuvring his almost-finished 1960 El Camino in his driveway. The column internals in Paul’s car suddenly disintegrated, and while his steering wheel spun freely, his front wheels did not turn.
The unsafe tilt steering columns that LVVTA have inspected, including the one that collapsed causing a complete steering failure, are made in China and have no brand markings on them, and are therefore very difficult to identify. However, LVVTA believes that the unsafe brands may include ‘Helix’, ‘Autoloc’, ‘Proheader’, ‘Wysco’, and ‘CCP’. LVVTA understands that some of these brands are marketed by an American company known as the Hoffman Group.

The principle difference between well-made aftermarket tilt columns and their unsafe counter-parts is that the tilt mechanisms within good quality columns employ a proper miniature constant velocity-like joint (that replicates the OEM system used by General Motors in their tilt columns) which cannot disconnect within the column housing, whereas the dangerous products coming out of China use a low-grade plastic bush and pin system which can – and have – fallen apart during operation, leaving no connection whatsoever between the steering wheel and the steering shaft.

There are also some tilt columns coming out of China which have a correctly-made tilt mechanism, but which feature very poor quality welding of the various welded sections of the steering shaft.

The affected columns are typically very cheap compared to the long-established and reputable name-brands, and generally have no identification or branding on them. “These columns are cheap and nasty knock-offs of reputable aftermarket brands, made in China and built entirely on price” LVVTA CEO Tony Johnson says. “Although they look great on the outside, it would seem that whoever has designed this rubbish neither understands automotive engineering nor gives a toss about people’s lives.”

Johnson urges anyone who thinks they may have such a column not to drive the vehicle until the column’s origins and internal design have been verified by an expert. “I really urge vehicle owners not to take this issue lightly” Johnson says. “We’ve just taken possession of a brand new column that has gone into a vehicle, and after nothing more than a couple of laps around the block, has literally broken in half leaving the owner with no steering whatsoever. This is as serious as it gets. If you think you might have one of these columns, please don’t drive your car at all. Get it looked at straight away by an LVV Certifier or suitably-experienced industry expert.”
High quality aftermarket steering columns have never presented any safety problems as far as LVVTA is aware. At this stage, LVVTA understands that the ‘Ididit’ and ‘Flaming River’ brands (there may be others) are correctly designed, and there are no known problems or failures associated with these aftermarket tilt column brands.
LVVTA is currently conducting a brand quality-verification process, and once this has been completed and other aspects of this whole steering column issue have been fully resolved, an LVVTA Information Sheet will provide all of the relevant information which a vehicle owner will need in order to fully understand the situation, and to be able to make the right choices in terms of steering column purchase. It's expected that this LVVTA Information Sheet will be available from the LVVTA website www.lvvta.org.nz by May 24 2013.
People who have been sold these unsafe steering columns should note that legislation has always existed that requires steering systems and components to be safe, durable, and fit for their purpose, and sellers have a legal obligation – under both Transport Law and the Consumer Guarantees Act - to ensure that products they sell are both legal and fit for their intended purpose.

Any vehicle owners requiring any further technical information or advice are welcome to contact Justin Hansen or Dan Myers at the LVVTA office in Wellington on (04) 238-4343, or alternatively, they can talk to an LVV Certifier, who can be found through the LVVTA websitewww.lvvta.org.nz.

 

[benT]

Golly: thanks for posting. I've never heard anything good about the Hoffman Group brands...although I've never actually purchased anything from them. I've stuck with Flaming River stuff, but I know Ididit and Borgenson is quality too

 

[putz]

Like anything you get what you pay for. Thank Walt mart for the big China boom everything in there store is made over there.

 

[Keeper]

I find it strange that every little electrical product must have an approval from a safety agency, yet these steering columns and other critical parts can be copied, cheapened and sold to the public with nothing.

Pretty sure speedway is doing the right thing, over threat of huge lawsuits if someone was to get hurt due to failure.

Certainly sucks where things have gone. While there are some of us that will pay a bit more for Made in the USA, most will not and they are the ones that drive the market.

 

[EX JUNK]

Like anything you get what you pay for. Thank Walt mart for the big China boom everything in there store is made over there.

I absolutely refuse to even enter a Wally Mart let alone buy anything there!

Jim

 

[sstock]

Kudos to the LVVTA for watching "all" the backs (worldwide) of Hot and Streetrodders. I'm not all too fond of government telling the people what to do or trying to protect us against ourselves but in this case, for some reason, I'm thankful. I can only think about what could of happened if the steering wheel came off up in Tahoe with drop offs on the side of the road. My new column is now installed and ready for service.

 

[benT]

Steve, no disrespect, but if you just replaced the defective column with a new one from the same source, what guarantee do you have of it not doing it again? If it were me, it'd be a warning to replace it with one that is a known quality such as Ididit or Flaming River. I like a deal like everyone else, but I'm not willing to sacrifice the life of myself or others with questionable steering parts...

 

[sstock]

Ben, I asked some pointed questions to the Speedway customer service person, they said that that part number and particular column was pulled because of the issue I had. My understanding is the replacement column and new part number is comprised of GM components. I will follow up to verify this and thank you Ben for your concern and your opinion.
Steve

 

[benT]

That's cool. I'm glad Speedway is taking them off their shelves and stepping up. I hope you didn't think I came on too strong. I just don't want anything bad to happen to a member of the "family".

 

[Golly]

Good to know this info is getting out there, and I urge anyone to send this info on to anyone who owns custom cars, whether it be a VW, dune buggy, kit car, what ever. Imagine what would happen if a "hot rod" crashes in to a school bus or similar, the media would have a field day and the implications on "modified vehicles" would be horrendous.
PS. our LVVTA system is not a government department but a group of hot rodders and hobbyists who banded together to educate and provide recommendations to the Government, so that laws would not adversly affect our sport, too much.

 

[sstock]

Understood Golly. Here in the states SEMA legislation is getting approved on a state by state basis. Basically it is government legislation in the form of a bill that when adopted becomes state law. It's mission is to relax stringent emission and other governing vehicle laws for the hobbiest and car home builder. Without it, our hobby would be severely limited and destined to extinction.
Seems like the LVVTA is one step up and even goes as far as making sure suitable components are employed to make these vehicles as safe to the owner/operator and public sector as well.