Do I need to replace my steering colum?

[NYTRANSAM]

Hey all,

Im restoring my 68 firebird and just got the suspention complete (Hotchkis) and subframe powdercoated and back on the body. I plan on replacing the steering box with a close ratio 12:1 power steering gear box. My question is, is it necessary to replace my steering colum? are there parts that ware? (other than the wiring and switches.) Mechanically speaking is a colum from "I did it" or "Flaming River" signifigantly better than stock? Let me know what you did or think, Thanks.

[astroracer]

You do not need to replace your column unless you want to. There is nothing that will wear out unless it's a tilt. You can replace switches and wiring far cheaper than a buying a "new" column.
Mark

[grenade inspector]

personally I wouldn't spend the money on it, I would tear it down and check that nothing feels or appears worn but you shouldn't have to replace the unit. I would replace the wires and switches as preventative maintenance rather than waiting for them to go out.

[SLO_Z28]

I had a complete failure on my tilt column recently. The steering wheel would move up/down and left/right 2-3 inches. The car was still steerable, but barely. I would highly recommend a tear down and inspection if its a tilt. I'm replacing my tilt with a non tilt, non tilt has almost nothing it to fail, which is a good thing!

[novaderrik]

tilt mechanisms can get loose, but it's not that hard to get in there and tighten thigns back up.
other than that, i can't think of anything that is a common wear point on a GM column except maybe the bearing at the firewall.

[NYTRANSAM]

Thanks, you have all been very helpful. I gonna stay with my non-tilt column.

[astroracer]

Good plan. If it ain't broke don't fix it... Put the money you saved in your pocket. That's always a good thing...

[TravMitch]

I have a column shift with non tilt or fixed column. When I drive it the column shifter is really loose and falls downward causing the car to down shift. What parts could be warn out and are they easy to fix. The expanded view of a column shows many parts.