steering columb swap

[dieselhotrodder]

i am wanting to put a 92=93 steering columb in my 90... will it work/

[PToombs]

Yeah, why not? They're basicly the same truck. As long as the columns are the same, meaning cruise or interval wiper. Even then it's just the harness.

[burnt_servo]

just finished repairing the steering colum in my '93 , with a colum from a '92 .
the tilt mechanism was broken in mine .

they will swap across , but you may want to swap your switches / levers to the new colum .

and while your at it , replace the rag joint , since they can be a b*tch to take apart later on . ( they are cheap too , like 12.00 or so ) .

[Richie O]

The 89's and 90's are the older style. I would not be surprised if the wire's or plugs are different. Where is Philip when you need him??

[PToombs]

Probably over babysitting on CF. That's almost a full time job now. Good thing he's laid off so he has time for it.

[Mark Nixon]

Wiring is WAAAAYY different betwen the 2 species.
Literally, NONE of the internal or external components of one will fit the other.

The pre-'91 stuff uses a centrally located plug, the '91-up you have to remove the covers on the column and take each individual connector off it's respective component, eg., multifunction switch, clockspring, ignition switch, etc.

If you know how to re-wire and solder, it's pretty straightforward to splice, but time consuming to change it over.

In short, no, a '91-'93 column won't DIRECTLY fit.

Mark.

[PToombs]

Thanks Mark, I hate steering people wrong. I didn't realize that they were that different.
Sorry dhr!

[burnt_servo]

i miss read the first post , for some reason i thought he was going from a 92 to a 93 , the exact same thing i was currecntly doing ......


anyways , will the 1990 switches not fit on a '91 to '93 colum ?

[Richie O]

i miss read the first post , for some reason i thought he was going from a 92 to a 93 , the exact same thing i was currecntly doing ......


anyways , will the 1990 switches not fit on a '91 to '93 colum ?

Not sure but they are sure different looking units.

[Mark Nixon]

Major changes came about in '91.
Dodge did a whole boat load of them in that year, as if the fast-approaching change from non-intercooled to intercooled wasnt enough, there were extensive changes in ALL of the wiring and the steering column.
Not to mention outer body trim changes.

Column differences that I can name off are:

No more external dimmer switch, turn signal, wiper control and washer apparati.
They were all integrated into what is referred to as a "multifunction switch".
The horn wiring and cruise control wiring is contained in what we know as the "clockspring" and, interestingly enough, there is a clockspring for cruise, and one for without cruise.
The ignition switch has the light integrated into a switching mechanism, which has been referred to as a Halo switch, due to the round light fixture surrounding the key apparatus.

Interesting to note, the '91 wiring harness, as with the '92 and '93 harnesess, are prewired for cruise control, even though the cruise switches aren't physically there, just add the switches, servo and clockspring and it works (Theoretically, anyway).
The '91 clockspring is unique to that year, '92 and '93 interchanges.
The covers, multifunction switch, ignition switch and the physical column itself is also '91-'93.

There's so much more to note on '91s differences from all of the other years, but most of it has no relation to the topic at hand.
Given the opportunity, they will be recognized.

Mark.

[burnt_servo]

mark ,

yes the wiring is different , but what about the physical structure of the column ?

[Mark Nixon]

The metal parts of the column assemblies are totally different, there aren't even places to mount the '91-'93 plastic, the ignition switch assembly or anything.

The early column relies on a formed die-cast collar to hold the ignition lock and switch in, plus a 2nd collar to mount the T/S switch assembly.
Another collar is used either for the automatic shifter or is the shifter delete collar for manual trans vehicles.

The tilt mechansim on a '91 is a simple flex head with a multiple toothed locking assembly that's spring loaded.
I believe the earlier columns used small slots with a shaft mechanism on a spring loaded pin to adjust the tilt.
The earlier ones also have the tilt mechanism bolted to the main column support, with a difficult to separate u-joint assembly and pivot point, which tends to work loose.
The non-tilt columns also have comparable differences.

I have both columns (in tilt, even.) here with no externals on them and it's very apparent that there are few, if any, interchangable parts.

Both columns will PHYSICALLY fit under each other's dash, however.

Mark.

[txs]

That multifunction switch will work from other chryco products from those years also, good for junkyard crawlers to know.

[Mark Nixon]

I believe the clock spring might work as well.
I KNOW the van ones are the same for '91, because that's what's in the hauler right now.

Mark.

[PToombs]

Mark, 92 harness is NOT prewired for cruise. At least mine isn't. I was going to convert mine, and they aren't there. Not such a big deal now that I have the tilt column, brake light switch, and a few other key parts.