1987 Pontiac Fiero. Steering Column broke?

[Phage]

I own a 1987 Pontiac Fiero. A while back while driving I felt a jerk in the steering column like a bolt or something snapping, since then the steering while kind of 'floats' - I can still drive the vehicle, but I'm always afraid I'm going to break the steering wheel completely.

Someone had told me they thought this was a common problem with older Pontiacs. Is anyone familiar with this, and what it'd take to repair?
* Wheel not while. Apparently I can't spell today.

 

[CARL G H]

you need to do a little looking around under the front end. some cars were equipped with a power steering stabalizer, a sort of sideways shock, if this blew out it would cause the steering to soften a lot but feel less responsive less controlled. look for fluid (oily) residue around the skinny end of the part. next check the areas the wheels are connrected to the steering brackets for signs of wear, shinny areas, spots clean of oil/grease. the Floating you describe could be a loose /damages tie tod end, though I'd expect shaking, there may be a steering columb coupler just inside the engine compartment that joins the steering gear to the columb that may have a broken rivot or bolt etc so examine this too.

 

[yes_its_me]

GM steering columns in the 70's and 80's were poorly designed with way too many moving parts. Rebuilt columns used to be commercially available. It sounds like you had a bearing failure. If you are good at mechanical things you can disassemble it and replace the bearings. If not, take it to a shop, because there are lots of small plastic parts between you and the bearings.