Ididit steering column knock-offs

[Troy]

Hey All,

Happy New Year!! I have an opportunity to buy a knock-off copy of a Ididit steering column. Does anyone have or heard anything bad about them? Thanks.

[Rick_L]

There are some really crappy Chinese made clones out there. Most of them have safety problems with the tilt mechanism, having among other things, plastic parts in the tilt joint that can and will break and leave you without steering. A few years back all this was documented fairly well in New Zealand and Australia, both of which countries have to approve such pieces before they can be sold in those countries. (We have no such approvals required here in the US.) CPP and Helix are two sellers of bad columns, but there are a couple more whose names escape me. There were quite a few threads about this on trifive.com. Do you know the source of the column you are offered?

[Troy]

Thanks Rick, I'm going to look at them tomorrow. They are at a shop that does restorations and customs in Sacramento. I'm going to look over them carefully.

[BamaNomad]

Thanks Rick, I'm going to look at them tomorrow. They are at a shop that does restorations and customs in Sacramento. I'm going to look over them carefully.

You should probably do more than 'look them over'; you'll have to disassemble them to determine if there is a mechanical (metal) safety for the tilt mechanism to prevent total loss of steering should the plastic Tilt coupler break. Take some photos, find a manufacturer's marking or part number, or find out who/where they come from. That's a poor way to save $$... and yes at $200-$300 they are MUCH less expensive than buying Flaming River or IDIDIT brand, but there's an old saying that fits here... One gets what one pays for! If you don't want to fork over the $600 or more for a reputable tilt column, then stick with the original column!

[markm]

I too have heard the horror stories of the Chinese knock off columns, wound stick to the name brands.

[enigma57]

Troy, I have a 'real' Ididit column here. Bought it years ago when I was going to install an early '90s Buick rack and pinion unit in my '57. Plans changed and I never used it. There are different lengths. Mine is the same length as Jim Meyer used in his rear steer R&P kits which used late '80s Buick racks. Send me a PM if this will work for you. I've got it here in my parts storage room (AKA 'spare bedroom') somewhere.

Happy Motoring,

Harry

[busterwivell]

I remember hearing about the possible problems with the knock off columns. From a safety standpoint, I wasn't willing to risk it to save money. I've put Ididit in my Chevelle and my 56, and I'm glad I did.

[Troy]

Well I ended up buying the steering column, it's from Classic Performance Products (CPP) It's used but in good shape. I kind of keep going between I'm glad I got it and I wish I'd pass on it. Oh well I have it now so I'll use it!!

[567chevys]

https://www.lvvta.org.nz/documents/infosheets/LVVTA_Info_01-2013_Unsafe_Aftermarket_Steering_Columns.pdf

[Rick_L]

Thanks for finding and posting that document, Sid. It pretty much says it all.

[busterwivell]

Yup, that pretty much says it all.

[BamaNomad]

Hopefully Troy will read that article IF the CPP column he bought was a TILT column...

CPP does sell non-tilt columns which I know nothing about but which shouldn't exhibit the issues that their tilt columns do.

PS. The fact that the restoration shop was REMOVING the column from the car they were restoring should tell the story as well.

[Troy]

Thank You all, I read the article and now I have a beautiful $200 wall art for my garage!! I should have went with my gut feelings and passed on it. Oh well thanks again for the info. Have a good weekend all!!

[Old Buzzard]

Or, rely on answers for your initial question?

[Troy]

Some how I missed Rick note about CPP being junk and thought oh that's a "brand" name so it must be good!! I texted her thanks for the $200 piece of crap wall art!! She hasn't responded hmmm I wonder why?

[Rick_L]

A note for future use - don't ever think anything from CPP is a name brand. I don't care what kind of part it is.

[Troy]

Hey Rick, should I throw away the new CPP master cylinder that I bought from Summit Racing? Also one other thing has anyone ever re-engineered one of these columns? I was wondering if I could replace the junk ball at the knuckle with a good one from GM, Ididit, Flaming River or some other quality unit. Also I have a friend who is a Areospace welder for NASA would it be possible to redo the welds? Just asking if anyone's done it!!

[busterwivell]

So, you've paid another $200.00 tuition payment. This is/was a learning experience. Safety should be a priority. The last thing I want to have happen is to be reported in the news as the old guy driving a classic car that fell apart on the freeway and killed 10 people.
I doubt you'll hear back from her. They knew what they were doing in replacing that column. Shame on them. I wouldn't consider taking something like that to a swap meet, I'd junk it.

[BamaNomad]

Troy,

I haven't heard anything bad about CPP's master cylinders, and I have seen several used on trifives at car shows. As with everything they DO, their parts are a CHEAP copy of other parts, made in China with zero engineering applied to the design/production, and even with an 'exact' copy of another company's design, there are also a myriad of factors that need to be considered in the materials and processes used to produce the part, so beware of any of their parts you might consider.

They also have a HUGE problem with the production/quality of their steering arms, so do not even consider purchasing one of those!

[Rick_L]

Not only do they sell poorly manufactured and sometimes dangerous parts, their customer service really sucks. The only major part they've put on the market that's been accepted and successful is the steering box. But now I'm convinced that even that might be a time bomb waiting for a manufacturing and safety disaster. The master cylinder does not have a lot of complaints but it hasn't been without them.

Since there are other choices to most CPP parts, I choose to use those other choices.

[markm]

The only things of theirs that I have used have been PS box and shortened column parts for oem column and so far so good. My tilt in 55 is Flaming River. Pleanty of OEM master cyl fit so no reason for an aftermarket.

[55 Rescue Dog]

I decided that for my build, I really wasn't wanting to use either the FR, or ID column, so I went a totally different route with a collapsible safety racing column.
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