When I bought my 04 there was no tilt steering handle so I ran to the dealership and ordered one. It cost a whole $12.67 so no big deal. The issue is the threads it goes into inside the steering column are stripped so I need to tap it out. O'Reilly's measured the handle and said I need a 1/4"-23 tap but I can't find one anywhere. I see a lot of 1/4"-20s and 1/4"28s but no 1/4"-23s. Any help would be appreciated.

 

take the tilt lever to a hardware store and match up the tap you need. It's almost impossible to find good help anywhere these days though.

 

I did that and the guy at O'Reilly's said it was a 1/4"-23 but I don't think that tap exists. I'll go back tomorrow for him to confirm the number.

 

Is no such thing as 1/4-23. I will go outside and check the thread, and post back.

 

My thread gauge says M6x1.0
You may have to cut the end off the lever, rethread the larger portion to 1/4-20, and tap the hole to the same size.

 

I found it rather odd that it would be a standard pitch as opposed to metric as well

 

my experience has been that most people don't know how to use a thread gauge. OH IT WENT IN! THAT'S IT!! lol

 

After going to three stores and checking websites such as Snap-On, Matco, Mac and a few that specialize in taps and dies, I came to the same conclusion.

When I go back to O'Reilly's tomorrow I'll have him check the thread again using M6X1.0 and see what happens. I asked my mechanic friend about re-threading it to a slightly larger size and he said we could just change the piece in the steering column that the handles threads in to.... but that seems kind of expensive for a little handle that I might use a dozen or so times a year.

Thanks for the help guys.