1955 horn

[alzink]

Trying to chase down why the horn is not working on my 55
The wire from the steering wheel is not grounding when pressed so I assume its either the contact in the steering wheel or the contact on the steering column
The workshop manual does't seem to advise on the steering column contact. any suggestions as to location and repair if that is the issue

Regards
Al

[Cadman-iac]

Hi Al,

On the 55 and the 56, the horn contact is a copper or brass ring riding on a rubber piece near the lower end of the steering column housing, on the 55 it's just underneath the neutral safety switch at the end ot the column housing. It has its own spring-loaded contact that rides on the ring and the wire connects to the top of it that goes to your horn relay. (The 56 contact is incorporated into the neutral safety switch and located under the dash).
You can isolate this section of the system and disconnect the wire, then ground it to verify if the horn works. If it does, then your problem is in the column, if it doesn't, you have a problem with either the relay, the wiring to it, or the horn itself.
To get to the ring inside the column, unfortunately you have to remove the column and disassemble it.
Have you checked the contact at the top of the column where the wire terminates? This will be a ceramic or plastic washer that isolates the wire at the top of the hollow steering shaft. The horn ring on your wheel has a spring-loaded contact that rides on this so when you push the horn ring it grounds the system to blow the horn.
Hope this helps you find the problem.
I have a 55 parts car that I disassembled years ago and this is from memory, but it's very similar to the 56.

Good luck.

Rick

[alzink]

can't thank you enough it gives me a route to follow


regards


al

[David King (kz78hy)]

If you end up needing a new contact, I made up a trial part but need a column to test it on.  The original contact had worn down to the hex portion, So I guessed and when turning the new one and made it around a 1/4" with a new base since the sample was broken.

Also, here is link to the restoration thread on my 55.  https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/index.php?topic=162955.0  post 14 has pictures of the column and OE part.