a positioning device for a vehicle steering column which includes a stationary support structure formed from a pair of spaced plates , a moveable member adapted for attachment to the column and slidably received between the plates for translational and pivotal movement with respect to them , a fixed guide pin and a floating guide pin engaged in cooperating slots in the moveable member to control translational and pivotal movement , latching elements operable to fix the moving member in any pivotal or translational position , and a control lever operative to disable the latching elements to allow movement and further operative to apply a transverse locking force to the plates when the moveable member is in any selected position .