Tilt column lower bearing
 

Hey guys I recently tore apart my junkyard van tilt and modified it to work in my truck along with regreasing and freshening it up but have hit a snag. What I thought would have been a non issue on disassembly turned into my only major hang up on reassembly. I cannot figure out what I'm doing wrong putting the lower bearing assembly back in. I have tried what seems like every combination of assembling the bearing and retainer and nothing seems to work. By what I can tell it has to go in the order of plastic retainer then bearing and finally the little metal cap. Can somebody help me out on what I'm missing?

Re: Tilt column lower bearing
 

A clip like this holds the metal cap in place

Re: Tilt column lower bearing
 

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I've got the little clip and cap they just aren't on in the picture. The hole in the center of the cap is big enough the bearing can just fall right through the middle. What keeps the bearing from just sliding through the cap?

Re: Tilt column lower bearing
 

The bearing has a rounded shoulder that slips into a recess in the white nylon piece. That interference holds the bearing in place. Sometimes it's difficult to drive the bearing into the white part, but if you have something long enough to slip over the steering shaft and contact the inner bearing race, you can drive it in.

Re: Tilt column lower bearing
 

Thanks for the response, so I've got it on correctly in the picture? I just need to press the bearing into the retainer further, correct?

Re: Tilt column lower bearing
 

It looks like it is all the way into the plastic retainer, no need to press anymore.

Re: Tilt column lower bearing
 

Thanks! Glad to know I've got the reassembly behind me.

Re: Tilt column lower bearing
 

Hhhmmm, on the 72 tilt the bearing looks like it is inside the tube and the plastic retainer is outside. Sorry this is the only service manual I have for tilt. Looks like changes were made on later columns?

Re: Tilt column lower bearing
 

I don't know if these pictures help or not. They're of the lower end of a 72 firebird tilt column. The same but different.