Steering Column assistance needed

[FLcustom10]

I had the body shop paint my steering column and I'm thinking they took it apart and put it back together wrong. I wasn't expecting them to take it apart. I think this spring may be on the wrong side of the washer. Am I correct in my thinking and if so do you have any advice on how to take it apart to get the spring back on the right side of the washer? Here's a current picture along with a previous one.

Thanks,

Tom

[JimKshortstep4x4]

All of the original columns that I have seen are set up like the picture below.

Jim

[FLcustom10]

Thanks. That looks right to me. I'll print that picture off and I guess I'll take it back to the body shop Monday and ask them what they did. I don't see why they would have needed to take this part of it apart at all. Here are some close ups of before and after. It looks like I'm going to need to take the clamp off to reverse the washer and the spring. The bolt and nut will come off, but the clamp doesn't seem to budge. Any idea how to remove this clamp?

[LockDoc]

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You don't need the clamp off. Just slide that whole assembly down off the column shaft and reverse the parts. You may have to tap on it with a small hammer after you get the bolt out. After you get the steering wheel on it the spring has to have tension on it because that is what pre-loads the lower column bearing.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=440343

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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It looks to me like this whole assembly has to slide up into the column tube more than it is. The lower bearing (arrow) needs to be up inside the tube, with the spring against it.

LockDoc

[FLcustom10]

Thank you so much LockDoc!

The lower bearing would not fit up inside the column because the ring that it fits into was upside down. I reversed it and it fits now. As long as I had it apart I put wheel bearing grease on the bearings. I'm just afraid of what else has been taken apart and put together wrong. Here are pictures of where I am now. My concern right now is that I'm not able to put the shifter through the motions. I don't know the right terminology but it seems that the shifter linkage is getting caught on each other and not allowing it to go to the park position. Can you look at these pictures and see if you see anything wrong? Or does it need the pressure from the steering wheel before it can go through the shifter motions?

[Sammy]

Just wait till you tangle the first time with a tilt. If your not a drinker already after this one you would be once you get inside the tilt with those pins and springs.

[Jerblazer72]

Originally Posted by Sammy

Just wait till you tangle the first time with a tilt. If your not a drinker already after this one you would be once you get inside the tilt with those pins and springs.

I second Sammy,
I took apart a tilt column 2 years ago in my restoration process and put it back together a couple months ago. Wow, it took 2 days and many trips to the computer to search for pictures. I dont recommend taking one apart and then leaving it in pieces for 2 years.

[DT1]

Not meaning to Hi-Jack this thread but I have a couple of questions about lower bearing R&R.
Can the lower bearing be replaced without taking out the entire steering column and is there any adjustment needed after it's replaced?

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by DT1

Not meaning to Hi-Jack this thread but I have a couple of questions about lower bearing R&R.
Can the lower bearing be replaced without taking out the entire steering column and is there any adjustment needed after it's replaced?

To the best of my knowledge you have to remove the steering box or the column to replace the lower bearing. There is a preload setting on the lower bearing spring which is different depending on the year.

LockDoc

[JonFrankMc]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

To the best of my knowledge you have to remove the steering box or the column to replace the lower bearing. There is a preload setting on the lower bearing spring which is different depending on the year.

LockDoc

A preload setting? I am about to tackle replacing the upper and lower bearings, the new ones are actually sitting here staring at me as I type. It's not a simple yank old one/install new one process?

Thanks LockDoc

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by JonFrankMc

A preload setting? I am about to tackle replacing the upper and lower bearings, the new ones are actually sitting here staring at me as I type. It's not a simple yank old one/install new one process?

Thanks LockDoc

I guess I missed your question. It is pretty much just take the old ones out, clean everything up and install the new ones. When putting it back together you just have to put some upward pressure on the intermediate flex joint while someone holds down on the steering wheel to get the preload on the bearing retainer spring, then tighten the clamp. Like I said earlier the preload distance depends on the year of your truck. The preload distance is measured between the large washer and the bottom of the bearing where the spring is. On a '67 the distance is 7/8".

LockDoc

[Hugger_Orange]

The spring is there... it's just hard to see in that pic.

Good to know about the nut. It was considerably more loose than your recommendation and it still held the shifting rod but I have tightened it up snug.

I have a TH350 so that explains the bend. You are full of useful information!

I just joined 67-72chevy forum yesterday and I'm loving it. One problem posed, one problem solved. Two questions posed, two question solved and last but not least, one problem I didn't know I had, one problem I didn't know I had now solved.... all in the same thread. Nice.

Thanks again.

[tubbedII]

Subscribed because there's some great info in this thread and my column has a little back and forth play (forward and back) that I would one day like to resolve.

[DT1]

I just got my lower bearing kit last night and installed it today. Very simple. All I had to do was lower the steering box and disconnect the shaft. I cleaned up all of the nuts, bolts, installed the bearing, retainer and spring, then preloaded it and put the box back on. No more grindey grind. If anyone needs Pics, let me know.

[sambudo]

Originally Posted by DT1

I just got my lower bearing kit last night and installed it today. Very simple. All I had to do was lower the steering box and disconnect the shaft. I cleaned up all of the nuts, bolts, installed the bearing, retainer and spring, then preloaded it and put the box back on. No more grindey grind. If anyone needs Pics, let me know.

What did you have to do with the preload on the bottom bearing?