steering column lower bearing

[chris989]

Hello everyone,

I am trying to correct any slop in my steering and noticed the lower bearing on my column was not in the plastic retainer on the column. It was just hanging around on the shaft.

Funny thing is,, I can not install it were it is supposed to go. The shift tube is to close the the end of the column an will not allow the bearing to slide into place. I can get it on some, but not enough to install the retaining clip.

Is there a fastener somewhere in the column that has allow it to slide from its correct location? I can not find anything to raise the shift tube back into the column a little, Maybe just 1/4 inch? I am guessing the shift tube is what push the bearing out and cracked the plastic sleeve?

[wraprail]

I too would like some info on this mysterious bearing.
Can it be replaced?
Who sells it?
And most importantly, what is it called?

Thanks
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[chris989]

Originally Posted by wraprail

I too would like some info on this mysterious bearing.
Can it be replaced?
Who sells it?
And most importantly, what is it called?

Thanks
Posted via Mobile Device

My local chevy dealer has all of the parts in stock, It is just called the steering column lower bearing.

They should have a exploded view in their parts catalog. I

also 4wheel parts
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Steering-...pn=oai18019.03

[bammax]

Last time I got into a column rebuild I reused the original lower bearing and retainer, but I had it out a bunch. Basically the bearing slides in like you're trying to do, and then a metal cover piece clips over it to hold it in place.

Your second picture has the bearing on upside down. The metal disc goes to the column and the plastic piece sits below that. Then the metal cover piece goes over the plastic part and clips into those slots in the shaft housing that you can see in the pic.

[chris989]

Originally Posted by bammax

Last time I got into a column rebuild I reused the original lower bearing and retainer, but I had it out a bunch. Basically the bearing slides in like you're trying to do, and then a metal cover piece clips over it to hold it in place.

Your second picture has the bearing on upside down. The metal disc goes to the column and the plastic piece sits below that. Then the metal cover piece goes over the plastic part and clips into those slots in the shaft housing that you can see in the pic.

If i turn it around I can not slide it in at all, The shift tube prohibits the bearing from sliding into place.

[bammax]

I just glanced at the column in my basement and it looks like there's a big spring that holds the shift arm up high in the column and not down at the base like you have in the pics. That may just be because it's a different column than yours though so we'll ignore it for now

Try this out

First flip the plastic piece over and slide it back on like you're doing now so that the raised box tabs fit into the housing cutouts. You may have to lightly tap it into place.

Second flip the metal disk over and slide that up against the plastic piece so that the wide end of the disc is even with the body of the plastic piece. That will let the small end of the disc fit inside the metal cover.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

There's a thread with part numbers and a diagram. Let me see if I can find it. It's years old but somewhere if anybody knew what It was called
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