Steering shaft bearing/spring placement - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

airbrushguy · 05-31-2014, 08:17 PM

Replacing the rag joint and steering shaft in my '71 pickup and after taking it out, I realized I should have paid closer attention to the placement of the bearing, spring and washer. The bearing wont go up past the splines, should it?
Does the spring go on the bottom or top of the bearing?
How close to the steering box should the clamp on the bottom of the shaft be?
Thanks

BTW...it is power steering if that matters

airbrushguy · 05-31-2014, 08:21 PM

Spring placement??

airbrushguy · 05-31-2014, 08:24 PM

One more pic

LSUMurse · 05-31-2014, 09:38 PM

Hope this helps. This is what my setup looks like.

**LockDoc** · 05-31-2014, 10:42 PM

-
You have to remove the bolt before the clamp will slide all the way up on the splines. There is a notch in the splined shaft that the bolt has to align with.

The spring goes between the bearing and the large washer....

LockDoc

airbrushguy · 06-01-2014, 10:51 AM

OK, not sure I got it right yet. From the top down (left to right in pic), the smaller part of the bearing is facing into the column, then spring is below it, then washer, then shaft clamp with the bolt removed. Do I have the bearing upside down?
Should there be tension on spring or should I just make sure wheel is down on column before tightening clamp bolt?

**LockDoc** · 06-01-2014, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airbrushguy

OK, not sure I got it right yet. From the top down (left to right in pic), the smaller part of the bearing is facing into the column, then spring is below it, then washer, then shaft clamp with the bolt removed. Do I have the bearing upside down?
Should there be tension on spring or should I just make sure wheel is down on column before tightening clamp bolt?

It looks like the bearing isn't all the way up into the tube. Everything else looks OK. The small end of the bearing goes up. Yes, there should be tension on the spring....

Check this thread out and see if it helps any.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=471499

LockDoc

airbrushguy · 06-01-2014, 04:35 PM

Thanks, thread was perfect also.

**LockDoc** · 06-01-2014, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airbrushguy

Thanks, thread was perfect also.

No problem. Let us know if you have any more questions....

LockDoc

davepl · 06-01-2014, 05:12 PM

Haven't got to that point in my reassembly, but I'm pretty sure the shop manual not only has instructions on this it also has measurements for the spring and washer and so on. It looked non-trivial (only because I haven't done it before) so I'd check it out if you can.

05-31-2014, 08:17 PM	#1
airbrushguy Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: hawthorne, nj Posts: 217	Steering shaft bearing/spring placement Replacing the rag joint and steering shaft in my '71 pickup and after taking it out, I realized I should have paid closer attention to the placement of the bearing, spring and washer. The bearing wont go up past the splines, should it? Does the spring go on the bottom or top of the bearing? How close to the steering box should the clamp on the bottom of the shaft be? Thanks BTW...it is power steering if that matters Attached Images

05-31-2014, 08:21 PM	#2
airbrushguy Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: hawthorne, nj Posts: 217	Re: Steering shaft bearing/spring placement Spring placement?? Attached Images

05-31-2014, 08:24 PM	#3
airbrushguy Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: hawthorne, nj Posts: 217	Re: Steering shaft bearing/spring placement One more pic Attached Images

05-31-2014, 09:38 PM	#4
LSUMurse Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 406	Re: Steering shaft bearing/spring placement Hope this helps. This is what my setup looks like. Attached Images __________________ It's not that I am apathetic, I just don't care. If your life is a joke, it appears death will be your punchline.

05-31-2014, 10:42 PM	#5
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,818	Re: Steering shaft bearing/spring placement - You have to remove the bolt before the clamp will slide all the way up on the splines. There is a notch in the splined shaft that the bolt has to align with. The spring goes between the bearing and the large washer.... LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 - Last edited by LockDoc; 05-31-2014 at 10:51 PM.

06-01-2014, 10:51 AM	#6
airbrushguy Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: hawthorne, nj Posts: 217	Re: Steering shaft bearing/spring placement OK, not sure I got it right yet. From the top down (left to right in pic), the smaller part of the bearing is facing into the column, then spring is below it, then washer, then shaft clamp with the bolt removed. Do I have the bearing upside down? Should there be tension on spring or should I just make sure wheel is down on column before tightening clamp bolt? Attached Images

06-01-2014, 04:35 PM	#8
airbrushguy Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: hawthorne, nj Posts: 217	Re: Steering shaft bearing/spring placement Thanks, thread was perfect also.

06-01-2014, 05:12 PM	#10
davepl Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 6,332	Re: Steering shaft bearing/spring placement Haven't got to that point in my reassembly, but I'm pretty sure the shop manual not only has instructions on this it also has measurements for the spring and washer and so on. It looked non-trivial (only because I haven't done it before) so I'd check it out if you can. __________________ 1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible

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