Bearings Showing on Steering Column

[kansasc10]

As you can hopefully see in the pic below, The bearings on my steering column (red arrow) are showing and Im not sure if its something that I should be worried about. Im assuming that the bearings arent supposed to be showing but cant find a good enough photo of my exact steering column to tell for sure. Anyway to adjust the placement of the bearings? Is the spring below the bearings supposed to hold everything up in to place? Im just not sure where to start or what to replace without having to replace the entire column. I just replaced the gearbox and the wheel feels tight and working like it should. I guess I'm more worried about the safety aspect.
Thanks.

[cdowns]

Try taking the steering wheel off and tightening the big nut in there to raise up the column and bearings

[Sammys70]

Here's mine.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by kansasc10

As you can hopefully see in the pic below, The bearings on my steering column (red arrow) are showing and Im not sure if its something that I should be worried about. Im assuming that the bearings arent supposed to be showing but cant find a good enough photo of my exact steering column to tell for sure. Anyway to adjust the placement of the bearings? Is the spring below the bearings supposed to hold everything up in to place? Im just not sure where to start or what to replace without having to replace the entire column. I just replaced the gearbox and the wheel feels tight and working like it should. I guess I'm more worried about the safety aspect.
Thanks.

The spring puts a pre-load on the bearing and holds it in place. Can you push the bearing father up into the mast jacket or does it seem like it is up as far as it will go....

LockDoc

[kansasc10]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

The spring puts a pre-load on the bearing and holds it in place. Can you push the bearing father up into the mast jacket or does it seem like it is up as far as it will go....

LockDoc

I tried to push it up in there by hand and its tight...wouldnt go up any. I was thinking of giving it a light tap with a hammer but didnt want to damage anything. I can try to tighten the screw under the steering wheel if you guys think that will help. Is there a seal of some sort that is supposed to sit between the bearing and spring?

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by kansasc10

I tried to push it up in there by hand and its tight...wouldnt go up any. I was thinking of giving it a light tap with a hammer but didnt want to damage anything. I can try to tighten the screw under the steering wheel if you guys think that will help. Is there a seal of some sort that is supposed to sit between the bearing and spring?

It should push up easy by hand if it is going to move. I'm wondering if maybe someone put it in upside down. Give me a minute to find a picture I posted in another thread.....

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

-
Read through this thread. there is a picture in post #5 that shows which way the bearing goes in....

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

LockDoc

[kansasc10]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

-
Read through this thread. there is a picture in post #5 that shows which way the bearing goes in....

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

LockDoc

Thanks Doc. Thats a possibility thats its on upside down. Ive ran into some "what the heck were they thinking" issues on the truck in the few weeks Ive owned it.
To me the bearing looks to be halfway in/out. If it was on upside down, do you think it would go in at all? If its NOT upside down, I guess my only other option so far would be to try tightening the nut under the steering wheel. Unless anyone else has any ideas....

You guys are great, thanks for all the help.

[kansasc10]

Ill try to take some better pics of the bearing and post. I was actually taking that pic of the master cylinder when I noticed the bearings.

[kansasc10]

Sorry to bring up an old thread but today I was getting ready to remove my steering wheel to replace a turn signal cancelling cam and before I took off the center nut I noticed that I could pull my steering wheel and shaft out about 1/4 of an inch or the width of a 3/8 socket extension (I happened to have one in my hand at the time and it would fit longways in the gap)

At first I thought the nut was loose so I tried tightening it but its as tight as I could get it. SHould I have that much play in my column? If not, is the bolt in the pic the correct one to adjust the play I have?