Did my stearing colum break?

[Big John Sny]

I was aligning the truck and all of a sudden I heard a pop and the horn went off.
I took it apart and saw the upper bearing had failed. Not a big deal, i ordered a new bearing and after installing it realized that i couldn't install the steering wheel. The stem was too short for the steering wheel to engage on the splines.
I realized something must be up with the lower bearing, but it didn't seem right. So I pulled the column.
Here is what I found. The part with the lower bearing is completely separated from the rest of the tube. Is this supposed to come off? I thought the tube was supposed to be one piece. It doesn't look like it broke off.

[3757chevy]

A few questions what year is your truck ? is it automatic column shift? or thee speed column shift? or floor shift? and is it tilt? oh yeah do you have any pics?

[Big John Sny]

Sorry, It is a 68 C10. Was at one time a three speed, but looks to have the column swapped with an automatic column. no tilt.

I was trying to get the pics uploaded and gave up last night,

[Wrenchbender Ret]

Your lower brg. is shot. The whole assembly comes in a kit. It is not too difficult to put in.
Part of the brg. will be froze to the shaft. After you get it off, clean the shaft up real good. The new brg. needs to slide on the shaft.
George

[randy500]

The steering wheel via the horn contsct and the spring in the picture preload the bearings in the column, i bet the pop you heard was the steering wheel coming off the shaft.
Your column is assembled wrong too.
It has one too many lower bearing holders, on is attached to the column with the 7/16 bolts, another is holding the bearing and has the same bolts and a clamp on it.

[LockDoc]

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Randy would be correct. You have parts from the old manual column on the bottom of the shaft and no bearing in the bottom of the auto column tube.

I hope these pictures are OK. I'm not worth a crap at using the phone for pictures. The first is the auto column and the second is the manual column.

LockDoc

[Big John Sny]

Ok, this explains it for me. Thanks guys.
The extra bearing holder was my confusion.
The popping was when the upper bearing failed.
My problem was the extra pieces that I couldn't account for.
With all of the other poor work done on this truck during the engine swap, I should not be surprised. I am probably should be surprised he even used a Chevy truck column. (he used the fuel tank from a dodge. That was fun to figure out)
I guess i need to figure out how to get the lower section to slip off the column, then remove that clamp. drop off the manual column bearing holder, put a new bearing in the auto column, then reinstall the spring and washer and slide the clamp back on to provide enough spring pre-load?

[LH Lead-Foot]

With the clamp, spring and old bearing removed, the retainer at the bottom of the column below the shift shaft lever, is the bottom bearing.

If I remember right, those two bolts, opposite of each other, hold a collar that is slotted at an angle. This is the "Pre-load" for the bottom bearing, but the entire shaft. So, basically, with everything cleaned, grease the bearing with wheel bearing grease, but install the top bearing, retainer, turn signal holder plate, wheel and nut. Then using the bottom retainer, rotate it to add pressure to the entire shaft to eliminate shaft play, tighten both bolts on lower collar.

There maybe a neutral safety switch or reverse light switch clipped into the columns housing on the inside, next to the floor flange. A tang sticks down and falls into a slot in the steering shaft. If there, it has to be removed or it will break during disassembly...depending on what your 50 year old project has on it today.

Best of luck.
ASE Master Tech since 1978 / Retired.

[randy500]

Your shaft is 67-8 one piece it doesn't come apart...you could force it apart but shouldn't.
Just slide it out of the column and remove the extra parts, slip in the thew bearing.
Install the steering wheel and then preload the bearings with the clamp and spring....slide the clamp towards the spring to preload the assembly, not sure of the spec but 3/16” maybe? Something like that, its not all that critical.

[randy500]

The proper horn contact is beveled and centers itself sort of like a bearing race in the upper bearing, make sure that you have the right horn contact, it will work with any steering wheel but is specific to these years of trucks.

[LockDoc]

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When you set the pre-load as Randy explained in post #9 you may have to have a helper hold down on the steering wheel to keep it from pushing the wheel and shaft up.

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", so I would think '68 would be the same.

LockDoc

[Big John Sny]

so the bearing that is there was OK, so i re-greased and was going to install, but its OD is too big to press into the column.

Glad I got back on here I was trying to pull the lower column section, was about to bring out the big hammers

[randy500]

Post a picture...there is a bearing and it slips in a bearing holder. I would guess the extra bearing came from the 3 speed manual column and should be the same, it does look like it has extra crap bolted to it.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Big John Sny

so the bearing that is there was OK, so i re-greased and was going to install, but its OD is too big to press into the column.

Glad I got back on here I was trying to pull the lower column section, was about to bring out the big hammers

The bearing may be the same but you will need the adjusting ring from an auto column if it isn't already in the tube. (see picture) When you go to install it be careful, if you insert it into the tube upside down the bearing will not fit in it.

EDIT: I looked at your above picture again and it looks like the adjusting ring is there. If so, the lower bearing should fit right into it once you remove it from the unneeded parts. The bearing is the Black piece in the center of the picture below....

LockDoc

[Big John Sny]

the rear piece had a ring around it, but the bearing is all one piece.
I even tried to press it out of the rear (in case it was pressed from the back) and it just started to collapse.

[Big John Sny]

I ordered something like this, so I am hoping this works.
https://www.tuckersparts.com/1960-19...evy-truck.html

[Big John Sny]

well...
that bearing is too small.
anyone have any pics of what is supposed to be there?
This is getting nuts. I have no idea if this is even the right column.

never mind, i bet i just need the adjusting ring from the pic above. sorry.

[Big John Sny]

ok, got out adjuster ring, and bearing i got was way too small.

[randy500]

Post a picture of the other side of that bearing please, maybe its an upper column bearing?

Here is the right bearing with the collar and spring.
https://www.classicparts.com/1969-72...iABEgK_0_D_BwE

[randy500]

When you get the bearing it has an internal o-ring, lube it up and clean the shaft to get it on.

[Big John Sny]

thank you very much, i have the bearing on order, Weird it says just for 69-72

[Big John Sny]

thank you guys. The part worked great,

I think all the wrong parts on this truck are starting to break me.