Help with steering column bearings

[wolfsburged]

1984 Jetta, manual steering (if it matters).

I pulled the steering column today. I'm looking at it and my Etka drawings/Bentley and they don't seem to be matching up.

View down the tube with the column out:


Steering column itself out:


And the Bentley diagram:


And of course the Etka diagram:
http://knightcreations.com/ghetto/images/jetta/rebuild/steering%20column.pdf

Now you can see the lower bearing that I have is not the same looking as what the Bentley shows or Etka shows. I also don't seem to have any of the other bits shown down there in Etka, namely pieces 6, 12, or 9.

Also I'm unclear as to what exactly I have at the upper end, where my ignition switch housing covers. There seems to be some slop there as well. Is there something in there to replace to shore this area up? I'll have to get a puller to get the ignition switch housing off.


Looking at what I have, I don't see how the bearing is supposed to stay in there (which is why there was a hose clamp and remnants of a coke bottle cap holding it in). Am I supposed to have other pieces there to hold it in? And is my current bearing totally worn out or something so that it looks different?

[wolfsburged]

Looking elsewhere, I found this on a Vanagon, but appears similar. Looks like I should get this:


Part # 175 419 341A for the upper slop.

The lower bearing is 171 419 517


It appears to be parts 9 & 10 together?

but do I need this "thrust ring" (part 12) 171 419 539 and "pressure spring" (part 6) 171 419 343A?

[Luckypabst]

Yea... those bearings are one piece. Yours has come apart and the plastic outer race is still in the steering column. My Rabbit did the same thing and the bearing would slip out of place.

I can't help with the other questions. My Rabbit was just like the Bentley diagram, with no other pieces down at the lower end. Installing that plastic housed bearing is a real PITA without the correct mandrel - the body will compress and distort as you apply pressure, causing it to bulge out and not slide into place.

That bearing is not cheap either...
Chris

[the caveman]

At the top bit with the steering lock, pull that piece of plastic off. You will be then able to remove the housing and the bearing with it. Normally there is a plastic bushing behind the lock bearing to support the tube. It falls out of place if your not careful when assembling