Steering column bearing

[mystery3]

I'm looking at replacing the bearing just above the u-joint on the steering column as the 30 year old one exploded recently. The bently has limited info on this and not a lot of pictures/diagrams.

Do I really need to pull the column and have the bearing pressed in?

Or can I pull it halfway and get the bearing set with enough force from under the dash.

Any tips or advice is appreciated!

[Luckypabst]

Dunno what you drive but it's not a particularly cheap part for a Mk1 and it's a *** to install. Yes you do need to remove the column (which isn't too difficult). The outer shell is made of plastic so if you just press it in without the correct tool, the plastic deforms and the part won't just slide in... I think I ended up hammering and cussing and got it in there, but it was an ordeal.

Chris

[maxfax]

How bad has it come apart??  Are the rollers still in the plastic cage??   Common fix is to shove the pieces back up in there and put a hose clamp around the shaft to hold it in...  Probably thousands of these things have been rolling around for over a decade with this fix in place...

[mystery3]

I failed to mention the vehicle in question is a 1981 caddy. I found the part from mkIautohaus (sp?) on ebay for $30 so not too bad, it's oem as well.

It's come apart pretty badly. I think the cage is broken and may be missing a few rollers but I haven't inspected it too closely b/c it's under the ***ing dash and my head doesn't fit too well down there.

I guess I'll pull the column tomorrow and see what I can do with it. Perhaps I'll see if I've any pvc or other pipe the right diameter to tap it into place.

[Luckypabst]

That's about what I paid but I'm a cheap bastard... I expected it to be way less, I suppose.

The OEM tool supports the bearing OD at a diameter just large enough for a slip fit so the plastic can't mushroom out as you press the bearing into the column. If I'd had my lathe at the time, it would have been easy enough to spin up a simple pilot to smooth the process.

Chris

[maxfax]

That's about what I paid but I'm a cheap bastard... I expected it to be way less, I suppose.

Same here..In the past I always did the clamp thing and for some unknown reason I thought I'd go all out and actually replace it on the current car..  I was expecting maybe 10 - 15 bucks for the thing...  Add in the trouble (even if it really isn't that much I'm lazy) of taking things apart and pressing in the bearing, and I still have a hose clamp..     

But in this case if the cage broke/rollers are MIA, replacing it would be the thing to do..  Some PVC pipe with perhaps a bit of grinder therapy for fit should do the job just fine.. 

[mystery3]

Having to pull the pedal box makes this pita have to wait until next weekend and hopefully some dry weather in which to roll around in my driveway.

[R.O.R-2.0]

Having to pull the pedal box makes this pita have to wait until next weekend and hopefully some dry weather in which to roll around in my driveway.

why do you have to pull the pedals?

[mystery3]

You don't have to pull the pedals, you just have to detach them from the pedal box which is for some reason attached to the steering column and firewall.

[mystery3]

My mistake. Paying to much attention to bently diagrams and not enough time with my nugget jammed beneath the dash. Looks like one just needs to pull that weird clip and the column will come out sideways?

[mystery3]

Got everything apart. After figuring out the clip the hardest part was pulling the shaft out of the u-joint that and "pressing" in the bearing. I didn't want to break it so I'll take it to a shop tomorrow and have it pressed in. Hopefully everything goes back together a little easier. Installation is the reverse of removal right?