rebuilding steering column
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 37
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From: Boston
rebuilding steering column
My steering shaft wobbles (non-tilt, 77 PU) in the column as I drive down the road, and I was wondering if there was a writeup on rebuilding it with new bushings and bearings. OR, can it just be tightened up somehow. If there isnt a write up, could someone go throught the steps to replace these parts? Im sure that there are others that have this same problem and you would be answering there Qs also
As always, thanks for the help guys.
Chu-man
As always, thanks for the help guys.
Chu-man
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,281
Likes: 18
From: Northern California
rebuilding steering column
I did mine a few weeks ago. 73 4x4 manual tranny. It has bearings on the top and bottom of the shaft that goes down the center. Yours should be simular
I started by removing the wheel, then found a few screws and nuts that hold down the center part where you have the turn signal/hazzard switches. these two nuts have a special bolt on the back side that can come loose and you'll have to reset them from the under side.
The center shaft has an upper and lower bearing that has a spring and nut at the top. I removed the outer shell and shaft then used come carb cleaner on the bearings and let it dry in the sun. I then packed the bearings with moly-graph greese and started putting it back together.
The bearings are ball type and usually can be cleaned and re-used. Packing is just like wheel bearings except small, I just used 1 finger to work the greese in.
I have an aftermarket wheel, but I've done this on the stock one before and the real trouble was getting the old wheel off. I used a puller and still bent several bolts until she came off.
I'd look at a few hours of work, not too hard of a job really.
I started by removing the wheel, then found a few screws and nuts that hold down the center part where you have the turn signal/hazzard switches. these two nuts have a special bolt on the back side that can come loose and you'll have to reset them from the under side.
The center shaft has an upper and lower bearing that has a spring and nut at the top. I removed the outer shell and shaft then used come carb cleaner on the bearings and let it dry in the sun. I then packed the bearings with moly-graph greese and started putting it back together.
The bearings are ball type and usually can be cleaned and re-used. Packing is just like wheel bearings except small, I just used 1 finger to work the greese in.
I have an aftermarket wheel, but I've done this on the stock one before and the real trouble was getting the old wheel off. I used a puller and still bent several bolts until she came off.
I'd look at a few hours of work, not too hard of a job really.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville, FL
rebuilding steering column
All,
The trick to getting a steering wheel off is to load the puller to a critical tightness (as tight as you can get it) then take a hammer and strike the puller. The sudden shock will break the wheel loose. The way to tell if it is working is to see if you can tighten the puller a little more after striking it. You may need to repeat this procedure two to three times before the wheel comes loose.
There is also a C-clip on the column that holds the blinker assembly in place. Use an ice pic to dig it out. Becareful; I seem to bend mine and it always goes back in funny.
Good Luck,
My Way is the Highway,
KingFisher
The trick to getting a steering wheel off is to load the puller to a critical tightness (as tight as you can get it) then take a hammer and strike the puller. The sudden shock will break the wheel loose. The way to tell if it is working is to see if you can tighten the puller a little more after striking it. You may need to repeat this procedure two to three times before the wheel comes loose.
There is also a C-clip on the column that holds the blinker assembly in place. Use an ice pic to dig it out. Becareful; I seem to bend mine and it always goes back in funny.
Good Luck,
My Way is the Highway,
KingFisher
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