Years back I bought my 68 Convertible 327/4-speed, but not before this time I manage time find time to prepare it for the road.
Back then I knew that the upper steering column were due replacement. Badly!
Last night I disassembled the steering wheel and upper bearing. Initial I thought that the bearing had just popped out of the housing. Apparently this is not the case. It looks like the whole steering shaft protrude about ¾”. The bearing was still suspended between two locking rings, but as it looks, the shaft protrudes up through the bearing house as such the bearing is lifted up passed the bearing house.
Anyone here who recognize this or being able to help me understanding what this is about?

Thanks
Lars

 

The original upper bearing is fitted in the cast bearing housing. You have two options when replacing the upper bearing. Purchase the bearing already installed in the housing ($145) or the bearing($45) only. If you just buy the bearing you will have to epoxy it into your housing.
I bought my bearing installed in the housing.
I purchased the parts to rebuild my 68 steering column from Corvette Steering.
http://www.corvettesteering.com/corvette%20parts.htm

 

First of all, I assume that you have a standard (non-adjustable) steering column, not the telescoping one.

Would you please download the following papers from the www.corvettefaq.com websight. They are in pdf format.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...ev23ja2009.pdf

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...ev23ja2009.pdf

The following steering column blowup picture is also on page #6 of paper #1 as well as on page 4 of paper #2.

The upper bearing should be encased in upper bearing housing #8. The bearing should be a light press fit into the housing and then a thin die cast lip on the housing should be staked over to hold the bearing in place.

You are correct that the upper bearing should be "trapped" between two retaining rings (#13 and 5694191). The upper bearing should not be able to move out of the housing unless the steering shaft #20 is able to move as well.

There should be a clamp, nut, and bolt #19 that prevents the steering shaft from moving back toward the driver.

Hope that this helps.

Jim

 

I used Jim's paper to rebuild my column. After rebuild, the column feels like new. No slop or movement.

A great service to the Corvette community. Thanks Jim!

 

Thanks for your replies.
Looking at the drawing of the steering column. What is fixing the upper shaft in the lower part?
Meaning, what is preventing the shaft from being lifted up pulling the steering wheel?
Maybe this is what have happen to my shaft. That the bearing had come loose from the housing and then been extracted from the housing by lifting the steering wheel.
Is it then a question of carefully slapping the shaft back in place?

Thanks
Lars

 

The steering shaft is designed to telescope on itself to protect the driver in a severe frontal collision. The upper shaft and the lower shaft are fixed together by plastic injection. As I remember four small diameter plastic pins must be sheared before the two shafts will telescope over each other.

With the plastic sheared the two shafts could also extend if the upper bearing moves out of the bearing housing.

The overall length of the steering shaft should be 37.57 inches. If the plastic is sheared I would suggest placing the two shafts together at the correct length. Obtain two small diameter plastic dowels. Drill two holes through the two steering shafts and press the dowels into the holes and through the two shafts. You do not want to permanently fix the two shafts with metal screws, bolts, etc since you will defeat the collapsible safety feature of the design.

I assume that the upper bearing moves in and out of the bearing housing. You will need to either peen over any remaining part of the housing to hold the outer race in place or carefully epoxy glue the bearing into the housing.

Jim