Tilt Wheel lower Bearing Replacement
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,720
Likes: 557
From: Seattle Washington
Tilt Wheel lower Bearing Replacement
Hello, on my 1st real test Drive I noticed some slop still in my Steering when the wheel is Centered. As I have the Steeroids setup and all new A Arms and pretty much every componet there is I was a bit Surprized and figured something was left loose. Inspecting everything I have found that the Lower end of the Steering Column has some Play in it and its letting the U-joints of the Steeroids Move around more than they should. It looks as if one just pops a Clip off to replace the bearing but the Service Manual dosn't cover this very well. If so can it be done with out removing the Coulumn? I sure hope that it dosn't have to be done from the other side and that the bearing is the first and last part of dissasembling the entire Colunm! I assume that the bearing is really a bushing. As the Steeroids relies more on this bearing for support of the U-joints it should probably be a Ball or Needle Bearing. I'm probably not the first to deal with this with the Steeroids setup.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
I would think that it is possible to remove and replace the lower bearing without removing the steering column. However, I would think that it would be far easier replacing it after the column was out of the car rather than working over, under, and around the universal joints, corrosion, etc.
You didn't mention if you had a T&T or a standard (non-adjustable) steering column. There is a slight difference between the two.
To drop and remove the steerng column as well as replacing the lower bearing you can find complete instructions at:
www.corvettefaq.com
click on Jim Shea's Steering Papers
click on Corvette Steering Papers
scroll down to either the Standard Steering Column or the T&T Steering Column 1969-82 Disassembly & Repair Papers #1 and #2
Also the Disassembly & Repair Pics #1 & #2.
Jim
You didn't mention if you had a T&T or a standard (non-adjustable) steering column. There is a slight difference between the two.
To drop and remove the steerng column as well as replacing the lower bearing you can find complete instructions at:
www.corvettefaq.com
click on Jim Shea's Steering Papers
click on Corvette Steering Papers
scroll down to either the Standard Steering Column or the T&T Steering Column 1969-82 Disassembly & Repair Papers #1 and #2
Also the Disassembly & Repair Pics #1 & #2.
Jim
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,720
Likes: 557
From: Seattle Washington
Thanx for the heads up. Mine is an 80' so I have the Tilt and T&T as well. I'm wondering if I could build a Bearing addapter that would Bolt to the Column and provide more support for the Steeroids u-joints and be easyer to do than Rebuild the whole Column.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Yorktown VA
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I just installed Steeroids and was looking at replacing the lower bearing too. You remove the Steeroids U-joint and then the clip holding the bearing retainer. The retainer should then slip off, and you need to slide the old bearing down off the shaft. Wasn't too hard except the bearing was frozen to the shaft. Had to hit it with liquid wrench and the knock it gently until it freed itself. As it turned out, the bearing had slide down the shaft at some time in the past and wasn't even in contact with the column, hence I had a lot of play. Once loose, I pushed it back into place and reset the retainer and clip. No more play. Now it works correctly.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,720
Likes: 557
From: Seattle Washington
Sounds like your out to make life easy for me. Something I should of checked when I was in there in the First Place. I'm not sure if the big Vette vendors even supply this bearing. Thanx...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Yorktown VA
NCM Sinkhole Donor
http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...ower%20bearing
