[Mitch Leland]

Pete,

You're talking about replacing the roller bearing, not the nylon bushing, right... I manufacture a MDS (oil impregnated) Nylon support bushing that replaces the factory bushing for the steering column which Pelican Parts carries in their catalog. P/N PEL-ML-STR

I believe the only thing that prevens you from removing the roller bearing from the top of the column is the steering shaft. That is the reason you have to drop the steering shaft to gain enough room to have access to the ID of the roller bearing for a slide hammer to remove the roller bearing. I had a board member drill holes in the roller bearing face and inserted sheet metal screws and used a slide hammer to remove the bearing. I think he used chisels, drills, picks, and the slide hammer, it was ugly, but he did get it out. Probably with less work that dropping the steering shaft.

It's a thorny problem, maybe some other members can chime in...