Steering Column Bushing Replacement-Easy Fix my @$$

[Par911]

Sure, just a few hefty taps ........After suffering from sloppy steering, I decided to order the metal bushing from pelican. I followed details in Bob's tech article step by step: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_Steering-bushing/911_steering_bushing.htm
Everything was fine until I went to tap the new metal bushing into place, it wouldn't replace the old white plastic one. I hammered away for about twenty minutes, but no luck the bushing just won't go in. So those of you who said this was easy, what did you do to make it easier? Oh and if someone wants me to do a search, watch out for a rubber mallet flying in your direction.
Steering column bushing ordered...any tips?
HELP! Steering wheel bushing quickfix???
Steering column bushing ordered...any tips?
What am I doing wrong, could it be that the bushing doesn't need to be replaced? Here's some pics of how I was trying to get the bushing on.


Thanks for any advice anyone can give.

[Dan Owens]

From the looks of the bushing you have in there it doesn't appear to be worn out at all. That may be why you're having trouble getting the new one in. What kind of steering slop do you have?

[Par911]

From the looks of the bushing you have in there it doesn't appear to be worn out at all.

That's the same thing I was thinking Dan, after seeing Thrown Hammer's column without the bushing. There is some shaking and wobbling when the car goes over a bump, and also in very windy conditions. The slop also occurs at high speeds, if my white plastic bushing is still intact then I am guessing it's another bushing in there.

[Par911]

I know the slop isn't because of tires, because I recently replaced all four and got an alignment done. So should I give up on replacing the steering column bushing with the metal one. I figure there's no point in destroying it if it's not causing the slop.

[Par911]

This picture from the tech article also shows the white bushing like mine. This is throwing me off. If you can see that white ring, does that mean that the bushing doesn't need to be replaced?

[emcon5]

Originally posted by Par911
The slop also occurs at high speeds

If it was the bushing, there would be slop all the time, even parked.

Tie rods?

Tom

[n8marx]

Are you talking about slop in your steering or is your steering wheel wobblyfront to back and side to side?

[Par911]

If it was the bushing, there would be slop all the time, even parked.

Hmm, that didn't occur to me Tom. It makes sense. The tie rods were upgraded to turbo tie rods within the past two years by the PO.
N8marx, the sloppiness is in the steering, the steering wheel isn't wobbly. The hub fits securely on the shaft, with no play.

[Wil Ferch]

The bushing fix is when you sit in your car...even parked...and you can move the steering wheel up/down or side/side. Doesn't sound like your problem. A few "guesses" of what to look for:
- hmm...recently replaced 4 tires? I've noticed sloppy handling until all new tires "broke in" for 500 miles...some took 1000 miles.
- normal steering stuff... ball joints, too...that can make sloppy steering.
- the "other" bushing....halfway down the steering shaft. Can't recall ( going on memory) if this is the same or different one that is often times seen after you open the smugglers boot. I think the smuggler's boot shows the universal joint on a splined shaft...the thing you loosen and re-tighten when you adjust the steering rack when using rack spacers. There may be another rubber-bushed connection elswhere, but I can't remember.

---Wil Ferch

[ubiquity0]

Your steering column bushing is fine. Mine was so bad I just pushed the replacement on by hand- needed no force at all.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally posted by Par911
There is some shaking and wobbling when the car goes over a bump, and also in very windy conditions. The slop also occurs at high speeds...

Hmmm, from that description I would guess worn strut mount bushings, or simply worn out shocks. Or, it might be time to rebuild the rack.

[yelcab1]

Originally posted by Wil Ferch

- the "other" bushing....halfway down the steering shaft. Can't recall ( going on memory) if this is the same or different one that is often times seen after you open the smugglers boot. .

---Wil Ferch

The "other bushing" down the end of the steering shaft is indestructible, it does not have a plastic bushing sleeve. I know this becase 4 years ago I changed the steering bushing bearing the hard way, by removing the entire column.

The bushing (subject of this thread) is not broken. It is still in tact.

[john walker's workshop]

check the steering rack bushings under the accordian boots. sometimes the bushings come out of the rack on one side, allowing the rack shaft to move around. you can usually just grab the tie rod close to the rack and try to move them around, without removing the boots, or watch the rack as you grab the tire and turn it in and out. excessive movement should be easy to spot.

[Par911]

hmm...recently replaced 4 tires? I've noticed sloppy handling until all new tires "broke in" for 500 miles...some took 1000 miles.

Will, I think the tires have broken in since I have put over 1000 miles on them. I think you are right about it being the other bushing, halfway down the steering shaft. Either that, or I'll crawl under the car this weekend and look at the ball joints.

Hmmm, from that description I would guess worn strut mount bushings, or simply worn out shocks. Or, it might be time to rebuild the rack

Eric, I know I need new shocks, and I'm planning on replacing them sometime soon. I have a steering rack sitting in my garage that the PO gave me when I bought the car. I have heard from friends that have worked on 911's for a living, and they tell me that the steering rack going bad isn't a common thing. Does this claim make sense?

Your steering column bushing is fine. Mine was so bad I just pushed the replacement on by hand- needed no force at all.

Thanks Ubiquity, that was what I was trying to figure out, did a few taps = pounding it like a maniac. I guess not, so my steering column bushing is fine and I will leave it alone.
Thanks everyone, now to figure out where the slop is coming from.

[Par911]

Ok, based on what John Walker said, it seems my friends in the biz are FOS. Thanks John, I will check out the steering rack as well when I'm under there. I'll give the tie rods a few yanks and check for excessive play.

[chrisp]

Is your play noticeable when you move the wheel side to side or up and down? Or is the play noticed when you turn the wheel?

If it's up/down or side/side then it's something like John said or maybe one of the ujoints is bad in the steering column causing it to want to pivot on the intact white bushing.

If it's rotational play (turning the wheel) then it could be all sorts of stuff.

Steering wheel loose
U-joints loose or u-joints bad
loose tie rods
bad tie rod end (I suffered from this in less than 3000 miles after a turbo tie rod upgrade)
play at the wheel (hub bearings)

[on-ramp]

if that plastic bushing was destroyed, your wheel would move a good 2-4 inches in every direction. Happened to me. your bushing in the picture looks fine.

[kstylianos]

Pari,

Do a couple DE's and you'll replace that bushing in no time

BTW: When that bushing decides to give up the ghost, YOU'LL KNOW!!

[Zeke]

I have some play in the steering rack itself. Sounds like you do to.

[Evans, Marv]

I'd go ptrimarily with what JW suggested. This may not apply, but I remember on VW's long ago, when the front struts needed replacement, they would become unstable and when they got worse they would begin to oscillate when you got up to a certain speed. Struts may be something to consider if John's idea doesn't pan out.