Replacement steering bushing already installed?

skipdup · 03-09-2005, 08:42 AM

Can someone please confirm that I already have a replacement steering column bushing installed... It looks like the PO may have done??? Which, makes me wonder why I still have play...

Thanks,
Skip

IROC · IROC's Garage

Yep, that's it.

Mike

aigel · aigel's Garage

Yes sir. A small amount of play may remain. It did on my car. Minor. And there is a bearing too that may be buggered up? I have not gotten in that far though, so take that with a grain of salt.

George

skipdup · 03-09-2005, 09:34 AM

Thanks.

I was able to work out the old one and replaced it with new. Packed a wee bit of grease in there while I was at it, though I can't tell it did anything. I probably just have "normal" play in mine... nothing I can't live with, now that I know my bushing isn't damaged/gone.

Also, a word of advise for other newbs with dark interior... Don't forget to replace the c-clip because you can't see it laying on your mats. If you torque the steering wheel down without it, it's very very very very very difficult to remove the wheel again!

- Skip

KTL · 03-09-2005, 11:54 AM

Skip,

I've done this job a couple of times. "Job", means that i've removed the entire steering column to replace the faulty plastic-sleeved bearing. TWICE!

Don't ask..........

Steering Wheel Bearing Topic

I imagine your steering is still a little loose because the 928 sleeve does not completely take the place of the plastic sleeve, when the old plastic is pushed out of the way. It seems to me that the 928 sleeve allows for a little bit of play between the shaft and the metal sleeve surface.

Whatever the case, the 928 sleeve is the way to go. You should never have to deal with the steering bearing again. The grease that's inside the plasti-bearing is pretty heavy stuff and should not dry out or flow any time soon. Unfortunately, the grease you put in there is not going to get into the upper bearing. But it certainly didn't hurt anything.

einreb · 12:31 PM

I've got the same thing... one thing that confuses me is that the 'sleeve' can slide out a bit and the wheel gets a bit loose. Nothing appears to secure it tight? no?

Is the 'c-clip' you speak of tight against the sleeve?

EDIT: Holy crap Kevin! That steering column job looks like a biatch.

KTL · 03-09-2005, 02:00 PM

Bernie,

The only thing holding the 928 sleeve in there is the sorta spring tension from the sleeve being split. I guess you could spread the sleeve open a bit and make it a tighter fit?

The c-clip that Skip mentioned doesn't go against the sleeve. The clip is in a groove up near the steering wheel spline area of the shaft.

Yeah, removing the column is a big PITA. I can't believe I did this job twice. Once when I first got my car in 2000 and wasn't aware of the 928 sleeve fix. Had to replace the column because it slipped out of the vise & got messed upwhile trying to drive out the upper bearing. So I got a salvage complete column from Parts Heaven for $75.

Then I knew the day would come when the upper bearing in the salvage column would take a poo on me. Just didn't think it would be so soon. Replacement #2 was just last summer. I should have disassembled the salvage column assy. right away, and put in a new bearing before reinstalling everything. Oh well.

Pretty sure i'm done replacing steering column bearings on my car now................