Steering column sleeve

[mlfox]

I finally got around to doing it today, and it really wasn't that difficult.

After removing the horn pad, here is what you'll see. Note the horn contact wire. It came loose as I pulled the horn pad off. Also, it was helpful to remove the horn relay before pulling off the horn pad.



After removal of the steering wheel, you can see the remnant of the steering column bearing laying in the lower column cover. The masking tape at the top column cover was placed to help me correctly reposition the steering wheel. While I was in there, I replaced the missing screw at the lower right.



Here is the sleeve on its way in. I had to drive it in with a scrap piece of PVC. I lubed lightly it inside and out with Miltec firearm grease.



It was a simple fix, and I'm no mechanic.

[OSI930]

Nice photos. Thanks. Is that the sleeve our host sells?

[Paul Crowther]

I love this forum.

Wayne, I almost held off ordering just the sleeve because the shipping was almost as much as the part, but the information you get from this site is so valuable I slapped myself awake and ordered the part anyway.

I'll fix my column this weekend.

Paul

[mlfox]

Originally Posted by OSI930

Nice photos. Thanks. Is that the sleeve our host sells?

Judging from the photos posted, I'd say it is much the same.

[ramonesfreak]

is that sleeve black in color? mine was silver and doesnt fit tight. Please advise if this sleeve was black and if it made your steering collumn perfectly tight. thanks

[RWebb]

note this only applies to certain years - always a good idea to post the year of your car

[mlfox]

Originally Posted by RWebb

note this only applies to certain years - always a good idea to post the year of your car

Very good point... 1983 SC Coupe. Thanks.

[mlfox]

Originally Posted by srandallf

is that sleeve black in color? mine was silver and doesnt fit tight. Please advise if this sleeve was black and if it made your steering collumn perfectly tight. thanks

It is black, yes. There is no longer any discernible play in the steering column after its installation.

Regards,
mlfox

[ramonesfreak]

really?
i have an 83 also, chiffon white!
anyway, seriously if you take the steering wheel in your hand, one had at 12 and one at 6 and try to rock the wheel, you have absolutely zero movement? if so, wow. i have never had zero since installing sleeve

mine is not black. its silver, or sort of nickle color. perhaps the dimensions are now different?

you ordered this from pelican? i bought mine last year

[ramonesfreak]

Originally Posted by mlfox

Judging from the photos posted, I'd say it is much the same.

now im confused. did you buy this sleeve from another source or from Pelican? If you bought it someplace else, could you PM with the source please as I am desperate to get my steering perfectly tight and would like to try this black sleeve
thanks

[khamul02]

Check out John Walkers thread about the issues with using these. I have one and went with the lube to help but not entirely solve the problem.

[ramonesfreak]

the topic addressed in JW's thread also raises the same concern regarding sticking a feeler gauge in between the shaft and the sleeve...in my opinion. im hesitant to do that as someone mentioned i think above, though i am tempted

the source of this black sleeve has me curious

EDIT...another recent and related thread, someone mentioned the feeler gauge. not this one. sorry. same topic though

[khamul02]

Mine was black as well.



It was purchased well over a year ago from Paragon.

[Mitch Leland]

Recently my factory nylon bushing turned to dust as they will all do sooner or later. Being a hobby machinist I have made several runs at improving the bushing and in particular coming up with a bushing that wasn't steel to steel on the steering shaft.

Here's the 4th generation of the bushing which is made out of a "lubricated nylon" that has a very hard Rockwell hardness, yet provides a bearing surface of nylon. I had a professional machinist friend make up a couple sets for trial. So far they're are working perfectly with "O" play.

The dimensions have to be perfect so we'll probably have to put some more out there before we know where we are. Once we're satisfied with the dimensions and the performance maybe we can see if Wayne wants to handle them.

[khamul02]

HOLY COW MAN!!!! Your work is very appreciated. I hope you have these finished up soon as we are all chewing away our steering shafts with those cheap steel deals.

[ramonesfreak]

yes thats excellent. please put me down for 5

[ramonesfreak]

cross reference :
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/425440-steering-wheel-bearing-quik-fix-sleeve-post4124473.html#post4124473

just posted there:

I just took a 0.10 feeler gauge and stuck it between the shaft and the sleeve. WOW !! now my steering is tight.

0.10 is a pretty thick gauge...so Im concerned and confused.

Im going to try to order the black replacement sleeve mentioned in another thread and see if its a tighter fit than the silver colored one I received from PP last May 2007.

Im wondering - are there two versions of the sleeve? and why is mine silver colored?

Thanks MlFox for the info re: where to get the one you bought. Im gonna order it soon as Im a little worried about the feeler gauge doing damage to the shaft

[khamul02]

you should measure the thickness of both.

[ncseahawk]

OK,

How the heck did you get the 27MM nut off the steering column?

When I attempt to break it loose, the wheels simply turn as if the wheel where still on?

[ramonesfreak]

with a long socket and a breaker bar

sit in the seat with the bar on the left side..in your left hand and the steering wheel in your right

grab steering wheel tightly with right hand and loosen with left hand....or if need more leverage, stand outside car and do this

when putting back on, be careful not to slip off the nut as you will fly into windshield and might crack it