Steering column parts needed - is used the only option?

[64nailhead]

I found a great online reference on working on those columns. I have a hard copy at the office (only place with a printer that could print it). I'll post a link tomorrow. I'm going to send myself a reminder now....

Thanks - I could use it.

I was wrong in my previous post - my lower bearing fell apart. I put it back together and reassembled, but it’s had it. It’s almost right now, but still a little loose. I need to replace the two bearings and I believe all will be good.

 

[69hurstolds]

A new lower bearing kit should work??? Yours still have the original bushing? Or has it been replaced? Here's a good price on a lower bearing kit.

Lower Steering Column Bearing Kit 18019.03 for Jeep CJ5 CJ7 CJ8 Wrangler YJ | eBay

 

[64nailhead]

A new lower bearing kit should work??? Yours still have the original bushing? Or has it been replaced? Here's a good price on a lower bearing kit.

Lower Steering Column Bearing Kit 18019.03 for Jeep CJ5 CJ7 CJ8 Wrangler YJ | eBay

I should clarify, it was the middle bearing (one closest to tilt mechanism), not the one in the engine bay.

 

[Texas82GP]

Here's the link to that write up on the steering column. Big .pdf. Sorry for the delay in posting this. I wasn't in the office yesterday...

http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/images/d/d6/Jazzman_Steering_Rack_Rebuild.pdf

 

[64nailhead]

Bearings and seats/retainers and junk? You'd have to buy bearing and spring kits. Generally not serviced separately.

7844650 tilt spring kit has the bearing races/seats.
View attachment 163114

The upper bearing not serviced separately, but would come in the rack kit. P/N 7844651.
View attachment 163115

I bought the upper bearing kit - $40 on Amazon. Pulling for this to solve the problem. Presently have the bearings in the freezer for easier install.

I have to say that the video Hutch made for tearing this column apart is noteworthy. Excellent information and very easy to follow.

 

[64nailhead]

Close, but no cigar.

It's better, but still has some wobble only when the shaft is pushed into the column. There has to be something that keeps that shaft from sliding fore and aft in the column. Comparing to other columns in other cars (GM's of course), none of them have much of any fore and aft movement.

I'll be pulling the column from the car and working on it on a bench - I've had enough hehe.

Good thing I'm not in a hurry lol - this is taking forever.

 

[69hurstolds]

Although not overly complicated, it's like a Tetris game inside there.

Hutch's video is great. If you have a sloppy tilt, this will do it.

But if you want to go DEEPER into that column, this video has a lot of good tips and visuals. Guy's faster than he should be for trying to teach anything, but a good video nonetheless. No hurry though, it's an hour and a half.

 

[64nailhead]

Although not overly complicated, it's like a Tetris game inside there.

Hutch's video is great. If you have a sloppy tilt, this will do it.

But if you want to go DEEPER into that column, this video has a lot of good tips and visuals. Guy's faster than he should be for trying to teach anything, but a good video nonetheless. No hurry though, it's an hour and a half.

What parts are interchangeable between columns? Specifically, could I put the upper tilt section that accepts the wiper/turn signal switch into a g column that had a dash mounted wiper switch? Seems like it should interchangeable, but .... maybe you or someone knows.

 

[64nailhead]

Okay, I’m feeling redeemed because I’ve determined what the issue was with the 40+ years old design that took me about 5 hrs of head scratching to figure out.

The ridge on the shaft was caused from , guessing’ the car being driven with the column bearings destroyed for an extended period. I never noticed it because I , ummm, didn’t pay close enough attention. It caused this :

That is as far as the upper race could slide on. And it needs to go in further. After some emery paper and cleaning it now slides down the length of the shaft (sounds dirty). See

No more slop - about time. Now onto transforming a column shift into a floor shift column.

Thanks for help guys.

 

[64nailhead]

Shockingly, this column is like new after getting the lock plate and steering wheel mounted. Hard to imagine that those two bearings tightened it up this much.

The steering wheel is a placeholder presently, but once the new wheel is on I'll try to remember to update with some pics of the floor shift conversion.