Upgraded lower steering column bearing kit for G-body - questions

[69hurstolds]

69hurstolds, you're right, in hindsight it would be just as easy to order this $18.85 set from ebay...

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5335822911&icep_item=380919719937

As I investigated the bearing/carrier etc, I figured why do I need the steel retainer/wire clip when there is a perfectly good one on my column already? If anybody finds the bearing at a reasonable price feel free to post your info for others to see in the future.

And fleming442, yes, it is an optical illusion, also distorted by the fact I laid my new firewall gasket over the top of that linkage pocket...

But with shipping you're still looking at around 22 bucks each to the door.
I totally plan on re-using the existing steel housing and clip. I got the bearings from JC Whitney from ebay. Also got the plastic retainers from somewhere on ebay. It was like 9 bucks for 2 of those shipped. The bearings were free shipping but they tagged me a couple of bucks for taxes. They were 18.88 each for the bearings. Something like that. So I didn't get the kits. The Omix-ADA part number for the entire kit I found by accident later. It was under p/n 18019.03

 

[shoedoos]

69hurstolds, that's the Omix-ada part number (18019.03) Geezy24 mentioned in post #17.....

also found this on youtube....

 

[L92 OLDS]

Interesting. In all my years working on G bodies this is the first time to come across this issue. I wonder how widespread and common this potential problem is....Now I have to check my cars.

 

[69hurstolds]

IMO, the bearing upgrade would be worth it because the original "bearing" is nothing more than what appears to be lip seals or a ridge like deal IIRC. I reused the one in the 84 H/O when I went through that car, because I only had to re-tighten the lock plate bolts but otherwise everything was in pretty good shape. But I took it apart to clean and re-grease everything.

 

[shoedoos]

Good to see Gbodyforum gets an honorable mention.....

 

[oldsofb]

Good to see Gbodyforum gets an honorable mention.....

I talk up this forum in quite a few videos. I love this place! The collective knowledge about these cars goes deeeeeep on here.

Hutch

 

[69hurstolds]

With the music, how could you not go deeeeeep? 😛 🤣

 

[oldsofb]

 

[JAMCAR223]

Good to see Gbodyforum gets an honorable mention.....

Thanks Hutch! Thanks shoedoos! I have the part# saved, and will install this while the column is out.

 

[Injectedcutty]

Thanks Hutch! Thanks shoedoos! I have the part# saved, and will install this while the column is out.

Y'all got me thinking about it too lol. I'm not pulling my column though. Curious the difficulty of doing the swap with column in car.