Steering column repair

Kanzan · Post by **Kanzan** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 11:44 am

Finally got my wife to ride in my 81 Caddy diesel, wouldn't you know, a new intense rattle developed on the way home. Found I could calm it down by pushing up or pulling down on the steering wheel. At home, further examination found a small white plastic ring laying on top of the first U joint on the steering gear, and a tapered bearing half way out of the bottom of the steering column. Pushed the bearing back in with a small screwdriver, but couldn't get the white plastic ring to hold the bearing in. As soon as I released the plastic ring, the ring and bearing promptly fell out. My Bentley was of little or no help as to what held the bearing in. Tried several hose clamps to no avail. No way I wanted to pull the steering column. Finally thought about a split shaft collar. The bushing on the steering shaft measured about 1 3/16", and stuck out of the column a short distance. Had to use heavy grease to hold the bearing and plastic ring in, while I put on the split collar. Took several tries, as you are practicaly standing on your head as you work on the colum. In the end, it worked out very well, as several other rattles seem to be gone. Just how it that small white plastic ring supposed to holt the lower bearing in the column? Kanzan

82vdub · Post by **82vdub** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:02 pm

I believe that the plastic ring, when new and not brittle, would be pressed into the column holding the bearing in place. Since it's old and brittle, it likely cracked and lost it's tension, sliding down the column with the bearing now sitting on it.

I did a similar fix using pieces of vacuum hose and hose clamps. It's worked well for 2 years now. Do you have the part number of the split colar that you used and the location for it's purchase for others to know?

VWCaddy · Post by **VWCaddy** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:04 pm

That ring is part of the bearing assembly, normally all one piece. There is a writeup on Vortex about replacing that bearing or a small hose clamp on the end often works to hold the remnants of the bearing in place.

Not sure if Jack sells that bearing or not.

Quantum TD · Post by **Quantum TD** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:16 pm

Not mine, but here you go:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vw-Rabbi ... ccessories

82vdub · Post by **82vdub** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:01 pm

I wonder if Timken or someone else makes one where there's no nylon to crack and require one to redo all the hard work to replace it again.

VWCaddy · Post by **VWCaddy** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:10 pm

I made a replacement bushing out of oil filled UHMW plastic that I was going to try. Still need to remove the bearing to get it in:

So when I get up the time and ambition to tear the column apart, will be trying that bushing out. I also have a new bearing to use if the bushing does not work.

Kanzan · Post by **Kanzan** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:05 pm

I got my 2 piece shaft collar (#510-2018) from enco.com. Lots of places should have 1 3/16" two piece shaft collars. Kanzan