steering column help!!!!!!

[76Kroh]

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old lower bearings



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Is this right?

I had a local shop replace the bearings and flange in my steering column. I had been having knocking sounds coming from it along with the steering wheel shaft moving up and down in it. Turns out the was no lower bearings just rolled up aluminum from a tin can acting as bearings . Where I need the help, shown in the picture, should the lower bearing be exposed like that? I gave them a lower steering column seal retainer (they didn't use) and it looks like it would fit where the bearing are exposed. Anyone with knowledge would be very helpful as I have to take it back anyway because the blinkers stopped working o.0

[red_67f100]

If IM not mistaken, I think there should be a seal covering that part of the bearing to protect against debris getting into the ball bearings.

[76Kroh]

Also there is still about 1/16 of an inch side to side (not turning the wheel) movement at the top of the column that causes some knocking still. Maybe something else is missing? What should stop the shaft from moving like that at the top? It seems like 90% of it was fixed on the lower end. Now I just have this lingering 10%.

[Busboy]

Sounds to me like you need to get a different shop to do your repairs.

[sargentrs]

Doesn't look like the lower column bearing was seated all the way and you most definitely need the retainer installed. My auto column had a washer between the shaft clamp and the bearing retainer. Shove the clamp up against the washer and up against the column retainer. Holds everything nice and tight. Here's a pic of my bearing showing the washer and retainer and a pic of the new bearing fully seated.

[76Kroh]

Doesn't look like the lower column bearing was seated all the way and you most definitely need the retainer installed. My auto column had a washer between the shaft clamp and the bearing retainer. Shove the clamp up against the washer and up against the column retainer. Holds everything nice and tight. Here's a pic of my bearing showing the washer and retainer and a pic of the new bearing fully seated.

Thanks I was hoping you'd chime in. The washer part is the retainer seal that they didn't put in. They were very apologetic and are doing next week. Doesn't explain the kocking And upper play though With lower bearings missing and rolled up aluminum in the column there is no telling what the issue can be. I may end up just saying screw it and buying a new column

[sargentrs]

The only thing holding the steering shaft centered between the steering wheel and the rag joint are those plastic (original was metal) cone shaped retainers at the top (tube flange) and bottom (column housing) and the washer/retainers on top of each one. If they didn't put those in, or didn't put the washers on, tighten/torque the steering and THEN shove the lower retainer clamp up against the bottom washer/retainer, it's going to flop around. Either that or the upper/lower column bearing were not seated all the way in their respective housings. Once all of that is properly installed, the assembled column bolts to the dash with two bolts and the bottom of the steering shaft bolts to the rag joint and then the column is clamped to the firewall support. While it doesn't sound like much is holding it, the combination of all of that makes a pretty rigid assembly. Check their work carefully and make sure they've put it all together correctly. Here's a couple of more pics showing the upper bearing installed, the retainer cone (mine original upper was still metal) and the metal ring that hold it in place under the TSS. Also make sure they re-installed the spring under the steering wheel.

[Nitekruizer]

Other than the steering gear unit itself, or the "Rag Joint", the only places that could allow play in the steering wheel would be the splines. I would check either where the steering wheel attaches to the steering shaft and especially where the "Rag Joint" coupler is attached to the splined shaft of the steering gearbox.

I had excessive play with my old manual steering that turned out to be caused by the coupler being loose on the shaft of the steering gearbox.

[76Kroh]

The only thing holding the steering shaft centered between the steering wheel and the rag joint are those plastic (original was metal) cone shaped retainers at the top (tube flange) and bottom (column housing) and the washer/retainers on top of each one. If they didn't put those in, or didn't put the washers on, tighten/torque the steering and THEN shove the lower retainer clamp up against the bottom washer/retainer, it's going to flop around. Either that or the upper/lower column bearing were not seated all the way in their respective housings. Once all of that is properly installed, the assembled column bolts to the dash with two bolts and the bottom of the steering shaft bolts to the rag joint and then the column is clamped to the firewall support. While it doesn't sound like much is holding it, the combination of all of that makes a pretty rigid assembly. Check their work carefully and make sure they've put it all together correctly. Here's a couple of more pics showing the upper bearing installed, the retainer cone (mine original upper was still metal) and the metal ring that hold it in place under the TSS. Also make sure they re-installed the spring under the steering wheel.

Thanks You. They are good people and more then willing to work with me. They are taking it apart again to put the washer seal back on so I will pass on the helpful advice. Also they reused the metal retainer instead of the plastic one. I may make them use the new one too.

[76Kroh]

Other than the steering gear unit itself, or the "Rag Joint", the only places that could allow play in the steering wheel would be the splines. I would check either where the steering wheel attaches to the steering shaft and especially where the "Rag Joint" coupler is attached to the splined shaft of the steering gearbox.

I had excessive play with my old manual steering that turned out to be caused by the coupler being loose on the shaft of the steering gearbox.

The rag joint was replaced at the same time so I am good there. I think like sargentrs does, maybe the bearing didn't get set all of the way. I guess I will find out when they go back in.

[76Kroh]

The only thing holding the steering shaft centered between the steering wheel and the rag joint are those plastic (original was metal) cone shaped retainers at the top (tube flange) and bottom (column housing) and the washer/retainers on top of each one. If they didn't put those in, or didn't put the washers on, tighten/torque the steering and THEN shove the lower retainer clamp up against the bottom washer/retainer, it's going to flop around. Either that or the upper/lower column bearing were not seated all the way in their respective housings. Once all of that is properly installed, the assembled column bolts to the dash with two bolts and the bottom of the steering shaft bolts to the rag joint and then the column is clamped to the firewall support. While it doesn't sound like much is holding it, the combination of all of that makes a pretty rigid assembly. Check their work carefully and make sure they've put it all together correctly. Here's a couple of more pics showing the upper bearing installed, the retainer cone (mine original upper was still metal) and the metal ring that hold it in place under the TSS. Also make sure they re-installed the spring under the steering wheel.

Turned out to be the old metal retainer for the bearing. He reused it thinking it was better than the plastic new one. He was wrong! No play in the column now

[sargentrs]

Congratulations! Thanks for posting the fix.