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Post by mongoose on Mar 27, 2011 9:13:35 GMT -5
My non-tilt steering column (65 Cutlass, console shift) appears to have worn-out or rusted bearings which produces noise when the wheel is turned. Does anyone know where the bearings are located in the column? I'm guessing there's one just behind the steering wheel hub, and probably the other is near the end of column right where the output shaft exits the column to head to the rag joint. I have to replace the rag joint as well, so I'm thinking the overall repair will be easier if I just remove the entire column, and repair it on the bench. Any thoughts or suggestions? Does anyone have an exploded schematic of the column I can reference during the rebuild? I can't find my repair manual, so any other hints to aid in an error-free repair would be much appreciated (ie... special tools needed, the right way to hold your mouth, etc.)  Don't like not having my manual. I think I'm going to have to spring for one of those versions on CD. |
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Post by BR[] on Mar 27, 2011 10:01:07 GMT -5
I find laying a book on the fender is one hell of a lot easier than running to a computer or printing the page all of the time, but then again, I'm old.
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Post by RAM Z on Mar 27, 2011 10:12:09 GMT -5
two bearings, one in the turn signal switch, the other at the end of the column tube under the hood, where the clamp on the shaft is. Removal of column is onky way to fix the bottom bearing.
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Post by tp on Mar 27, 2011 10:34:05 GMT -5
Its pretty easy to rebuild now for the lower ball bearing i could'nt find 1 but NPD has a bronze bushing in place of ball bearing it works ( FYI ) apply some lub so it dont squeak
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Post by mongoose on Mar 27, 2011 17:01:43 GMT -5
Any schematics?
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Post by tp on Mar 29, 2011 17:10:11 GMT -5
IF YOU NEED TO BUY THE BUSHING ITS LISTED IN NPD CAT UNDER 1965 CHEVELLE AND IF YOU NEED A MANUEL RAG JOINT THEY HAVE THOSE TO THANKS TO RAM-Z ON THE TIP ABOUT NPD I SPENT ALOT OF MONEY THERE ITS ABOUT 45 MINUTES FROM THE HOUSE
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Post by 442scotty on Mar 29, 2011 17:13:08 GMT -5
There was a place making bearing replacement kits for chev...should be the same...they were on Ebay last year. I will try and find them..
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Post by 442scotty on Mar 29, 2011 17:18:16 GMT -5
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Post by mongoose on Mar 30, 2011 5:24:28 GMT -5
I had anticipated removing the bearing, and use the number on the bearing or take its measurements to get a replacement. Sounds like it won't be as easy as that. Maybe the route 442scotty is providing is the way to go?
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Post by 65442 on Mar 30, 2011 9:13:25 GMT -5
Looking in the National Parts Depot chevelle catalog on page 57 of the 2010 addition they have the bearings. They look like the originals and not like the ones on e-bay. Is this a common problem with the bearings wearing out? Gary
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Post by realfast65 on Mar 30, 2011 10:59:58 GMT -5
Looking in the National Parts Depot chevelle catalog on page 57 of the 2010 addition they have the bearings. They look like the originals and not like the ones on e-bay. Is this a common problem with the bearings wearing out? Gary I look in NPD online page 57 and only see the lower bearing. I am not sure I have a bad bearing up top or not. I installed a grant wood grain wheel in place of my factory wheel and now my steering shaft is not rigid as before. It flexs now when you put a load on it in a hard corner. Is this norm for the grant wheel installation. The kit removes the large compression spring that was used with the factory steering wheel. |
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Post by RAM Z on Mar 30, 2011 12:06:33 GMT -5
Looking in the National Parts Depot chevelle catalog on page 57 of the 2010 addition they have the bearings. They look like the originals and not like the ones on e-bay. Is this a common problem with the bearings wearing out? Gary The lower bearing wears out and the bushing the bearing rides in gets brittle and breaks. Its the white plug in the end of the column tube. They are always broken. No one makes the plastic part, and the new lower bearing only works with that original bushing. That ebay part is the way to go. |
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Post by mongoose on Mar 30, 2011 12:31:44 GMT -5
Excellent information... thanks for the heads-up and recommendation.
Is the upper bearing in the turn signal switch readily available? Like NAPA, O'Reilly's, etc, or do I have to search at a specialty retailer (Fusick, Supercars Unlimited, The Parts Place, etc)?
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Post by realfast65 on Mar 30, 2011 12:33:11 GMT -5
So is there an upper bearing that wears out or is my flex due to installing the aftermarket grant kit. As stated the factory setup has a heavy compression spring that pushes every thing down when you tighten the factory steering wheel on. The grant setup eliminates this spring all together and installs a plastic turn signal cancel cam. Refer to this link www.grantproducts.com/files/instructions/97508-00-01.pdf |
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Post by fredcdobbs on Mar 30, 2011 13:02:08 GMT -5
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Post by realfast65 on Mar 30, 2011 14:10:35 GMT -5
Thanks but mine is a cloumn shift f-85. I think the spring has something to do with my problem. But I can't install the factory spring with the Grant kit I have. I guess I should contact them. I was hoping someone else had installed one.
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Post by mongoose on Mar 31, 2011 5:43:50 GMT -5
Looks like I'm in luck...
YearOne carries the turn signal switch assembly... which includes the housing, bearing, cam, and harness. Apparently there are a couple different styles (one stamped "GUIDE" and another stamped "BPE"). Which one you have has to be determined by observing what you have in your column.
Looks like Fusick carries it too. No pictures... so I don't know if it includes the bearing assembly, but because the price is basically the same, it's probably the same part.
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Post by RAM Z on Mar 31, 2011 7:09:40 GMT -5
One switch has a sealed in bearing, the other does not, which means you can change the bearing and not the switch. The other is one piece so you have to get a new switch to get a new bearing.
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Post by lurefix on Mar 31, 2011 10:10:01 GMT -5
PM sent
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Post by mongoose on Apr 3, 2011 14:37:35 GMT -5
Ok... got the column out and apart. The turn signal switch/bearing assembly is a "BPC", which it appears I can get from Fusick or Year One.
Looks like the lower bearing "assembly" is annihilated... as you can see by the pictures. Looks like all that was left was the inner and outer race for the bearing. So since I don't have a sample of what was in there, I'll have to use the forum members experience to let me know if the part Scotty pointed out on ebay is the correct replacement part.
From the picture, you can see it looks like this "stepped" outer bearing housing fit into the plastic column tube end. And then I assume that the clamp on the end is what compresses the whole column assembly between the steering wheel nut and that clamp.
Pic of the destroyed bearing not posted since the file size was too big.
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![BR[] Avatar](http://aliquippaoutlaws.homestead.com/Bro442_ANIM_150.gif)
FLYING AND DRIVING DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER
