914-4 Steering Column Bearing replacement, how I did it Options

[chuckc]

pete000 posted a question about 914-6 Steering Column Bearings here:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=182165

I have a 75 1.8 that had a lot of play in the steering column when I bought it a year ago . The PO gave me both a new steering wheel bearing and the "quick fix" sleeve/bushing that could be used in lieu of replacing the bearing. I opted to replace the bearing. Also mine didn't have a Pressure Spring or a Split Ring Bushing and I didn't have one so if this is a required item please chime in.

Tools needed:
Upper Steering Shaft Bearing, 914 1.7/1.8/2.0 (1972-76) prt# 911-347-771-02-M100
philips head
28mm socket (for steering wheel retaining nut)
breaker bar
torque wrench
5.5 metric hex wrench
needle nose pliers
3000 grit sand paper
royal purple or wd-40

Parts:
go where you'd like but you'll find 'em here w/ numbers
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopca..._SUSstr_pg2.htm

time:
I'm slow and had a piss poor Haynes with only general steering column disassembly instructions and it took me about 4 hours to figure out while documenting. Next time will be 1 hour.

Steps:
1). remove knee pad -- 5 or 6 phillips head screws and washers on bottom. 1 small screw w/ cap on each side facing the doors.

2). remove horn, retaining nut and spring washer , and wheel. In different places I read the retaining nut was 27, 29 and 30mm, but mine was actually 28mm. final torque spec to 34 Ft-Lbs, so I used a breaker bar to loosen mine.
(I made note of where the canceling ring on the back of the wheel lined up to the steering shaft since I was also swapping wheels but keeping the canceling ring.)


3). unplug 2 electrical plugs from bottom of column (you could do this as step 2, right after you removed the knee pad)


4). remove 5.5 mm hex screw on bottom of steering column


5). remove 4 long small screws from horn contact plate and the small circ clip on the end of the shaft. Now you can pull out the wiper and indicator switch assembly enough to let it hang to the side.


6). remove circ clip (a b!tc# ) it sits in a groove and can be rotated out w/ needle nose or small ice picks. Then you can remove the steering shaft bearing. The guide bushing on my bearing had rotted causing the play in the shaft.


7). prior to installing the new bearing I wiped free the broken bits of plastic from the old bushing and old grease and went over the shaft quickly w/ some 3000 grit sand paper to smooth it down a bit. The new bearing fits very, very snug so I also applied a small amount of royal purple.


8). I started the bearing with my hands, then gently tapped it with a hammer just enough to get it going then used a deep socket to get it on a bit more. My socket wasn't deep enough to finish the job so I used the old bearing as a shield and tapped away with the hammer. Getting the new bearing all the way in so that the circ clip could seat properly in its' groove took some work. I ended up tapping the bearing with a small punch the last half mm.


9). use some needle nose pliers to compress the cric clip and it will snap into its' groove then just reverse the steps to get everything together. When it came time to put the retaining nut back on I had my brother in law torque it to spec while I held the steering wheel straight.


If I missed anything or screwed something up please correct me.
peace,
chuck

[wingnut86]

Looks dead on.

Good pictures and flow of your process. I admit to being jealous of your process perfection.

Hint: All bearings taste better right out of the freezer

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif)

[chuckc]

Looks dead on.

Good pictures and flow of your process. I admit to being jealous of your process perfection.

Hint: All bearings taste better right out of the freezer

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif)

Hey Thanks wingnut

[914-300Hemi]

Wingnut how did you remove the old bearing?

[Mike Bellis]

Nice write up!

[TheCabinetmaker]

Add one more tool. Snap ring pliers.

[chuckc]

thanks Mike.

Add one more tool. Snap ring pliers.

yea, would have been much easier than the needle nose pliers I used. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Cap'n Krusty]

Wingnut how did you remove the old bearing?

Yes, please detail the removal of the old bearing. I've done a number of these (prior to the advent of the 928 repair sleeve) and, as I recall, they were incredibly difficult to remove from the housing. Like maybe a couple of hours of grinding and drilling ..........................

The Cap'n

[HalfMoon]

Wingnut how did you remove the old bearing?

Yes, please detail the removal of the old bearing. I've done a number of these (prior to the advent of the 928 repair sleeve) and, as I recall, they were incredibly difficult to remove from the housing. Like maybe a couple of hours of grinding and drilling ..........................

The Cap'n

Good question!
I wonder if (with the shaft out of course) a simple slide hammer with some kind of "T" cross member mounted in an oversized hole (to allow enough flex to attain placement) would pop one out?
D

[euro911]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) ... nice write-up.

I need to do this on my '75 ... the steering wheel has a of rotational play (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[billbrip]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) ... nice write-up.

I need to do this on my '75 ... the steering wheel has a of rotational play (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

To get the bearing out I used a puller and hooked it on the lip of the bushing. Since the bushing was tight inside the bearing I pulled the bearing out enough until I could get the puller behind the bearing.

[euro911]

This is going to happen pretty soon ... my ignition switch recently started to act up intermittently and it's hard to start (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I believe the steering wheel need to come off to pull the switch anyway, right? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)


I guess I'm hard on ignition switches ... have the same issue in my Tacoma (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[Cap'n Krusty]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) ... nice write-up.

I need to do this on my '75 ... the steering wheel has a of rotational play (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

To get the bearing out I used a puller and hooked it on the lip of the bushing. Since the bushing was tight inside the bearing I pulled the bearing out enough until I could get the puller behind the bearing.

I may be a dummy, but I can't visualize this. What bushing? Shaft in or out of the assembly?

The Cap'n

[r_towle]

I did this once and removing the column from the car was the only way it made sense for me, then pressing it apart and together was still a bitch....

[florida 914]

Wingnut how did you remove the old bearing?

Yes, please detail the removal of the old bearing. I've done a number of these (prior to the advent of the 928 repair sleeve) and, as I recall, they were incredibly difficult to remove from the housing. Like maybe a couple of hours of grinding and drilling ..........................

The Cap'n

What is the "928 repair sleeve" you mention?

[pilothyer]

Wingnut how did you remove the old bearing?

Yes, please detail the removal of the old bearing. I've done a number of these (prior to the advent of the 928 repair sleeve) and, as I recall, they were incredibly difficult to remove from the housing. Like maybe a couple of hours of grinding and drilling ..........................

The Cap'n

What is the "928 repair sleeve" you mention?

http://www.autohausaz.com/pn/92834773902

[euro911]

Cross References: W0133-1632518

This Part Fits Your 1975 PORSCHE 914

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[lennyhope]

I have taken mine apart to find that someone has peviously installed a metal repair bush. I cant seem to see a way to remove the old original bush and the repair piece. How do I do that? And why does the hex bolt need to be removed?

[jim_hoyland]

Glad this got bumped; I'm getting ready to do this ! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Question: I will replacing the the steering shaft housing too; what will it take to pull it off the shaft ?

[Jett]

I pulled the steering column, disassembled the shaft and tapped the bearing out. Took an hour to complete.

Glad this got bumped; I'm getting ready to do this ! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Question: I will replacing the the steering shaft housing too; what will it take to pull it off the shaft ?