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

[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 ?

[lennyhope]

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 ?

HOW DO YOU PULL THE COLUMN?...WHAT NEEDS TO BE UNDONE?

[euro911]

HOW DO YOU PULL THE COLUMN?...WHAT NEEDS TO BE UNDONE?

IIRC, this is how I did mine:
Remove the steering wheel. Remove the circlip from the shaft
Remove the lower dash pad
Unscrew the steering column support (two Allen screws)
Remove the ignition and stalk wiring plugs from behind the support
Pull the support off of the shaft

[Aualexa1]

HOW DO YOU PULL THE COLUMN?...WHAT NEEDS TO BE UNDONE?

IIRC, this is how I did mine:
Remove the steering wheel. Remove the circlip from the shaft
Remove the lower dash pad
Unscrew the steering column support (two Allen screws)
Remove the ignition and stalk wiring plugs from behind the support
Pull the support off of the shaft

Bringing back an old thread. My wheel has a decent amount of play in all directions. A previous owner has already put the metal repair bushing, but its the actual bearing where the motion is. Trying to clarify how to remove the old bearing. Where it says "pull the support off the shaft" the "support" is the shaft cover tube and the housing. Is that correct? And when you remove those things, the bearing will come off with the shaft cover tube and then you press it out, reinstall the cover tube, and press in the new bearing?

Edit: Figured it out. The support is just the black surround piece on the steering column. Slides off with some force after undoing the Allen bolt underneath.

[Aualexa1]

Here’s a link to another description of this project. Shows the complete removal of the steering shaft support as well as replacement of the lower bearing.

http://www.performanceforum.com/wesvann/91...ing-column.html