How To Replace your Lower Column Bearing: Better and Cheaper!!!

72bluNblu said
Very nice!

Did you have to press that one it too? Looks like it might be an easier fit than the one I used. Pretty cool to keep it stock looking, but that doesn't matter on my '74 with the steering u-joint and telescopic shaft showing already.

Part # or link for that bearing?

Insert bearings are pretty common and can be used in a wide variety of applications. It's just a 1" insert bearing with a 52mm outer diameter. They have spherical ones, flat ones and ones with an eccentric locking collar. I got mine at a local supply place called Beardslee Transmission Equipment. I don't remember the part number off the top of my head. Took the counter guy a little while to find it but he came up with it and they had it in stock. I've also ordered one from here before. Shipping was double the cost of the part though so it came out to be almost the same.

I didn't press it on but I did have to make sure there was absolutely nothing on the steering shaft. I took some emery paper to it and kind of polished it down until it slipped on. Initially it goes down pretty far but gets to a point where it stops. I just tapped it down with a soft mallet to where I wanted it. The set screws hold it in place pretty well, it ain't going anywhere.

One tip - you have to put it on before you install the upper parts of the column and sort of gauge where it's going to end up before you tighten it down. There is also a stop inside the lower column jacket that won't allow it to go too far up but you can't install the shaft with it in place. It's a little tricky. Not sure if that makes sense.