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

Oldmanmopar said

The only bearing that should be used with the standard box and couple r is the top bearing. The box acts as the lower bearing. Adding a third bearing in the mix is not a good idea. it will cause bind on the swivel joint/couple r . That plastic piece you are referring to never touches the shaft. Sometimes it doesn't pay to over engineer. Good thought but I wouldn't do it unless you put two joints between the end of the column bearing you install and the box. Steve

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Yeah that's simply not true. Floor shift cars had a lower bearing. This is it right here 1966-74 A B E-Body Lower Steering Column Bearing 1968 1974 Chrysler A. You'll notice the bearing inside the nylon outer.

Column shift cars have a small ball bearing set up (just like the upper bearing) that rides between the shift tube and the steering shaft. The shift tube is then supported by a nylon bushing.

Neither of those systems have much play, but the stock floor shift bearing costs $80 (or more). There were a few years that got the open nylon bushing that doesn't really support anything, but plenty of cars came with a completely supported lower steering shaft.