Steering column bearing replacement help

[hunter_507]

I have a 70 Jimmy that im replacing the lower and upper bearings on the steering column. Im having trouble getting it back together, I can not for the life of me get the 2 shafts to connect. and if I do it pulls the lower bearing out of the collar… can’t find any videos explaining putting it all back together, but am I doing something wrong? Do I need to have the steering wheel on while I’m doing this? Any advice would be appreciated, I’ve added some pictures to show where I am at.

[Getter-Done]

Here's a video.

Hope this helps

Remove & Install Steering Column 67-72 Chevy...

[dmjlambert]

Non-tilt columns are a little weird. With the steering wheel installed and somebody inside the truck pressing the steering wheel toward the dash it does help. That lets you compress the spring to 1/2 inch before you tighten the clamp that holds the lower steering shaft on. This is called adjusting the lower bearing preload.

[hunter_507]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

Non-tilt columns are a little weird. With the steering wheel installed and somebody inside the truck pressing the steering wheel toward the dash it does help. That lets you compress the spring to 1/2 inch before you tighten the clamp that holds the lower steering shaft on. This is called adjusting the lower bearing preload.

Alright, was able to get it together by doing that.. my lower bearing still sticks out of the collar it sits in by about a 1/4 inch. It’s definitely much better than before but it doesn’t seem right still. Has that quarter inch of play back and forth, but the spring is compressed against the bearing and everything is tightened up.

[dmjlambert]

I suggest post pictures of what it looks like now fully assembled. Somebody here more experienced than me might spot what needs to be corrected.

[hunter_507]

Here’s where I’m at now. Pushing down on the steering wheel just pushes the lower shaft down. As you can see the bearing is not seated all the way into the collar… is the bearing too far on the shaft or something?

[dmjlambert]

Let's see if somebody knows what it should look like. My steering column has been shortened so probably would not make a good comparison. Is that spring compressed down to 1/2 inch?

[hunter_507]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

Let's see if somebody knows what it should look like. My steering column has been shortened so probably would not make a good comparison. Is that spring compressed down to 1/2 inch?

I think it’s closer to an inch. The issue I’m having is actually getting it to compress and tightening it down, think I might need a second set of hands. The top part of the lower shaft with that rubber section that moves up and down, seems like I’m going to have to pull that up onto the upper shaft to get the spring to compress.

[rechinca]

While not 100% the same, I utilized this write-up to assist me in the rebuild of the 3 speed column on my 71. It was similar enough in some aspects to help me.

65 Column rebuild

I lost all of the pics and couldn't do the write-up for mine when I went to add it to my build.

This is a good one too with info from the assembly manual.

https://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vbo...d.php?t=630848

I am trying to see, but I am thinking you have a manual floor shift based on the picture? There are some intricacies and differences between the variety of columns. I think it looks correct, we could use more info to narrow down.

[BASE]

Mine is slightly different but when I put it back together I snugged that clamp and thumped it with a mallet until the spring was compressed to where it was before, then really tightened it. I was kind of surprised it worked as well as it did.