Steering column bearing removal.

[Cirrusdancer]

I've got my steering column dismantled to replace the top and bottom bearings in the column. The top one had been completely buggered by somebody in the past and it seems to make sense to replace both while the column is in bits.

I'm looking for any advice on how to remove the old bearings from the column. is it a job anybody can do or are special tools needed to press the old ones out and the new ones in ?

John.

[richardthestag]

top bearing is held in by a toothy washer that was designed to grip the inner column, it probably wont be any more.

Loose the toothy washer and buy the sleeve that secures with allen key grub screws.

When I did mine I stripped the whole column down to its component parts, fitted new black bush/sleeves into the outer column then twisted the wd40 soaked inner column in. When fitted the steering shaft went in followed by the bottom bearing. lastly fitted the new top bearing. the trick with the locking sleeve is that you need to draw the steering shaft outwards and then lock the bearing in place with the toothy washer replacement. To do this I fitted bearing and sleeve, then packed out the column with ring end of my spanners until I was able to clamp them tight by using the steering wheel nut. Then effectively pulled the steering shaft out while pushing the bearing in. Too tight and you will wreck the bearing and not be able to turn the steering shaft. too loose and it was have play.

this is the sleeve thingy that replaces the toothy washer

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Stag-2000-2500-Steering-column-top-clamp-ring-fitting-instructions-/351789373706

Rimmerbros provide handy parts breakdowns if you don't have the parts book

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID005308

[Mark Serj]

I did mine a few months ago John, and there's not much to it to be honest. It's not a daunting task once you get stuck in. Just take some pics to help later on. Inside the steering tubes when you separate them you may find some shim type material (previous posts on this subject describe them). Mine didn't have any when I took it apart and reading about what a faff they are to put back, and looking at the design of the whole thing I didn't see their need especially and mine is fine without them - not suggesting you do the same mind you, but just letting you know.

interestingly, I have new top & bottom needle roller bearings installed in mine in the column blockamabob, and I still can't get the play out of the top bush even with packing out with sump washers etc. Weird I know, but I had to put it back together without resolving this issue due to time issues and intent to have another look sometime) honest!)

Good luck with it

[Cirrusdancer]

Thanks Richard/Marc for the input.

I've got the sleeve thingy with allen screws to replace the toothy washer and it was when we were fitting this that the buggered top bearing was discovered, which in turn solved the mystery of where the play in the column was.

Because of extreme mechanical ineptitude I'm not doing the work but working with a friendly local mechanic who knows what he's doing. Bearings are out now and I've given him the new ones and he seems happy enough to get it all back together.

We're not clear on where inner to outer bushes (153040 below) go as they weren't there when we took everything apart. Don't look like they're that important though, especially as everything seems to work fine without them.

Can you recall from your rebuilds where they should go ?


GRID005310.jpg

[richardthestag]

they fit inside the lower outer tube 215807.

When you look at it you will see two pairs of holes in the tube that the knoblets on the bushes drop into. They can be a swine to fit. I folded in half carefully so it looked like a fat C rather than a thin O if you see what I mean then with wd40 I slid it up inside the tube until one knoblet lines up with the hole. Then I unfolded the fat C back into an O and used a bit of threaded rod to get it flush and in position.

With both bushes in place and the lightest chamfer on the edge of the inner tube I again doused in wd40 (quite useful for this kind of thing) and using a gentle twisting motion got the inner tube past the two bushes and inside the outer tube. With these two together the shaft etc can go back together

This should help
GRID005310.jpg

[Cirrusdancer]

Thanks Richard, I'll stock up on WD40.