Tall Ratbag
Active Member
You can do the bearing by releasing the steering column tube from the clamp bolt in the top of the steering box. With ignition switch and stalks removed, the column clamp on the bulkhead released, the outer column slides out, bringing the bearing with it, and leaving the inner column undisturbed.
You'll need a long drift to get the old bearing out of the outer column, and I used a socket to push the new bearing into place. It's rather a tight fit.
With the outer column removed, I fished some of the (tiny) ball bearings out of the steering box upper ball race using a small telescopic magnet. I took the side of the steering box off to fish out any remnants from within the box, so, I needed a new gasket for that. Obviously, you'll need to set up the steering box again - I would argue against trying to remove every last bit of play, and argue for making sure that the steering box runs smoothly.
If I were doing the job again, I would prepare a sponge / foam washer to fit in the outer column, and leave some clearance for the inner column. This would then catch the falling / failing ball bearings before they reached the steering box if/when the bearing fails again.
You'll need a long drift to get the old bearing out of the outer column, and I used a socket to push the new bearing into place. It's rather a tight fit.
With the outer column removed, I fished some of the (tiny) ball bearings out of the steering box upper ball race using a small telescopic magnet. I took the side of the steering box off to fish out any remnants from within the box, so, I needed a new gasket for that. Obviously, you'll need to set up the steering box again - I would argue against trying to remove every last bit of play, and argue for making sure that the steering box runs smoothly.
If I were doing the job again, I would prepare a sponge / foam washer to fit in the outer column, and leave some clearance for the inner column. This would then catch the falling / failing ball bearings before they reached the steering box if/when the bearing fails again.
olsver
Member
That looks like great advice. I'm off to order the parts!
Webley1991
Well-Known Member
I found that the replacement bearings were a slightly different size to the originals.
If I recally correctly I had to skim around 0.5mm off the inner column and about the same off the inside of the outer column using a lathe. This is the only way I could get the bearing to fit.
If I recally correctly I had to skim around 0.5mm off the inner column and about the same off the inside of the outer column using a lathe. This is the only way I could get the bearing to fit.
Tall Ratbag
Active Member
The outer column is fine - the broken part you can see is the outer race of the bearing. The ball bearings themselves are long gone.
My bearing had failed and looked exactly like this photo; there was no damage to the steering column tube.
LordOWar
Well-Known Member
The new ones are rubbish and you will have to take it apart to put some grease in it. Then it will run a smooth as something with lumpy rocks in it! They really are not very robust and I broke my first replacement because the new steering column is not the same diameter as the original so when I put it together the steering column pushed the inner part of the bearing out and all the little ball bearings went everywhere. joy
Arif Hifzur Rehman
New Member
Can I have the contact no of Blanchards. I am interested in steering column bearing for land rover series 3
Blackburn
Well-Known Member
All details here
https://pablanchard.co.uk/
https://pablanchard.co.uk/
