gazfish

Hi All,

I noticed some play in my steering shaft a few weeks ago when I had the wheel off, no movement when the wheel is on. I bought a new bushing that I just installed and the play is gone. Having read the posts here it was supposed to be a challenge getting the clip back on as the spring at the other end is meant to be trying to pull the shaft to the front of the car. Mine had no tension, and the old bushing was worn to a sharp edge as if it’s only just inside the bearing. Is this normal or should the bushing slide fairly deep into the bearing?
Do I need to investigate a problem at the bottom of the shaft?

This was the movement with the old bushing, the bearing seems to be ok.

Thanks,
Gary

Mrmerlin

Hi Gary, you do need to investigate it. The shaft is preloaded so that once the collar is secured in place with an E clip, it will be pressing on the inner race of the upper bearing and hold the whole shaft in a more or less loaded position so that there won’t be any play from your post. It sounds like the bearing may need to be replaced and then install the new collar and a clip.

gazfish

Thanks Mr Merlin,

I will see what’s going on down below, from your description the collar is not supposed to slide down fully into the bearing but push against it. This is what it looks like installed but with the missing tension.

Mrmerlin

remove the pod attachment bolts so the pod can move upwards,
then remove the turn signal switch,
then you can drive out the old bearing

gazfish

Thanks again, I removed the collar put the nut back on and tried to push/pull the shaft and there’s no movement in or out so something is going on with the spring. It might even be missing or something else is binding further down. I’ll get underneath when the weather improves but will order a new set of bearings anyway and follow your advise.

Mrmerlin

UMM you cant tell if you have a spring unless your pulling the shaft to the rear of the car.

put the nut back onto the shaft,
put a big pair of vice grips on the nut,
then pull the shaft.
NOTE if the spring is on the lower end and it should be,
then you will feel the spring come into play as your pulling hard.
NOTE this can sometimes be a 2 man job to install that E clip,
one person pulls up on the shaft the other slides the key into the slot

gazfish

Yep tried that and no movement, I tried again yesterday as I previously had the steering lock on so thought that might be stopping the shaft from sliding, but the same. I replaced the collar and reinstalled the clip without pulling on anything which is what confused me. Sometimes a job being too easy isn’t positive 😉

Mrmerlin

please remove the collar and E clip then take a picture of the bearing, it sounds like the inner collar of the bearing is missing or has failed.
NOTE the collar held by the E clip presses onto the inner collar of the bearing

gazfish

Hi,
This is the best image I can get, bearing is intact and turns smoothly so don’t think the problem is at the top end. Something going on at the other end, will have a look when the weather improves but I understand how it’s supposed to hang together now thanks. Another bit of the car I’ve not touched before with 7 years of ownership 😉

Mrmerlin

has the shaft always been loose?

gazfish

Not that I noticed, with the wheel in place there was no movement. It was only while I had the wheel off that i felt any movement. Changing the collar removed that.