Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] More Steering Column
| [GMCnet] More Steering Column [message #173431] |
Fri, 15 June 2012 20:03  |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
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Today I reassembled the Kosier Seminar steering column. During past
dis-/re-assemblies 10 of the 28 ball bearings in the top upper and lower
sets had been lost. Rummaging through one of my many junk boxes, I found
11 balls of the same size -- probably been there for 30+ years.
With thick axle grease, I was able to keep the balls precariously in place,
separated by the broken plastic cages. When assembled, the lower bearings
are retained in the upper housing by the upper steering shaft. The upper
bearings are retained on the other side of the upper housing by a removable
inner race, a race retainer, the infamous locking plate spring, and the
retaining plate and spring clip. After that spring clip is removed,
relieving the spring pressure, any movement of the various parts of the
column assembly can dislodge the individual bearing balls, freeing them to
fall down into the steering column, or anywhere else. That's one of the
most difficult problems with column repair.
Faced with only tenuously retained ball bearings, I suddenly realized that
a very simple tool would eliminate the danger of losing balls. What is
needed is a 3/4" ID tube 1.25" long and a 9/16" ID washer. For the tube, I
used a 3/4" PVC pipe coupling with the internal stop drilled out, cut to
length on the band saw. As soon as the spring clip and retainer ring are
removed from the steering shaft, the 1.25" tube, the washer, and the
steering wheel nut are installed and tightened to impose retaining pressure
on the upper and lower bearing sets. Simple! Now all the other possibly
necessary dis-assembly can be done with no danger of disturbing the
bearings, down to the point where one may want to remove the upper pivot
assembly.
If one needs to remove that final assembly, as to inspect/replace the
plastic pivot ball, it's necessary to remove the clamp at the bottom of the
steering column. Then, the complete column can be withdrawn, or the shaft
extracted just far enough to enable the upper shaft to be turned 90* for
disengagement from the pivot ball.
With the upper shaft and upper body, with retained bearings in hand, it's
easy to service all of the individual parts -- MUCH easier than when trying
to protect those bearings and manipulate the other complicated mechanisms.
Even arrangement of the ignition switch rack and pinion operating
mechanism, with spring; and engagement of the operating rod for the lower
column mounted switch is greatly simplified since they're part of a
manageable subassembly.
After having seen the condition of the bottom bearing (that at the bottom
of the column) in both of these columns, I STRONGLY suggest that anyone who
has not inspected, serviced/replaced that bearing do so SOON. That bearing
is completely unsealed -- really not even guarded except for its location
inside the steering column. What little grease was left in those bearings
was badly deteriorated and polluted. The one in the GMC was in good shape;
the one in the seminar column is slightly rough from rust, but serviceable
for the current application. I washed them out with brake cleaner and
forced as much MSO2 grease into them as possible with a popsicle stick. If
I'd had a large hypodermic needle I'd have used it.
With the lower steering shaft removed, it's trivially simple to wire brush
the splines on its lower end, making reassembly to the CV joint easier.
That simple PVC coupling and washer could change lots of folks' minds about
tackling steering colum repairs! :-)
Ken H.
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] More Steering Column [message #173432 is a reply to message #173431] |
Fri, 15 June 2012 20:13  |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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| Ken Henderson wrote on Fri, 15 June 2012 18:03 |
... That's one of the
most difficult problems with column repair.
Faced with only tenuously retained ball bearings, I suddenly realized that
a very simple tool would eliminate the danger of losing balls. What is
needed is a 3/4" ID tube 1.25" long and a 9/16" ID washer. For the tube, I
used a 3/4" PVC pipe coupling with the internal stop drilled out, cut to
length on the band saw. As soon as the spring clip and retainer ring are
removed from the steering shaft, the 1.25" tube, the washer, and the
steering wheel nut are installed and tightened to impose retaining pressure
on the upper and lower bearing sets. Simple! ...
|
My brain is slow today.... do you have pictures?
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] More Steering Column [message #173436 is a reply to message #173432] |
Fri, 15 June 2012 20:23 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Not now -- it's all back together. :-)
What it all says, basically, is to replace the steering wheel with a short
piece of pipe so the bearings are retained. All the parts below the spring
retainer will pass over the washer so there's no interference with
subsequent work.
Ken H.
On Fri, Jun 15, 2012 at 9:13 PM, Mike Miller <m000035@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> My brain is slow today.... do you have pictures?
>
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] More Steering Column [message #173490 is a reply to message #173485] |
Sat, 16 June 2012 08:19 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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The nomenclature for the bearings is very confusing; that's why I've begun
to refer to the two identical ($9.95) bearings as the Top Upper & Lower,
and the Bottom ($29.95). The Top two are each 14 ball bearings in plastic
(maybe with metal surrounds now) carriers. The Bottom is a single bearing
assembly with metal races and partial metal shields top & bottom. It
mounts in a plastic adapter which is then covered with a metal cup, with
all that retained by a big wire clip, visible at the bottom of the steering
column.
Probably more confusing than ever! :-)
Ken H.
On Sat, Jun 16, 2012 at 8:56 AM, Robert Mueller wrote:
> Ken,
>
> I'm confused the bearing from the first reference; Corvette Central, was
> $9.95.
>
> That's pricy for what it is but $9.95 is a lot better than the second at
> $29.95!
>
> http://goo.gl/YeMb7
>
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] More Steering Column [message #173512 is a reply to message #173493] |
Sat, 16 June 2012 11:22 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Right. And it's not at all clear that the lower of the "Top" two bearings
has no races associated with it -- the balls run on the HOUSING ASSY and
the shaft. The upper of the two runs in the HOUSING and on a separate race
(27), which is held in place by a "seat" (28).
My little tool fits between the spring (31) and the nut (36), securing the
seat (28), the inner race (27), and the housing assy. (1A) to the shaft
(48). ALL of the other parts, above and below the Housing Assy, as well as
some of those in it, can then be separated without disturbing the bearings.
Ken H.
On Sat, Jun 16, 2012 at 9:34 AM, Robert Mueller wrote:
> Ken,
>
> I pulled out the Parts Book 78Z and went to page 16-10 and looked at the
> exploded view drawing and now I understand what you're talking about.
>
> There are two Key 1 - P/N 5696210 BEARING(S) in the Key 1A - P/N 7813067
> HOUSING ASSY and only the "upper" one of is referenced in the exploded
> view.
>
> There is one Key 55 - P/N 7805700 BEARING ASSY- lower shaft
> ...
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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