Re: 47 Steering Column disassembly help needed.

Posted by HH56 On 2016/9/28 10:49:28

I didn't find anything looking like an oil seal either but didn't look to see if it was something pressed inside the column. I didn't take the bearing completely out when I cleaned and painted the column.

The balls seem to be held in the outer race or housing loosely by some kind of ring. There is a short -- maybe 1/4" tall concave ring shown in the first and second photos I posted a few weeks ago which is pressed down by the spring. Believe that is 15.3296. It pushes the balls toward the outer race and also forms the inner race since all slop and motion between the shaft and bearing is gone when that ring is in position.

I don't know if that ring in the photo with the sort of groove is the retainer part or the push down part. My push down ring does not look as deep or have the groove. I am thinking the one you show is part of the actual bearing and is what keeps the balls in the race. You may be missing the .3296 which is held down by the spring. If that is the case you may need to find a ring or maybe a complete assy.

If you find the ring but do not find all the balls, you might check McMaster. Search for steel balls and a page comes up with a multitude of sizes in various grades of steel. Perhaps one of those sizes will fit. Even though you have to buy a bag containing 100 or more to get the half dozen that are missing the bags are inexpensive.