Steering column rebuild, help needed

[Bullett]

Alright, my gear selector lever rattles going down the road and drives me nuts. My truck is put to bed for the winter so i have stripped the interior to put a new carpet in. While doing this, I figured I would pull the wheel and get in there and fix whatever there is in there that makes the gear selector so sloppy feeling and rattles. Well, when I started removing "stuff" a bunch of loose ball bearings come rolling out all over then I pulled the inner part of an inner race out. Long story short, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed at all the moving pieces in there. Does anyone sell a rebuild kit, which should be a bearing and I am guessing a bushing or 2? Hopefully if it does, it will come with directions on how to put this all together again, yikes. Is there any other options, as maybe a complete, bolt on type gear selector with all the components that slide over the shaft and bolt into place? Thanks...bullett

['63GENIII]

Uggh. Ive had the ball bearings fall out and go flying down the driveway into the bushes. I know what you're feeling. Im sure someone here who actually knows what they are talking about will chime in here pretty soon. Good luck.
Chris

[Bullett]

Would anyone have a parts breakdown of the steering column just behind the steering wheel? Just wasn't paying close enough attention when I took it apart, I was expecting some worn out bushings instead of a delapitated bearing. What do you guys use to replace the ball bearing that went all over the floor. I'm assuming back in 62', that was originally a 1 piece bearing. There were a couple balls fallen out of it before I pulled anything apart anyhow. Oh, how much of a job is it to buy a direct replacement steering column and swap it out?

['63GENIII]

Im pretty sure that the bearings are loose or two piece. When I spilled mine, I put them back in (after cleaning the races) with axle grease to hold them in place. Minus a ball or two. If it really is a sealed 1 piece bearing, Im gonna run out and get one for sure!

[DPowers]

Try Truck and Car Shop
http://www.truckandcarshop.com/

[Lugnutz65]

I can help but all my pictures are on the home computer. TruckandCarShop has the parts needed. Can I assume the column is three on the tree? Based on your dash, I assume you have a 1963 or earlier truck. I rebuilt my 1965 column so there may be some differences.

[MikeN]

On my 64 C10 with three-speed manual column shift, the upper bearing is part of the turn signal switch assembly. It's an easy and inexpensive repair to swap out the switch.

[Bullett]

I should have been more descriptive in my original post. It is a 62' with auto. The blinker assembly is its own piece and does not play into the column at all. At this point, I think my best bet is to figure out what I need for a bearing and exactly where it goes, them put back together and bring to someone who is familiar with steering columns. I am a body/paint guy that doesn't do much of this type of work, never had 1 apart. There really doesn't seem to be anything all that wrong with the column, it "was" good and tight feeling, it was just the gear selector seemed sloppy and loose and it rattled going down the road. That's all I am trying to fix. Does the bearing fit into the gear selector housing or does it fit into the piece behind the steering wheel that you have to remove to get to the gear selector. What does the bearing do? does it hold the steering rod center in the steering shaft or does it roll with the gear selector lever? Did the separate blinker assem come stock on these trucks or is it someone put on at some point? When I get home I'll snap a pic and post.

[Bullett]

Why did the pic in my first post go away?

[DPowers]

Does it look like this at all?

[Bullett]

It looks similar. I will go put the piece between this piece and the steering wheel and snap a pic

[Bullett]

And here is the blinker assem. It says "chieftain" on it. As in Pontiac chieftain?

[Bullett]

I am thinking a couple pieces in the column originally went to an on the column blinker. As you can see in one of the pics, there is a fine cable that slides down the column in a sheath, is that some type of column lock? I can pull it out a ways, the end that slides down the column doesn't appear to be attached to anything.??

[Metalaroundstone]

This thread shows exploded view of steering column. You might find this helpful.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=667819

[DPowers]

Originally Posted by Bullett

I am thinking a couple pieces in the column originally went to an on the column blinker. As you can see in one of the pics, there is a fine cable that slides down the column in a sheath, is that some type of column lock? I can pull it out a ways, the end that slides down the column doesn't appear to be attached to anything.??

I believe that cable goes to the turn signal connector. That is the way it is on mine which is from a '64 Impala... Is it the original auto column?

[Bullett]

As far as I know, it is original but can't say for sure.
This is the piece that spilled out with all the ball bearings. I'm guessing inner race?

[Bullett]

These are the rest of the parts I had removed.

[Bullett]

I guess at this point, I see one of the sites sponsors have an upper bearing kit, I think I'll just buy it and hopefully with a diagram or I'll just figure it out. I just thinking when I get the correct piece, it will be obvious where and how it goes. I would think it will only fit where it should be.

[Lugnutz65]

I offered to help earlier but after seeing the stuff inside your column and how it's different I don't think I have anything to offer. Sorry, but this forum has plenty of good help and I'm sure this will get worked out.

[jtrichard]

IT HAS to be for a 60 to 62......... 63 up WONT FIT ....the column pic that was linked above is wrong for you as it is 63 up

[DPowers]

Truck and Car shop 60-72 catalog- page 60.

[Leadbelly]

Lugnutz
I will take you up on you offer and wisdom. I received my new 63 yesterday and drove it around the block in first gear as that's all she would allow. 3 on tree 63, and could see total rebuild in the works. Do want to steal thread so new one? Via PM?
Cavebull

[vince1]

The lower bearing when coming apart is the one that will almost cut the shaft in half so I would pull the whole column for a quick re and re. I got my stuff from Classic Industries but I am sure there are other places also. I used their replacement bushing instead of the lower bearing but found it a wee bit tight going in though. With the bushing I don't think there will be any damage to the shaft ever.
Good luck with it.

[vince1]

From what I have learned here on this forum, time for a 70-72 tilt column from a van? Apparently they still have the key in the dash and you would have the collapsible shaft as a bonus.

[number10]

Maybe this will help! I have a 66 C10 that came with manual steering that was worn out and the lower bearing in the column was without the balls so not much fun. Since it was already broke I marched in and made a lower collar sleeve out of aluminum and used a Harley cam bearing pressed in. The inner race is a Harley 3/4" i.d. wheel spacer cut to fit. A bit overkill perhaps but it is what I had on hand and how my mind works. After all that I was walking thru Ace Hardware one day and hanging on the wall in hardware was a packet of 2 wheelbarrow bearings for $5.00 that would work with less effort. I'm not restoring so original isn't a big deal. Since then have converted to power steering with a kit and used the original steering shaft cut off at the bottom to work with the adapter to the steering box. If you cut flats on your old shaft it works great. I milled .100 on 2 sides but I bet a guy could grind and file to fit if that's what you have to work with.