wobbly steering wheel and what's inside

[Flinty]

While my steering shaft is tight, my steering wheel is not. I did a search with less than informative results. So I thought I would show what I've gotten myself into... .



Get extra long 3/8" bolts so the steering wheel puller will clear the reinforcing rods in the steering wheel.



In the second picture there was a rinky-dink bearing around the steering shaft which vomited all it's contents into a waiting baking pan once I removed all the stuff in front of it. The steering wheel wobbled because the race was loose in the column, like 1/16" play, this equated to 1/2"-3/4" at the wheel.



The third picture shows all the parts that keep the steering wheel centered. The bearing in the left will end up looking like the bearing on the right with the center snapped back into it, as indicated by the last pictures. More to come... . Jon

 

[Flinty]

continued....

This is the guilty bearing staked and epoxied into the steering column. If this doesn't work then I'll have a machine shop install a sealed bearing press fit into place with an I. D. to match the shaft. I don't know what a new column costs but if it's built like this one, I'll pass.



Hope this helps, I'll add more if I encounter any more surprises.

 

[jwinnie]

Any updates on this?

I just started taking mine apart tonight.



Lovin' my "new" First gen. Oo.



Edit; BTW, thanks for the pics! My damage is identical. The wobbly shaft also destroyed the clockspring.