Steering column bearing help!

[FranticMeeping]

Got my column torn down tonight, and I got a problem. The upper ball bearing is bad as the rollers are falling out. Rock Auto stocks the bearing for non-tilt columns, but I can’t find the one for a tilt column. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks fellas!

 

[Goldie Driver]

Got my column torn down tonight, and I got a problem. The upper ball bearing is bad as the rollers are falling out. Rock Auto stocks the bearing for non-tilt columns, but I can’t find the one for a tilt column. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks fellas!

I believe the piece the balls ride in are plastic.

Is it broken ( the plastic) ?

If not, try greasing the balls - assuming you have them all - and try reassembly.

If not, try something like GM Parts Online.

Or, Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/General-Moto...ocphy=9061128&hvtargid=pla-567816374582&psc=1

 

[Goldie Driver]

One other link - someone here - @Raider L , maybe, was looking for this shift plate :

https://gmtiltcolumns.com/steering-column-parts/

 

[FranticMeeping]

That’s the issue, I can only account for 3 rollers. I think the rest are buried with Jimmy Hoffa

 

[Goldie Driver]

That’s the issue, I can only account for 3 rollers. I think the rest are buried with Jimmy Hoffa

Got one of those telescoping magnetic pickup tools?

You might get lucky.

 

[idahovette]

@Goldie Driver , you are talking about greased balls and getting lucky in the same thread and this is the wrong thread for that??.....sorry op...just had to get Britt

 

[Goldie Driver]

@Goldie Driver , you are talking about greased balls and getting lucky in the same thread and this is the wrong thread for that??.....sorry op...just had to get Britt

And, telescoping shafts ...

 

[rt66paul]

Where do you live? If you live in a big city or near an industrial center, I would take the bearing to a bearing supply company. It isn't like GM manufactures these bearings, they usually use something that was already made.

 

[C10MixMaster]

Got my column torn down tonight, and I got a problem. The upper ball bearing is bad as the rollers are falling out. Rock Auto stocks the bearing for non-tilt columns, but I can’t find the one for a tilt column. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks fellas!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/173670104498?epid=222750162&hash=item286f8b7db2:g:vhoAAOSwH55bUkJe

 

[Raider L]

@ To All!

You can get those bearing sets on Ebay. @FranticMeeping Yeah, the bearing cages are plastic and the balls fit in with grease. Do you have any of those balls loose? Put a micrometer on one and then you'll know what you are looking for. @Goldie Driver has the right idea, just go to most any industrial supply place and they ought to have that size ball bearing for you, if not they can get them. Just count the places for each ball in that plastic cage and that's how many you need. Now be careful because there is another one of the same type bearing cage in the back of the rear bearing support to so be aware. And the "rollers" are "ball bearings".

 

[Raider L]

@Goldie Driver, I just put that one I had back in my column. I hunted, and hunted for a shift gate but could never find on anywhere. I mean I went on safari looking, and nothing. All the one's anyone see's are for a standard column, not a tilt. Even the column place I bought parts from didn't have any and didn't know where to get one. So, screw it. It'll have to work. Did you see how much that place you posted wanted for a bag of ball bearings? A hundred damn dollars! Holy smoke! And was asking a hundred dollars for the turn signal plates to?! Dang! What these guys do is, they go around to all kinds of wrecking yards and buy up columns then sell the parts for a million dollars.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

@Goldie Driver, I just put that one I had back in my column. I hunted, and hunted for a shift gate but could never find on anywhere. I mean I went on safari looking, and nothing. All the one's anyone see's are for a standard column, not a tilt. Even the column place I bought parts from didn't have any and didn't know where to get one. So, screw it. It'll have to work. Did you see how much that place you posted wanted for a bag of ball bearings? A hundred damn dollars! Holy smoke! And was asking a hundred dollars for the turn signal plates to?! Dang! What these guys do is, they go around to all kinds of wrecking yards and buy up columns then sell the parts for a million dollars.

Also hard to find because a lot of people do manual swaps on autos, end up having to keep the auto steering column, because they can't find a manual column because of the same situation you mentioned. Or they don't want to go through the work of swapping/finding another column.

Let's also not forget that a lot of people just take these usually perfectly good trucks to scrapyards...

 

[wanderinthru]

Anybody figure out if the OD of inner and outer? Or, are they the same? Inner aint hard to measure but the outer would be a trick.