Steering Column Lower Bearing Replacement
| A fundamental for this jeep is to identify all squeaks and
rattles - is the noise due to an item that needs maintenance or can it
safely be left alone. One rattle had me perplexed. Town to highway
roads and speeds the sound for this event would not be heard.
Intermediate speeds on a washboard or bumpy road there would be a loud,
rattling knock - metal to metal - above my knees. Looking under the
dashboard and pushing / pulling on parts - no movement was encountered.
One day, with the hood up, I happened to grab hold of the steering
shaft and push/pull on it - AND THERE IT WAS!!. The shaft, where
it came out of the steering column MADE THE SOUND. I could readily see that
the bearing failed. Now to replace the bearing. Research shows either a bearing could be purchased (for about $15) or a four part kit (about $25) could be purchased. Several sellers listed the kit as backordered. I came across one vendor that had it in stock - bingo! Purchased late last week the parts arrived today (Monday). I have time so let's get it replaced. I anticipated loosening the steering shaft to the steering colum and compesssing the steering shaft with it's telescoping slide. With the bolt removed at the steering shaft to column connection the shaft connection would not slide off of the column. I was thinking the resistance was the compression fitting at the column. After enough persuasion at the top connection, I tried heating the shaft's telescoping connection to allow it to slide / compress - nope. It wasn't budging. The option is then to either remove the steering column from the dashboard (a couple hours of work maybe) or remove the steering gearbox from the frame. Four large bolts hold the gear to the frame - all bolts removed w/o breaking or stripping - FANTASTIC. Once the gearbox moved away the steering shaft slid right off of the steering column - great! Now to process the removal of the bad bearing and replace it with the new bearing. While I have the four piece kit I decided to re-use the stock components with the new bearing. All parts put into place I then needed to reconnect the steering shaft to the column and tighten all bolts (looking up torque specs). The task went smoothly but I wish I had known the steering shaft would not compress and go straight to gearbox removal. The bearing was a bit "cheap" (quality) so it could be possible I'll be replacing it a decade down the road. |
| Video |
| Parts kit The metal bearing force snap-fits into the plastic collar. |
| Bearing installed Now to install the steering shaft, torque all bolts (4 steering gear to frame and 2 steering shaft) to spec and call it done. |
