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Replacing lower Steering column Bearing on my YJ

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#25 ·
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#28 ·
jeep350chevy said:
I thought the steering shaft with the u joints would collapse? you can't just remove the top bolt and collapse it down ?
Click to expand...
It will collapse but it may not do it easy. Is there any rust at the slip joint? My son's 93 I had to soak and heat the shaft for 2 hours to get it apart and sliding again. That was with it out of the Jeep! His had a clip and spring inside. The clip kept the shaft from pulling out and the spring kept tension so the slip shaft wouldn't rattle. Needless to say the flat spring and inner shaft were rusted fast to the outer one. I have a pic somewhere..
 

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#29 ·
I also believe not all shafts would collapse, but I am not sure
 
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#30 ·
I *think* my berry has gone out in my steering column. Can anybody confirm?

In this picture, I pulled the retaining ring and clip of hoping I could just push the piece that was loose back into the column, no dice. I was WAY out in the backcountry when this happen so I just drove around (and home) with a wiggling steering wheel. There was no side to side slop but if I grabbed the steering shaft I could move it several inches in any direction (except along the axis of the shaft).

So, bearing issue? Or do I just need to push everything back up in there and put the retaining ring / clip back on?

click for fill sized..
 
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#31 ·
The retainer clip for the bearing popped. Its easy to replace. Try and post to a new link when you have a new problem. it makes it easier to track.
 
#32 ·
I suggest getting a new bearing just because that one probably has never been replaced and it looks like you'll have to do it sooner rather than later. I recently replaced mine because it had a good bit of play in it. Once I replaced it, it tightened up the steering a good bit.

In the mean time I would push it back up and clip it back in with some bearing grease.
 
#33 ·
hrm, out on the trail I was unable to push it back up there though I wasn't sure what I was doing so maybe I could try harder. :)

That was my first trip out in the jeep, in addition to the steering, I ended up popping the rivets out of the latch for my hard top, somehow spewing power steering fluid into the engine compartment constantly, discovered the rollover valve and how it had separated into two pieces with gas leaking the entire trip and that my hard lines from the master cylinder were leaking.

GREAT TRIP!! :)
 
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#35 ·
The bearing needs to be inserted into the nylon peice. To get the new bearing in to the nylon peice you need to heat the nylon peice with a heat gun. after it is to hot to pick up then you push the bearing into the nylon peice.
 
#36 ·
I used a vice and slow steady pressure to pop it in.
 
#37 ·
Make sure you lube the bearing and the nylon buhing prior to pressing them together....it makes it easier to snap into place.
 
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CJ7Guy1
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