Removing the upper steering column bearing

[bcOH67]

Anyone have a trick to remove the upper bearing in a steering column for a 67 b body (without pulling the column)? I have the wheel off, switch out and the snap ring removed. Was trying to fix the rubber around the bearing and wound up damaging it. I can’t get any tools underneath the bearing to pry it up. Tried a flathead but it’s not budging. Just trying to replace the rubber, so if you have a trick to get it on without removing the bearing I’ll take that too. Thanks in advance.

 

[RebelautoengrLLC]

I'll try to help you out. I have never done this in vehicle. I have disassembled and rebuilt a few columns. If you:

1. Disconnect the harness from the dash
2. Pull up on the cam/signal assembly
3. Take out the screws holding the upper cup to the lower up
4. Pull up on the whole upper cup assembly using the slack in the harness you created. This should unseat the bearing from the lower retaining clip on the steering shaft.
5. Try to angle the upper cup assembly so that you put some force on the inner race of the bearing and then try to unseat the bearing/rubber assembly from the upper cup. It shouldn't take much effort to do so.

Let me know if this works out for you. Best of luck!

 

[bcOH67]

Thanks for your help! I actually already have the switch out completely and took the top snap ring off. My column doesn’t have the screws that hold the two cups together (tried to investigate this in another thread). I’ve never had any issues with steering-it’s just doesn’t have the screws haha. So there is nothing preventing the bearing from pulling up and off…it just won’t haha. It’s stuck on the shaft and I only have the width of the hole the bearing sits to the bearing itself without the rubber to try and get a tool underneath the bearing and pry up to try and free it.

 

[RebelautoengrLLC]

Can you share a picture of what you're working with?

 

[bcOH67]

I don’t have a picture as it sits currently with the rubber removed. I will get one tomorrow and upload it.

 

[bcOH67]

Well I ended up getting it but figured I’d post pictures anyways to complete the thread.

 

[bcOH67]

The bearing for whatever reason was stuck on the shaft and that little gap you see between the bearing in the housing was all I had to try and get a tool in there to pry on it.

ended up using two loops of wire and running it under the bearing in a cross pattern, then I wrapped the wire around a socket extension shaft and started spinning it taking out the slack, using the steering shaft as the pivot point… In essence kind of the same idea as a steering wheel puller. Don’t know how it worked exactly but it worked haha

 

[GASSR]

Very creative. May be trying this this afternoon!