Replacing upper steering column bearing - what did I do wrong?

**86mud** · 22nd February 2014, 02:23 PM

Hi all

Ordered the new bearing through Craddocks which arrived this week. So this morning saw me removing the outer steering column. Tapped out the old bearing and pressed in the new.

Went to push in outer column onto the steering shaft by hand and the new bearing just falls apart!

Is there a trick to this?

Also, before I started undoing the bolt at the steering box, I noticed this rubber washer just sitting on the brake pedal box. Any ideas? That's a AA battery for size comparison)

I had three jobs to do today, install recovered dash, upper steering column bearing, and clutch pipe clamp (clutch line was flapping in the breeze)...then fire it up and go for a drive!!! But this obviously did not happen as now I have to order another bearing!!!

The joys of owning a series 3....

**agrojnr** · 24th February 2014, 06:19 AM

When I did mine I just installed it with the outer cover sitting on the steering column and didn't have any problems

Adam

**debruiser** · 24th February 2014, 06:29 AM

If it makes you feel better I had a similar experience. Only I put the bearing into the outer first! then proceeded to put the inner through.... didn't turn out pretty. I purchased another bearing locally and it went together easily enough. I just figured either I did something wrong or it was a shoddy part...

I did look into an upgraded bearing but I couldn't find one to suit.

**86mud** · 4th March 2014, 07:41 AM

Seem to be some tolerances issues in the part...ordered another bearing and was very careful to press into outer shaft, then pushed onto inner shaft using a piece of pipe.

All good...took a bit to line up everything again to get the shroud back on.

**SGT.JOE** · 16th March 2014, 06:39 PM

I had trouble getting my Stage One bearings in as well, in the end I gave up and got to thinking that an old polybush half from my Range rovers panhard rod looked like it would fit so that's what I have done ever since (just take off the steering wheel, pull out old worn polybush and slide next One in.) if you grease them they act just as good if not better than the ball bearings! I have been doing this for years now.

**DanJay28** · 8th January 2020, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by SGT.JOE

I had trouble getting my Stage One bearings in as well, in the end I gave up and got to thinking that an old polybush half from my Range rovers panhard rod looked like it would fit so that's what I have done ever since (just take off the steering wheel, pull out old worn polybush and slide next One in.) if you grease them they act just as good if not better than the ball bearings! I have been doing this for years now.

Hi Sgt Joe, would you be able to point me in the direction of one of these. Having issues getting mine to fit in my stage one. Inner and putter bearing diameter are miles off.

Cheers,
Dan.

**1950landy** · 8th January 2020, 07:11 PM

That rubber seal wouldn't be out of the master cylinder cap.

**whitehillbilly64** · 9th January 2020, 06:24 AM

Lots of problems fitting these AM bearings. Advice was always to fit genuine ones.
I got mine from Richards or Blanchard's. No problems fitting.
I am starting to think they fail, because its easy to use the steering wheel as a handle to get in ?
I give mine a dusting of graphite powder, when doing oil changes.

whitehillbilly

**goingbush** · 9th January 2020, 08:28 AM

Past experience with these bearings, .... they are crap. I turned up a bush the correct size from HDPE , (Kitchen chopping board actually) for my Lightweight . Perfect solution , no rattles , no slop, no binding. No idea why the aftermarket does not do same.

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