1963 Steering column upper bearing and sleeve

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Steering column upper bearing and sleeve

Just obtained an NOS steering shaft at Carlisle. Hope this fixes my problem. Will let you know when it's installed.

[Frank D.]

Re: 1963 Steering column upper bearing and sleeve

Good luck Harry, but I don't see how, if things were OK before you dropped the column and loose afterwards, that a new shaft will help -- but I'm trainable.

Keep us posted...

[Perry M.]

Re: 1963 Steering column upper bearing and sleeve

Is the steering wheel/ hub assembly supposed to contact the sleeve in order to put pressure on the bearing? I don't believe mine does. I will take some measurements when I get home.

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Steering column upper bearing and sleeve

Good luck Harry, but I don't see how, if things were OK before you dropped the column and loose afterwards, that a new shaft will help -- but I'm trainable.

Keep us posted...

Frank, I had the problem prior. I just assumed it as the upper bearing.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 Steering column upper bearing and sleeve

Is the steering wheel/ hub assembly supposed to contact the sleeve in order to put pressure on the bearing? I don't believe mine does. I will take some measurements when I get home.

Yes, that is correct from my memory, the sleeve slides up on the shaft to the bottom of the hub and also contacts the inner race when it's pulled tight by the lower spring.

Gotta be careful with the NOS bearing because it comes with a o-ring and a little spring, both of which are not used on the corvette. These extra parts are used on the full size chevy that shares the same bearing as the spring must be in the top vs the corvette spring at the lower bearing in the engine compartment.

[Frank D.]

Re: 1963 Steering column upper bearing and sleeve

Yes, that is correct from my memory, the sleeve slides up on the shaft to the bottom of the hub and also contacts the inner race when it's pulled tight by the lower spring.

Gotta be careful with the NOS bearing because it comes with a o-ring and a little spring, both of which are not used on the corvette. These extra parts are used on the full size chevy that shares the same bearing as the spring must be in the top vs the corvette spring at the lower bearing in the engine compartment.

Also IIRC there is a flat washer that seats against the lower bearing where the spring rides - very important so you don't munge up the bearing...
Tim will correct me if I'm mis-remembering..

Tightening that spring clamp is one of those "needs three hands" jobs!

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Steering column upper bearing and sleeve

Up and down and side to side still there.

I installed the new steering shaft, new lower bearing, new upper bearing, pulled the jackshaft in to avoid the steering shaft from bottoming out then compressed the lower spring as much as I could and the problem is still there. All the new parts are NOS. I just ordered a new reproduction upper bearing. I used a reproduction in my other 63 and it's working fine.

I think the NOS upper bearing fails due to age. It is sloppy out of the box. Even doing a bench test I can get it to wobble.

I'll post again after the new bearing arrives.

[Perry M.]

Re: 1963 Steering column upper bearing and sleeve

I am very anxious to find out the results of your endeavor as I have the exact same problem. I doubt that a new reproduction upper bearing will fix your problem but I will stay optimistic. Good Luck

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Steering column upper bearing and sleeve

Perry, there is nothing left to replace except the jack shaft and the steering wheel hub. Oh, I also ordered a new sleeve to compress the upper bearing.

[Perry M.]

Re: 1963 Steering column upper bearing and sleeve

I know. I replaced everything that you did except for the steering shaft. I found my assembly to have a gap between the steering wheel hub and the sleeve so there was no way that pressure could be applied to the bearing. It's as if the sleeve is too short. I will tell you how I fixed my problem if you promise not to tell the judges. I installed the spring and metal O ring, that you are not supposed to use, on the shaft between the bearing and steering wheel hub. This applied the pressure required to eliminate the bearing wobble. All the gaps are perfect and the feel of the wheel is very good, no wobble. I know this is not correct but for me it is perfect. I will wait to hear how you fix your problem.

[Frank D.]

Re: 1963 Steering column upper bearing and sleeve

Perry, there is nothing left to replace except the jack shaft and the steering wheel hub. Oh, I also ordered a new sleeve to compress the upper bearing.

Harry what are you calling the “jack shaft” ?

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Steering column upper bearing and sleeve

Frank, the jack shaft is the tube that the steering shaft runs through. Lower bearing at the bottom, upper at the top.

[Frank D.]

Re: 1963 Steering column upper bearing and sleeve

I'd always called that the mast jacket - maybe incorrectly..

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 Steering column upper bearing and sleeve

I know. I replaced everything that you did except for the steering shaft. I found my assembly to have a gap between the steering wheel hub and the sleeve so there was no way that pressure could be applied to the bearing. It's as if the sleeve is too short. I will tell you how I fixed my problem if you promise not to tell the judges. I installed the spring and metal O ring, that you are not supposed to use, on the shaft between the bearing and steering wheel hub. This applied the pressure required to eliminate the bearing wobble. All the gaps are perfect and the feel of the wheel is very good, no wobble. I know this is not correct but for me it is perfect. I will wait to hear how you fix your problem.

Perry,

You mention a good point about the length of the sleeve that slides on the shaft. If you Google that part GM # you might find a description of the part showing the diameter and length to compare to what you received.

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Steering column upper bearing and sleeve

I ordered two upper bearing. One from Paragon and one from a private seller, The one pictured came from Paragon. The one from the private seller will have the green wire and look like the original.

Has anyone ever successfully installed one on a 63 with the brown wire and odd looking connection like the one from Paragon? To me it looks like it's too big to install in the mast.

I just added a picture of an original next to the Paragon part, amazing.

Thanks