1967 lower steering column bearing (early 1st design)- Is it GM part number 7806142 ?

[Scott S.]

I located what appears to be an NOS lower bearing for an early/1st design 1967 steering column. When I searched the part number in the various cross-references I have found, and then in a Google search, I couldn't find any reference to Corvette. I did find a reference to Corvair, but even that was vague.

Based on a picture of a worn original early/first design lower bearing in another Thread (first picture below), this NOS example (next three pictures) appears very similar. Can anyone confirm the part number (7806142)?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 lower steering column bearing (early 1st design)- Is it GM part number 78061

I located what appears to be an NOS lower bearing for an early/1st design 1967 steering column. When I searched the part number in the various cross-references I have found, and then in a Google search, I couldn't find any reference to Corvette. I did find a reference to Corvair, but even that was vague.

Based on a picture of a worn original early/first design lower bearing in another Thread (first picture below), this NOS example (next three pictures) appears very similar. Can anyone confirm the part number (7806142)?

Scott------


GM #7806142 was a lower steering column bearing applicable to 1967-68 Camaros, Chevelles, and Chevy II. It may also have some Corvair applications, but I can't say that, for sure. It also had applications on some 67-68 Buicks and Cadillacs. I can find no information that it was also applicable to Corvettes. However, it's very possible it could be used for Corvettes. According to GM, bearing GM #7800407 is applicable to 1967 Corvettes

[Jim S.]

Re: 1967 lower steering column bearing (early 1st design)- Is it GM part number 78061

The following is the design history of the first generation, energy absorbing, standard (non-adjustable) 1967 Corvette steering column lower bearing package.

According to the assembly drawing of the original (early) 1967 Corvette steering column (5698346). This steering column had lower bearing 5698402. That bearing had a single row of balls and fit into a machined step in the steering column jacket. A threaded plastic adjuster was needed to take up the tolerance between the steering shaft length and the steering column jacket. After the adjuster there was a cone shaped thrust washer and a round wire retaining ring that went into a groove that was machined into the steering column shaft.

Steering column 7803156 was released in February 1967 with the new lower bearing package. As I look closely at the drawing, I can see a new lower bearing 7800407. It has a double row of balls and it fits into a machined step in the steering column jacket. Because this bearing is wider than the original 5698402 bearing, it appears that the step is machined deeper into the column jacket. This one has the solid plastic spacer (1.5 inches long) with a clamp, nut, and bolt to preload the lower bearing and take up any length tolerance in the steering shaft.

All of the lower bearing parts carried over to the 1968 Corvette steering column 7803909. The only difference was the solid plastic spacer. It was approximately a half inch longer (2.0 inches).

Because the new lower bearing (with the double row of balls) required a deeper step in the steering column jacket, I am now wondering how the early steering columns would have been campaigned. I know that there was concern as to the original bearing design (with the single row of balls.) I have not been able to find any campaign literature as to the early 1967 Corvette steering column. (Although I have the actual lower bearing and steering shaft campaign information on the 1967 A-car and the Corvair.)

I would certainly appreciate any feed back from people that may have owned early 1967 Vettes and any campaign history that they might have.

Joe,
The late 1967 Corvette telescoping column was 7803280. Do you have a part number for the original (Early) telescoping column?
Jim

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 lower steering column bearing (early 1st design)- Is it GM part number 78061

The following is the design history of the first generation, energy absorbing, standard (non-adjustable) 1967 Corvette steering column lower bearing package.

According to the assembly drawing of the original (early) 1967 Corvette steering column (5698346). This steering column had lower bearing 5698402. That bearing had a single row of balls and fit into a machined step in the steering column jacket. A threaded plastic adjuster was needed to take up the tolerance between the steering shaft length and the steering column jacket. After the adjuster there was a cone shaped thrust washer and a round wire retaining ring that went into a groove that was machined into the steering column shaft.

Steering column 7803156 was released in February 1967 with the new lower bearing package. As I look closely at the drawing, I can see a new lower bearing 7800407. It has a double row of balls and it fits into a machined step in the steering column jacket. Because this bearing is wider than the original 5698402 bearing, it appears that the step is machined deeper into the column jacket. This one has the solid plastic spacer (1.5 inches long) with a clamp, nut, and bolt to preload the lower bearing and take up any length tolerance in the steering shaft.

All of the lower bearing parts carried over to the 1968 Corvette steering column 7803909. The only difference was the solid plastic spacer. It was approximately a half inch longer (2.0 inches).

Because the new lower bearing (with the double row of balls) required a deeper step in the steering column jacket, I am now wondering how the early steering columns would have been campaigned. I know that there was concern as to the original bearing design (with the single row of balls.) I have not been able to find any campaign literature as to the early 1967 Corvette steering column. (Although I have the actual lower bearing and steering shaft campaign information on the 1967 A-car and the Corvair.)

I would certainly appreciate any feed back from people that may have owned early 1967 Vettes and any campaign history that they might have.

Joe,
The late 1967 Corvette telescoping column was 7803280. Do you have a part number for the original (Early) telescoping column?
Jim

Jim-----


The 1st design column was GM #5699524. It remained available in SERVICE until January, 1968 at which time it was replaced by the GM #7803280.

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 lower steering column bearing (early 1st design)- Is it GM part number 78061

Jim-----


The 1st design column was GM #5699524. It remained available in SERVICE until January, 1968 at which time it was replaced by the GM #7803280.

Joe,

I think I have seen that mentioned in the archives before, along with information saying otherwise, the early/1st design steering column information is confusing, to say the least. When Jim says the early/1st design column was "campaigned", if I understand correctly, that means it was "recalled". I don't know how "recalls" worked in the 1960s, but so far I haven't heard of any examples of 1967 Corvettes made in January of 1967 or earlier that participated in any recall, i.e., I have not read about any example on the forums where a Corvette that was produced with a 1st design column was retrofitted with 2nd design lower bearing and associated parts (either back in 1967 by a Chevy dealer, or during a modern rebuild), or any example where an entire 1st design steering column was replaced with a 2nd design column by a Chevy dealer as a result of the recall back in 1967.

I am as sure as I can be that the steering column from my car is the original column that came with the car when it was built on January 11th, 1967 (VIN 07873). The column is dated "005 7" (see pic below), which I believe is a form of Julian date code for the 5th day of January, 1967. This column has the orange sticker still attached, showing the part number TO 5698346 (see pic below).

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 lower steering column bearing (early 1st design)- Is it GM part number 78061

Joe,

I think I have seen that mentioned in the archives before, along with information saying otherwise, the early/1st design steering column information is confusing, to say the least. When Jim says the early/1st design column was "campaigned", if I understand correctly, that means it was "recalled". I don't know how "recalls" worked in the 1960s, but so far I haven't heard of any examples of 1967 Corvettes made in January of 1967 or earlier that participated in any recall, i.e., I have not read about any example on the forums where a Corvette that was produced with a 1st design column was retrofitted with 2nd design lower bearing and associated parts (either back in 1967 by a Chevy dealer, or during a modern rebuild), or any example where an entire 1st design steering column was replaced with a 2nd design column by a Chevy dealer as a result of the recall back in 1967.

I am as sure as I can be that the steering column from my car is the original column that came with the car when it was built on January 11th, 1967 (VIN 07873). The column is dated "005 7" (see pic below), which I believe is a form of Julian date code for the 5th day of January, 1967. This column has the orange sticker still attached, showing the part number TO 5698346 (see pic below).

Scott------


I do not see what point you are trying to make here. GM #5698346 is exactly what an early 1967 NON-TELE Corvette column should be. This column was discontinued from SERVICE in January, 1968 and replaced by the GM #7803156, the NON-TELE column used in PRODUCTION for later 1967 Corvettes.

Jim's question and the answer I provided was regarding the 1967 TELESCOPING columns. Jim provided the information regarding NON-TELE columns with respect to part numbers and design in his first post and those part numbers are the same as the ones I describe above.

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 lower steering column bearing (early 1st design)- Is it GM part number 78061

There has also been recent discussion on the TDB about whether a 2nd design (late '67) lower steering column bearing (and associated lower column parts) can be used on a 1st design standard (non-telescopic) column, as an "upgrade" of sorts, because the 2nd design lower bearing should be more durable. I would like to do this, but after talking with a few people who have rebuilt both 1st design and 2nd design steering columns, I don't understand how a 2nd design lower bearing can possibly fit into a 1st design steering column's 'mast jacket', if I am using the correct term. It is my understanding that the late '67/2nd design (and the more recent designs, '69 up through 1982?) bearing has a wider outer diameter than the first design early '67 lower bearing, which is why Paragon, Tom at Corvettesteering and (presumably) Corvette Central grind down the outer edge of a later Corvette lower bearing in order to fit into the 1st design steering column - again, if I understand correctly.

The first picture below is a worn original 1st design bearing that appears very similar to the NOS 7806142 lower column bearing in my original post. I found the picture of the worn original lower bearing in the archives, posted by NCRS member Nick Liarakos in the following Thread:
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...olumn&uid=7016

The second picture below is also Nick's from the same Thread, it is a lower bearing from Paragon, believed to be a 1969 Corvette column bearing that has had the outer diameter ground down to fit in the 67 column sleeve.

The third picture is an example of Corvette Central's early/1st design lower bearing, which also appears to be a later bearing that has had the outer diameter ground down around the edges to fit a 1st design steering column.

The fourth picture is also from Corvette Central, of a 2nd design, late '67 through 1968 lower steering column bearing. If I understand correctly, I don't think the 2nd design lower bearing will fit into the 1st design lower column "as is", and it doesn't appear that there is enough material there to grind a 2nd design lower bearing down in order to make it fit into a 1st design steering column.

Where am I going wrong?

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 lower steering column bearing (early 1st design)- Is it GM part number 78061

Scott------


I do not see what point you are trying to make here. GM #5698346 is exactly what an early 1967 NON-TELE Corvette column should be. This column was discontinued from SERVICE in January, 1968 and replaced by the GM #7803156, the NON-TELE column used in PRODUCTION for later 1967 Corvettes.

Jim's question and the answer I provided was regarding the 1967 TELESCOPING columns. Jim provided the information regarding NON-TELE columns with respect to part numbers and design in his first post and those part numbers are the same as the ones I describe above.

My mistake Joe, I did read the question Jim asked at the end of his post, but I was still thinking about the beginning of his post where he was talking about the standard column. I have been trying to figure this situation out for a while now, and it doesn't help when I confuse the issue further.

[Jim S.]

Re: 1967 lower steering column bearing (early 1st design)- Is it GM part number 78061

I am sorry if I have added confusion to this topic. I worked as an engineer and supervised engineers in product engineering at Saginaw for nearly 39 years. I was not directly involved with the design of the first generation energy absorbing steering columns (1967-68). However, I can recall all of the hoists in the Saginaw engineering garage being utilized to allow a large number of brand new 1967 vehicles to be tested with steering columns and gears aligned (and misaligned) to try and promote steering shaft breakage with the new first generation, energy absorbing steering columns.

At that time most General Motors vehicles were rear steer. This meant that the steering column was closely coupled to a gear that was positioned quite closely to the dash and to the steering column. If the steering column was not correctly aligned to the steering gear there was a good possibility of a large bending moment affecting the steering column steering shaft. I was quite sure that all of the rear steer GM vehicles were recalled to replace the steering shafts and lower bearing.

The A-car was a front steer vehicle at that time. It was hoped that misalignment on a vehicle with the steering gear mounted forward (and a long steering column shaft) might lower the stresses and therefore not be suseptible to steering shaft breakage. Unfortunately, full vehicle testing proved that the steering shaft could still break. I have Chevrolet Dealer Product Campaign Bulletin 67-C-4 dated Jan 5, 1967 (NHTSA 66V032001). This bulletin covers in detail the replacement of the steering shaft and lower bearing in all early production GM A-cars (standard and tilt columns). (I also have a copy of the Corvair Campaign Bulletin on the same subject.)

One of the key engineers who was very closely involved with first generation steering column development died recently. He was on my very short list of people that I wanted to interview. Unfortunately, my procrastination has made it impossible to obtain some very valuable information on those early years.

Jim

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 lower steering column bearing (early 1st design)- Is it GM part number 78061

Scott------


GM #7806142 was a lower steering column bearing applicable to 1967-68 Camaros, Chevelles, and Chevy II. It may also have some Corvair applications, but I can't say that, for sure. It also had applications on some 67-68 Buicks and Cadillacs. I can find no information that it was also applicable to Corvettes. However, it's very possible it could be used for Corvettes. According to GM, bearing GM #7800407 is applicable to 1967 Corvettes

Joe,

This is the one I meant to ask yesterday, but I got side-tracked. You mentioned that according to GM, bearing part number 7800407 is applicable to 1967 Corvettes. When I look that number up in the GM cross-reference (from Corvette Central, that's the best I have at the moment), it refers to the late/2nd design bearing, not the first design bearing.

Do you have separate part numbers for the 1st design and 2nd design lower column bearings for the 1967 model year, or do the books omit the original 1st design part number altogether?

Thank you again,
Scott

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 lower steering column bearing (early 1st design)- Is it GM part number 78061

I am sorry if I have added confusion to this topic. I worked as an engineer and supervised engineers in product engineering at Saginaw for nearly 39 years. I was not directly involved with the design of the first generation energy absorbing steering columns (1967-68). However, I can recall all of the hoists in the Saginaw engineering garage being utilized to allow a large number of brand new 1967 vehicles to be tested with steering columns and gears aligned (and misaligned) to try and promote steering shaft breakage with the new first generation, energy absorbing steering columns.

Hi Jim,

You didn't add confusion to the topic at all, I'm just confused, which is entirely different

I have read your technical papers on the late '67 & '68 column, and I have read as many of your posts on this subject as I could find, both here and over on the CF. In a recent Thread here on the TDB, you mentioned that the 2nd design lower bearing (and associated 2nd design parts) is a better and more durable design, so I'm going to try to find someone who can do that.

If it turns out that I cannot adapt a 2nd design lower bearing to fit the early design standard steering column, then I will need to figure out:

A) is the NOS 7806142 lower bearing (see opening post) an acceptable service replacement?

B) is the 7806142 lower bearing better or worse than one of the later (1969-1982) lower bearings that some of the vendors modify to fit the early design '67 steering column?

Thank you very much for your thoughts and insights,

Scott

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 lower steering column bearing (early 1st design)- Is it GM part number 78061

Joe,

This is the one I meant to ask yesterday, but I got side-tracked. You mentioned that according to GM, bearing part number 7800407 is applicable to 1967 Corvettes. When I look that number up in the GM cross-reference (from Corvette Central, that's the best I have at the moment), it refers to the late/2nd design bearing, not the first design bearing.

Do you have separate part numbers for the 1st design and 2nd design lower column bearings for the 1967 model year, or do the books omit the original 1st design part number altogether?

Thank you again,
Scott

Scott------


The history of the 1967 lower steering column bearing is very confusing. The initial 1967 model year printing of the P&A Catalog, dated October, 1966, lists the 7800407 as applicable to 1967 Corvette with telescoping wheel. There is NO listing for a bearing for non-tele columns.

The final 1967 edition of the 1967 P&A Catalog, dated July, 1967, lists the 7800407 as applicable to 1967 Corvette with telescoping column and GM #7802186 as applicable to 1967 passenger and Corvette without telescoping column.

Then things get confusing. The GM #7802186 was discontinued from SERVICE in May, 1969 and replaced by GM #7804200. However, GM also says that the 7804200 was discontinued without supercession in June, 1968!

Beginning in October, 1967, the P&A Catalogs show the GM #7800407 as applicable to ALL 1967-68 Corvette applications. That continued right up into the time the 7800407 was discontinued without supercession in 1984.

The lower bearing for the early non-telescoping column is shown in the drawings that Jim posted and is GM #5698402. That I can find, this bearing was never cataloged for a 1967 Corvette application. However, it was once available in SERVICE. It's SERVICE availability was from ABOUT July, 1966 until June 1967 when it was discontinued and replaced by GM #7802186. The confusing history of 7802186 is shown above.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1967 lower steering column bearing (early 1st design)- Is it GM part number 78061

....The history of the 1967 lower steering column bearing is very confusing. The initial 1967 model year printing of the P&A Catalog, dated October, 1966, lists the 7800407 as applicable to 1967 Corvette with telescoping wheel. There is NO listing for a bearing for non-tele columns.

The final 1967 edition of the 1967 P&A Catalog, dated July, 1967, lists the 7800407 as applicable to 1967 Corvette with telescoping column and GM #7802186 as applicable to 1967 passenger and Corvette without telescoping column. ...............

Then things get confusing. The GM #7802186 was discontinued from SERVICE in May, 1969 and replaced by GM #7804200. However, GM also says that the 7804200 was discontinued without supercession in June, 1968!

The lower bearing for the early non-telescoping column is shown in the drawings that Jim posted and is GM #5698402. That I can find, this bearing was never cataloged for a 1967 Corvette application. However, it was once available in SERVICE. It's SERVICE availability was from ABOUT July, 1966 until June 1967 when it was discontinued and replaced by GM #7802186. The confusing history of 7802186 is shown above.

Very confusing indeed; here's what is said in the April 1967 edition of Chevrolet Service News. Subject is PASSENGER car steering column bearing. "... a three tang bearing was used at SOP, superceded by a 4-tang version approximately Nov 1, 1966. A further change entered production approx. Feb 1, 1967 on the Chevrolet, Chevelle and Chevy II. This new bearing (# 7802186) has an improved inner race seal and a solid spring seat. This bearing should be used exclusively for service replacements on all passenger cars (except Corvette)" ... followed by a figure showing the 3 bearing designs. No part #s are quoted for the earlier two bearing designs.

So maybe they changed their mind later, re Corvette.

[Jim S.]

Re: 1967 lower steering column bearing (early 1st design)- Is it GM part number 78061

I don't have the actual dimensions but the 67-68 Corvette jacket is smaller in diameter than all of the other GM first generation, energy absorbing column jackets. The Corvette lower bearings pressed directly into that smaller diameter jacket. The other GM columns with larger diameter jackets required that the lower bearing press into a plastic adapter.

From what I am reading it seems that lower bearings from other GM columns might be able to be reworked to press directly into the Corvette jacket.

BTW, I have searched and searched on the NHTSA website and can only find the 1967 GM A-car (Chevelle/El Camino, Cutlass, Skylark, Tempest, etc) and the Corvair steering shaft campaign information. They also have them filed as Steering: Wheel and Handle Bar. (They must think that GM passenger cars and motorcycles are related!)
Corvair 67V033000
Cutlass 66V032003
Tempest 66V032002
Skylark 66V032004
Chevelle 66V032001
But I cannot find anything on the NHTSA website with respect to Corvette or any other GM passenger cars (B,C, D-cars), steering columns, 1967, etc.
Jim