Spring above upper bearing in '63 steering column?

[Norris W.]

Just rebuilt the column on one of the '63's and the upper bearing kit has a spring and collar. It's a '63 ONLY kit of course. When I disassembled it for rebuild there was no spring and collar and the only place I see it could go would be between the bearing and the steering hub. The problem is, the spring and collar are too small in diameter to fit over the bushing and there's not room between the bottom of the hub and the top of the bushing for the spring to compress. I cant see any purpose for the spring anyway, and when I disassembled the column the only spring was on the bottom of the shaft below the lower bearing. What am I missing?

[Harry S.]

Re: Spring above upper bearing in '63 steering column?

Norris, When I pulled apart my column there was no spring or collar. In the kit there was the bearing with the brass horn contact and the green wire attached. I did not use the spring or collar. My opinion is, the parts in the kit are for Corvettes as well as passenger cars and the passenger cars required the spring and collar.

Mine has been installed for 15 years and I've had no problems!

[Bob R.]

Re: Spring above upper bearing in '63 steering column?

I agree with Harry I couldn't figure out what to do with that collar either. The same upper bearing was used for chevrolet from 1958 up until 1963 so there may be different applications.

[Norris W.]

Re: Spring above upper bearing in '63 steering column?

Thanks guys. That's the answer I was hoping for.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Spring above upper bearing in '63 steering column?

I believe the green horn wire runs outside the mast jacket in the slot with the directional cable true??

It's hard to tell from the pictures but there is a clip on the early cars that captures both wire and cable. If someone has that clip I would appreciate it if they could post a picture as I need to locate one. Mine is long gone..

The old Saginaw kit I purchased contained a new upper bearing with a spring and o ring. I believe the spring and o ring are for a different application unless the spring takes the place of the sleeve that's the only place it can go on a Corvette column.

[Harry S.]

Re: Spring above upper bearing in '63 steering column?

I believe the green horn wire runs outside the mast jacket in the slot with the directional cable true??

It's hard to tell from the pictures but there is a clip on the early cars that captures both wire and cable. If someone has that clip I would appreciate it if they could post a picture as I need to locate one. Mine is long gone..

The old Saginaw kit I purchased contained a new upper bearing with a spring and o ring. I believe the spring and o ring are for a different application unless the spring takes the place of the sleeve that's the only place it can go on a Corvette column.

Tim, is it a clip or is it cloth tape. Take a peek in the AIM and there is a piece of cloth tape that wraps the column/jack mast and holds wires in place.

[Bob J.]

Re: Spring above upper bearing in '63 steering column?

Timothy,
I think the original 63 color of the horn wire was black.
The service units had a green wire.
Only the early cars used the metal clip, then it changed to tape for holding the wire.
Bob

[Page C.]

Re: Spring above upper bearing in '63 steering column?

I agree with Bob,I have sold several 1963 columns over the years. All the originals had a black wire. The quick fix is a black Magic Marker.
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[Bob R.]

Re: Spring above upper bearing in '63 steering column?

I'm not so sure about the black wire. When I replaced the old upper bearing in my column the original wire was green and obviously old?

[Timothy B.]

Re: Spring above upper bearing in '63 steering column?

Am I correct in that the horn wire runs outside the mast jacket like the directional cable? If so the black wire seems logical as that's the color of the cable.

These 63 things deserve more air time because restoring a 50 Y/O car and then looking in a catalog the 63 pictures show a spring, it's very confusing for someone trying to use the correct parts. I believe the sleeve is a spacer between the hub and bearing, no spring or o ring is used and the preload on the bearings is at the bottom spring in the engine compartment. This preload enables the steering shaft to spin nice and smooth with the bearings (both) inner race.

[Bob J.]

Re: Spring above upper bearing in '63 steering column?

Am I correct in that the horn wire runs outside the mast jacket like the directional cable? If so the black wire seems logical as that's the color of the cable.

Yes, they both run outside the mast jacket.

The upper bearing kit has had the green wire since back in the early seventies when I started buying them. Its possible on other applications that the green wire is correct.
I've never seen an original undisturbed column with the horn wire any color but black.