Just fitted new steering column bulkhead bearing
Discussion
Well the bearing sat on the shelf for 3 weeks before I got round to fitting it but I started last Monday evening thinking a couple of evenings would see it all done. 
Finally finished this evening and very happy with the result, if not too impressed at how long it has taken. Only excuse was I couldn't work on it this weekend as I was tied up with family duties.
Much improved steering response and all the play in the column has gone.
So I thought I'd post a few tips and pics for anyone else contemplating this.
[rant mode on]
1. If the bolt securing the UJ to the column shaft doesn't move when you try to remove it with a spanner, adding more pressure on the bolt is bound to shear it off especially if the bolt has been glued in!
2. Drilling out the bolt is both difficult and time consuming on the car. When you have finished drilling it out, it don't use a stud extractor as that will only snap off filling in the nicely drilled hole with high tensile steel you now can't drill.
3. Before you start buy a new top UJ!!! Then you won't be waiting for it to be delivered with your car off the road. You'll need one eventually anyway.
4. If everyone says the bearing goes on the inside of the bulkhead, believe them. They've already done it, they know what they're talking about. Just cos' some plonker fitted it on the outside before doesn't mean it has to go there. The reason the new bearing doesn't fit on the outside is because the new housing is fatter and once you struggled to bolt the new one in the UJ won't clear the bearing if it's outside the bulkhead. You'll only have to take it all apart again.
5. The new bush is a tight fit on the column, fit the bush to the column before fitting it into the bearing. Make a note where the old bush went on the column and put the new one in the same place. That way you won't have to dismantle the column three times trying to get it back in.
[rant mode off]
Here is the bearing once I'd removed the steering column. It's on the outside of the footwell not inside as seems to be the consesus as to where it should be.
[url]http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00291935f00000005.jpg[/url]
And this is it afterwards
[url]http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00291935f00000006.jpg[/url]
and from inside the footwell
[url]http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00291935f00000007.jpg[/url]
If you have been driving your S and thinking it feels like the steering is a bit vague at speed or the wheel moves up and down, check your bulkhead bearing. It's not as hard as I've made it seem honest.
Colin
>>> Edited by Colin Blues2 on Monday 10th May 23:21
Finally finished this evening and very happy with the result, if not too impressed at how long it has taken. Only excuse was I couldn't work on it this weekend as I was tied up with family duties. Much improved steering response and all the play in the column has gone.
So I thought I'd post a few tips and pics for anyone else contemplating this.
[rant mode on]
1. If the bolt securing the UJ to the column shaft doesn't move when you try to remove it with a spanner, adding more pressure on the bolt is bound to shear it off especially if the bolt has been glued in!
2. Drilling out the bolt is both difficult and time consuming on the car. When you have finished drilling it out, it don't use a stud extractor as that will only snap off filling in the nicely drilled hole with high tensile steel you now can't drill.
3. Before you start buy a new top UJ!!! Then you won't be waiting for it to be delivered with your car off the road. You'll need one eventually anyway.
4. If everyone says the bearing goes on the inside of the bulkhead, believe them. They've already done it, they know what they're talking about. Just cos' some plonker fitted it on the outside before doesn't mean it has to go there. The reason the new bearing doesn't fit on the outside is because the new housing is fatter and once you struggled to bolt the new one in the UJ won't clear the bearing if it's outside the bulkhead. You'll only have to take it all apart again.
5. The new bush is a tight fit on the column, fit the bush to the column before fitting it into the bearing. Make a note where the old bush went on the column and put the new one in the same place. That way you won't have to dismantle the column three times trying to get it back in.
[rant mode off]
Here is the bearing once I'd removed the steering column. It's on the outside of the footwell not inside as seems to be the consesus as to where it should be.
[url]http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00291935f00000005.jpg[/url]
And this is it afterwards
[url]http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00291935f00000006.jpg[/url]
and from inside the footwell
[url]http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00291935f00000007.jpg[/url]
If you have been driving your S and thinking it feels like the steering is a bit vague at speed or the wheel moves up and down, check your bulkhead bearing. It's not as hard as I've made it seem honest.
Colin
>>> Edited by Colin Blues2 on Monday 10th May 23:21
Too late now, but you should have used my guide on the West Yorkshire Region web site - www.tvrcc-westyorks.co.uk. May have saved you a bit of heartache!
Roy.
Roy.
I got both from David Gerald. I have the part numbers at home if you want them but I just called them up and they sent them from stock. The UJ has a Ford part number on it I've got it at home.
Colin
Edited to add prices (excluding VAT).
Bearing £12.50
Plastic bush £4.50
Bearing Housing £9.00
Top steering column UJ £49.95
Don't have the part numbers for the bearing and housing etc but the top UJ is labelled with Ford and D06PA
Hope that helps
>> Edited by Colin Blues2 on Tuesday 11th May 19:06
Colin
Edited to add prices (excluding VAT).
Bearing £12.50
Plastic bush £4.50
Bearing Housing £9.00
Top steering column UJ £49.95
Don't have the part numbers for the bearing and housing etc but the top UJ is labelled with Ford and D06PA
Hope that helps
>> Edited by Colin Blues2 on Tuesday 11th May 19:06
Just done the rack and UJ's too. Soak bolts in penetrating oil days before you start. If you are changing the lower bush or bearing, don't forget to get a new 'special washer' (sorry, no part number) to hold the bush in place.
Also worth checking the steering wheel fixing nut - I changed the rack, UJ's and top swivels (MoT failures) and got rid of the free play but STILL had a clunk in the steering. Turned out that the wheel could be tightened down almost one full turn. Big improvement in ride, especially on bumpy roads.
Ian.
Also worth checking the steering wheel fixing nut - I changed the rack, UJ's and top swivels (MoT failures) and got rid of the free play but STILL had a clunk in the steering. Turned out that the wheel could be tightened down almost one full turn. Big improvement in ride, especially on bumpy roads.
Ian.
lwt said:You can get the special washer from a Ford dealer, and it's from a Sierra steering column - around 1992 should do the trick - about 25p IIRC.
don't forget to get a new 'special washer' (sorry, no part number) to hold the bush in place.
However, I find that with this arrangement the bush still tends to move move down the column and come loose, introducing play into the steering again. From previous posts (and Pie's guide as well I think), it would appear that on some cars the bush is inserted from the footwell side which would negate the need for the special washer, and should stop the bush moving down the column, so I think I'm going to redo mine and switch the bush around.
Roy_S2 said:
Too late now, but you should have used my guide on the West Yorkshire Region web site - www.tvrcc-westyorks.co.uk. May have saved you a bit of heartache!
Roy.
can't find it on there ,also on firefox the top banner doesn't display properly
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