Bulkhead steering bearing

[Rozza!!!]

I have discovered that I have a bit of play (left, right, up and down direction not in/out direction) when I waggle the steering shaft that comes through the bulkhead. Does this mean that the blukhead bearing is duff?

Roy.

[Roy C]

Rozza!!! said:

I have discovered that I have a bit of play (left, right, up and down direction not in/out direction) when I waggle the steering shaft that comes through the bulkhead. Does this mean that the blukhead bearing is duff? Roy.

Probably. I've just had mine replaced. I knew it was on the way out, but it suddenly went very bad last weekend. The shaft was very loose. Now solid as a rock.

[Rozza!!!]

I would say there is about 0.5mm of play and I had been experiencing some strange steering sensations at speed as though the car was drifting side to side.

Roy.

[Roy C]

Rozza!!! said:

I would say there is about 0.5mm of play and I had been experiencing some strange steering sensations at speed as though the car was drifting side to side. Roy.

That's right. Mine was real pain to drive at speed. Sounds like it needs replacing ASAP.

[mike j smith]

Where is the best place to buy the bulkhead baring from? How difficult is it to replace??

Mike

[Rozza!!!]

mike j smith said:

Where is the best place to buy the bulkhead baring from? How difficult is it to replace?? Mike

Ditto!

Roy.

[Roy C]

mike j smith said:

Where is the best place to buy the bulkhead baring from? How difficult is it to replace?? Mike

Dunno. Tower View replaced it while it was there.
www.tvrcc-south-wales.co.uk/sparts.asp#steering
I think the method is in the "bible".

[keithyboy]

It depends if you have the earlier nylon type of bush or the newer bearing type. If you have the nylon then upgrade to the newer type as its far more durable. They all tend to wear as the wheel is often used to lean on as you get out of the car. Upgrading may involve some drilling through the bulkhead for the additional mounting bolts - 5 as I recall when I did the job on my old S1. Its easier with another pair of hands to tighten the bolts although I know some have managed on their own. Good luck!

[Pies]

Straight swap on my V8 no drilling etc

Done at Tower view

[RichardR]

I got my bearing from Peninsular, and it was quite straightfoward to fit, apart from the new upper UJ I ended up needing (full details on my car profile 16/01).

However, on mine at least, there's a triangular plastic insert that sits between the steering column and the inside of the bearing, and if this has worked loose it'll also allow movement in the column, so I'd check that first. If your configuration is the same as mine, the plastic bit is held in place by a Ford 'special washer', and if this has slipped it'll allow the plastic bit to move down the column towards the UJ and out of the bearing.

Let me know if you need any more detail (or clarification).

>> Edited by RichardR on Tuesday 4th November 13:17