Steering column upper bearing options, alternative units

[bobfather]

I suspect my steering column upper bearing may be on its way out. The Mk3 Cavalier columns are becoming hard to source and when they are available they tend to look very ropey. I understand that some other Vauxhall columns can be made to fit. Has anyone fitted an alternative, if so, from which car and was there any complications?

[Steve_D]

Just for info I also had an upper bearing failure (balls in the footwell).
I stripped it right down thinking I would arrive at a bearing with a part number but no. The outer race is peened into the alloy housing, the bearing is separate with a plastic cage which is the source of the problem as it had broken into many brittle pieces. The inner race seems to be a integral part of the shaft.

Luckily I quickly found a replacement TVR column.
Remember the Cavalier column is not a direct replacement as the TVR one is modified in length.

Steve

[Zener]

Thats a worry