Replacing steering column felt bushes

[casper171072]

Im intending to replace the felt bushes on the steering column.  I have the plastic mini upgrade for the top bush (can these not be fitted as a replacement for the bottom too?).

My querie is with replacing the felt on the bottom, am I best to soak this in oil before fitting or fit dry and then feed oil down to tube to allow it to expand.  I have heard of both methods being used.  

[2robert4]

Having done this job in the recent past I used the plastic bush in the top of the column and the felt one in the bottom of the column as getting the plastic bush in at the bottom can be problamatic.You should soak the bush in oil (I used EP90) for at least 24 hours before fitting other wise you can not lubricate the bush enough in situ and it will wear prematurely, but you will need to leave a rag around the bottom of the column just to soak up any excess and if you pat the felt dry with a rag before fitting there will be little or no seepage. The top column bush should be lubed with multipurpose grease otherwise it will be noisy and wear prematurely. It's not a big job to take the column out but you only want to do it once so make sure everything is well lubed.
Hope this helps?

NP

[casper171072]

Thats a big help thanks. What is the best way to fit the felt, I was thinking wrap it round the column then feed that into the tube then just push the plastic bush in from the top i guess ?

[2robert4]

Push the poly bush in from the top, the lower bush is diagonally split so you can push it into the bottom opening of the tube and open it out into place and then use a piece of bar as a mandrel to shape the bush and to make sure it is seated in the outer column tube correctly and will not push out when you push the inner column through from the top.
Hope this helps?

NP

[canuck]

Wow, I found this a bear of a job. I pre-soaked these felt bush, (unaware of a plastic one  ) in regular motor oil. 



I don't recall the finite details, (my mind has erased this grief I think)  but I believe I removed the outer steering column sleeve to fit the lower one and I pushed like crazy to install/fit the upper one. I almost dislocated my thumbs through this exercise. 
New one installed below. 



This was an oily mess to do and I was hoping this bush replacement would eliminate an annoying 'click' in my steering. Not so. I am about to embark on a steering rack rebuild. 

Best of luck with this

B

[canuck]

Forgot to mention I needed to remove the horn contact sleeve,



and the turn indicator cancelling peg etc. to remove the outer steering column sleeve. etc. (note: this is a LHD car) 




Have fun

B

[casper171072]

Thanks for the help. I have managed to do the Bush. For me it was easy which is always a worry but it was only the bottom bush, the top one I dud use the plastic replacement. I've done this on a spare column I have so I have yet to face removing and replacing the horn compnants

[canuck]

Casper,
Is this 'plastic' bush a split design? How did you fit it without removing the horn bits?

B

[casper171072]

There were no horn bits it was a spare column I had given which was just the column and shaft so no problems, not until I come to swapping it over anyway 😂