Lower Steering Column Bearing Removal

[ottis]

i have a 79 CJ7 and the lower Column bearing race is rusted to the shaft and i'm looking for an easy way to get the shaft in the column out to work on the seized bearing race. The shaft with the siezed bearing race "shuckes" in and out about 3/8 of an inch but the steering wheel doesn't move. Is this "normal"?

 

[CJ]

I don't have a column like you have, but I figured I would give you bump to the top...

 

[PaRenegade]

Do you have any pictures Ottis, I'm not sure if I'm following you.

 

[ottis]

the "shucking" is not normal. the column has a colapsing shaft inside the steering column just like the lower end (between the steering box and firewall). my little plastic pins were sheared causing the "shucking".

to get the shaft out of the column.

remove steering wheel

remove "C" clip from shaft. the "steering lock plate" is spring loaded and has to be depressed to get the "C" clip off. i used a plate like the one used to remove the steering wheel. the center hole needs to be big enough to have the steering wheel nut hold it on and the 2 outter holes threaded. run threaded rod thru the outter holes and compress the "steering lock plate". this helped a lot when i put it back together.

the shaft will then slide out WHACK into your frame and ding up the splines on the shaft as it hits the cement on the garage floor.

experience is a wonderfull teacher