Steering Tilt steering column, not factory bearing?

[Jaymon]

Hi Everyone, I purchased my first Jeep and am working on fixing a few things. First up is a very sloppy steering wheel. I took the column apart as far as I was able and the problem is definitely the upper bearings. Here is a picture of where I'm at with disassembly. I cannot get this off and I think it's due to the bearing that's on there. All the info I've been able to find shows this bearing without an inner race and the balls just sit against the column. When I try to pull this housing off, the balls in the bearing catch on the inner race that appears to be pressed onto the center column. Any Ideas on how to get that old bearing out? Is this just some random bearing that matched the inner and outer diameter?

There seems to be some modifications as the steering wheel that was on the pinion was not factory and the turn signal canceling cam is missing.

Thanks for any advice!

The jeep is a 1980 CJ5 with the tilt column and floor shifter.

 

[CJ]

That is a GM column which AMC used for many years.
You need to remove all the balls and then pull. With any balls in it just applies pressure when you do not want it.

 

[Jaymon]

Thanks for the reply, I'll see if I can fish them out.

 

[CJ]

Thanks for the reply, I'll see if I can fish them out.

Yea, the ball bearings increase leverage on the inner race when pulling from the outer sleeve.

 

[robandhooch]

Im in the same boat thanks to wanting a functional turn signal and ignition lock...
Just got rebuild parts ordered for whole column. Also even with new ignition lock cylinder cannot get it to go into lock position to take out key, so hopefully the column rebuild fixes that.

 

[jzak]

Same problem. Seven years ago I had a shop rebuild the upper tilt column, and replace the steering shaft. I think it cost me almost as much as I paid for my CJ5 , but I've never had any problems since.