[68ragtop]

I picked up a 1989 pontaic T/A today that has a loose steering wheel. at first I though it was the internal bolts backing out like so many GM columns have done. Then I realized it was just the shaft moving. I took it most of the way apart & found that there is a back bearing that the plastic ball retainer has broke & allowed the balls to roll around wherever they want causing the movement.

Does anyone know if I can buy this bearing? I will have to see if I can buy the puller to get the pivot pins out somewhere as this is as far as I can go right now.

I drew an arrow the point to where the back bearing is located behind the housing.

Thanks for any input! 68RT

[68ragtop]

Well, I got the rest of it apart. Talk about weird, It would appear to me that the lower bearing win installed backwards! How could this be? The column appears to be virgin until I got into it, If somebody had it a apart, they left no evidence.

Now I need to figure out where to buy the bearing & see if I can get the race out. Seeing its in backwards, there nothing to tap on to drive it out.

[Ziggy]

I heard good things about these folks - CJ's Rods and Machines in NC

http://cjsrods.com/cjs_rods_001.htm

You may want to check them out.

[azkeebler]

A little pricey, but I've always used this kit if I couldn't get a good set from a salvage yard.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-Steering-...a46cf7&vxp=mtr

As far as the race, I just gentle peel the plastic retainer with the bearings off the new, and snap them in to the old. Make sure they are packed with grease to stay in the retainer better.

[68ragtop]

Thanks guys, I ended up buying a used bearing & just used the plastic retainer. The grease was definitely the answer to putting it together. I should have posted back to update where I was at. The rebuild kit was available from GM, but it included extra parts I didn't need.

Thanks for all the help & suggestions!