1963 Riviera Upper steering column bearing (no Tilt )

[OldGerman]

Hi 

I Need advice how to remove and replace the upper steering column bearing. 

I have removed the steering wheel and can see the upper ball bearing. The steering column shaft has a lot clearance in the bearing.

My horn has intermittent contact, I think it is caused by the bearing clearance.

There is a bearing available at CARS # SBK695U-4.

Has anybody experience with this part?

Will it fit my Application ?

 

Thank you for your help.

Regards 

frank 

 

[OldGerman]

I‘m  talking about this bearing under the horn contact Ring.

Has somebody replaced this one ?

I think I Need to remove the complete upper assembly to replace the bearing.

 

[OldGerman]

Ok, the original column bearing is removed.

It seems one or a few balls were missing/falling out.

I found one in the internals of the column.

Now waiting for the new bearing set from CARS and will see if it will fit.

 

Will update you.

 

 

[jsgun]

Great info, i'm watching.

[OldGerman]

The Steering Column upper Bearing Kit ( CARS :  SBK695U-4) arrived and I I could not wait to see if it would fit my 1963 Riviera.

So it did not :-(

 

The new bearing race inner diameter is 1" vs. 0,75" (3/4") of my column shaft (see Picture 1).

Picture 2 shows upper bearing inner race compared to the new bearing kit.

The CARS Kit Looks like an LOWER Bearing Kit but will also not fit 1963 Riviera, because the lower end of the shaft has the same Diameter ( 0,75") as the upper end.

(See Picture 3 for comparison of lower bearing assemblies )

 

It will may fit newer cars if they have a larger 1" shaft diameter. But I do not know that !

 

Please do not buy this Kit, if you need an UPPER bearing kit for a 1963 Riviera.

 

Frank

 

 

Edited April 2, 2019 by OldGerman (see edit history)

[SwedeDownUnderR63]

Maybe you could try to measure the old bearing and try to find something similar at this site: https://www.skf.com/au/knowledge-centre/engineering-tools/skfbearingcalculator.html

Hopefully someone else have a better suggestion...

[OldGerman]

Thank you Jan,

I will check out SKF & INA pages.

Regards,

Frank

[OldGerman]

One question;

is it normal that the steering coupler has splines just in this small section only ( see red angular in Picture 1 )?

 

The rest of the inner circumference is blank.

 

Just to make sure that nobody did remove the rest for unknown reasons.

 

Thank you

 

[1965rivgs]

3 hours ago, OldGerman said:

One question;

is it normal that the steering coupler has splines just in this small section only ( see red angular in Picture 1 )?

 

The rest of the inner circumference is blank.

 

Just to make sure that nobody did remove the rest for unknown reasons.

 

Thank you

 

Hi Frank,

 That is OK, they were like that from new.

Tom Mooney

[telriv]

ALSO IF you take note one side has a flat so the steering box input can only be put in correctly. The input "should" slide right in. IF it doesn't & you have to use force it's NOT lined up properly. You need a new rag joint anyway.

[OldGerman]

Just to complete this thread, column installation  is finished.

It just needed to add a single ball to the upper bearing. With plenty of luck I found that ball in the column in accident.

With that missing ball installed, the bearing is free of lash.

lower bearing was cleaned and new lubrication applied. 

The steering coupling was replaced by a repair kit from Cars Inc.

 

I did set back the steering wheel to the original center position as marked. I need an wheel alignment, because I did replace the

A-arm bushings and upper ball Joints. 

 

Now the steering feels thight again.