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I am posting a link, for reference, I am not the seller, nor getting any kick backs... just a thirdgen user wanting to spread the word...
If you've been looking through the classifieds (like I do) you've seen a couple of sellers that sell an upgraded Astro Steering Shaft... it basically replaces the sloppy / worn rag joint with a metal U joint... Nice...
Another upgrade some were doing, they were upgrading the lower factory plastic bushing with a bearing that the Astro van's also had... most people I talked to said they had trouble finding one in good shape... and I really wanted to address all the upgrades here...
I checked ebay and found a seller... I emailed him first and explained that the 91 Firebird had a plastic bushing, would this actual bearing fit / work? He stated yes. So I ordered it. And it does nicely!
It does state in his ad, "non air bag" but my 91 had an air bag, and it fit fine...
I bought the one from ebay, seller cjsrods73j3, currently $45 shipped...
Part # 69-95GM
Item Title: 69-95 GM tilt & non tilt New Steering Column Lower Bearing, 100% USA Made, L@@@K
Current Ebay Auction
http://www.ebay.com/itm/69-95-GM-tilt-non-tilt-New-Steering-Column-Lower-Bearing-100-USA-Made-L-K-/131481158788?vxp=mtr
There are a couple sellers here in the classifieds selling the shafts, so if you want to also upgrade the plastic bushing to a bearing, this one works...
The steering is tight after upgrading these 2 items!
I got me an Astro steering shaft but was unaware of the lower bearing. Was it difficult to remove the plastic one and put the new one in? Here's my shaft..hehe
Oh btw my car is an 84 berlinetta with tilt sterring.
Right on, I am not mechanically inclined.....and disabled that's why I ask how difficult it is. Also my car has tilt steering, does that mean I cannot use it? It may as it wasn't supposed to work for air bag and it has. What do you think luvofjah?
Awesome, thanks man. Does it come with instructions? or is just a matter of removing the retainer clip then it all come out? Also appears they will not ship to Canada. I emailed the seller and asked if he would send to Canada and now I wait.
Last edited by onthedownlow; Apr 17, 2015 at 08:34 PM.
The two above, look like just the bearing. These look like them, gotta shop around, is all.You want the whole assembly pictured. Still, i would pay the JY a visit and score one from an astro van. Cheaper still. https://www.ebay.com/itm/35258809855...75.c101224.m-1
I wish I had known about these when I installed my Astrovan steering shaft, because the engine was out of the car at the time so I had plenty of room to work..
I wish I had known about these when I installed my Astrovan steering shaft, because the engine was out of the car at the time so I had plenty of room to work..
Same here, I just replaced the steering shaft and steering box on my '91 about 6 months before we started selling these. I installed one on my '83 but it isn't drivable yet, really seemed to improve steering feel sitting still thou.
This thread began about 8 years ago, was last revived about 1 year ago, and I'm reviving it again now to describe a common problem with these bearings that most people probably have but don't know it, causing the bearing to function improperly, even though it might seem like it's functioning properly. Clear as mud? Good. And if people purchased these bearings in 4 pieces that need assembling, like it's commonly sold, then there's a good chance yours might be defective, and you probably don't know it.
Initially purchased mine from a vendor, who I won't name, because it's not the vendor's fault, and it came in 4 pieces to be assembled, which tends to be common from most vendors. After I assembled it, I noticed something that couldn't possibly be right, so I searched the net and found a video on YT by user, Suburban Ranch, where he addresses the problem, shows it in detail, he linked a steering business that confirmed it as a common defect, and he got a bearing from them that functions properly. So I contacted them, and I also purchased a properly functioning bearing. gm, buick, cadillac, chevrolet, oldsmobile, & pontiac steering column housings and bearings 7805700 Brgkit60 lower bearing kit | Steering Column Services
My 37 year old original factory bushing was still solid, smooth and perfect with no slop whatsoever, so when I encountered the problem with the bearing, I almost didn't bother looking for a correctly made bearing. But since I had it all apart, it was now or never, so I did the search and found the problem and the answer.
When you snap the bearing assembly into the white bushing, the bearing race is supposed to fit so tightly that it will not move/spin inside the bushing. Yet it's common for the entire bearing assembly to spin inside the bushing, race and all, which defeats the point of having a bearing. No way that could be right, and it's not. The bushing and bearing race are supposed to be rock solid tight together, so that only the inner bearings that grip the column turns as the column turns. If your entire bearing assembly, race and all, is turning inside the bushing, then yours is defective.
What Steering Column Services will do, if you mention the situation, is preassemble the bearing assembly into the white bushing to confirm that the bearing race is tight and secure in the bushing and doesn't move, that only the inner bearing turns in the race, and then they'll ship it to you like that.
The problem lies in the manufacturing process of the white bushings. Sometimes they'll shrink ever so slightly immediately after the manufacturing process, leaving the inner surface of the bushing a hair too large for the bearing assembly, so that when the bearing assembly is installed into the bushing, the entire assembly is loose and spins inside the bushing, which it's not supposed to do. So if any of you found that the bearing assembly popped into the bushing easily, then it's probably loose in there, and it shouldn't be. The bearing assembly should be a ***** to install into the bushing, so that the only thing that spins is the inner bearings in the race, not the entire bearing assembly.
The entire assembly spinning in the bushing will probably be slightly "clunky" and could become "clunkier" as the bushing wears due to the looseness of the bearing assembly in it. It's something you might not notice during driving, early on, but if you were to grab the column and try to move it up and down, you'll probably be able to very slightly, but enough to feel and hear it lightly "clunk." But that's not supposed to happen; you shouldn't be able to move it. I suspect most of you popped the bearing assembly into the bushing, may or may not have noticed a slightly loose fit, but thought it was good to go, and away you went, with everything seeming to be working fine, when it really wasn't fine.
I'd suggest y'all pop your hoods, start the car, have someone turn the wheels back and forth, while you watch the bearing carefully. If the entire assembly is turning inside the bushing, not just the inner bearings, which won't be easy to see with everything installed, then the white bushing is defective. Or for those of you who have the new bearing but haven't installed it yet, pop that bearing assembly into the white bushing, and if the entire bearing assembly spins in the bushing, not just the inner bearings, then yours is defective, and it'll be good that you learned that now before installing it. If so, then I'd suggest you return it to where you purchased it and contact Steering Column Services for one that's preassembled and confirmed tight.
Man, that was long! And probably very redundant. But I wasn't sure how to say it simply, one way, so I said it in multiple ways lol. Sorry!
That's why i prefer to use the factory bearing. In spite of how old it may be its still tight in the plastic housing. Nice wolff bearing though, but the damage ( to the wallet), not so nice.
Boy am I glad I came across this thread. I have replaced my shaft bushing three times in 3 years and it immediately becomes loose and steering wanders. Turning the wheel with sticky tires also puts straight on the unit. The wolf unit isn't that expensive given how many times I've replaced the stock style.
Cool to find out the Astro and Jeep Cherokee steering shaft fits the Camaro as well.
I already have the Cherokee part in my 1979 Squarebody and it was super simple to install.
Now I suppose I will have to keep an eye out for another Jeep part in the junkyard...
Cool to find out the Astro and Jeep Cherokee steering shaft fits the Camaro as well.
I already have the Cherokee part in my 1979 Squarebody and it was super simple to install.
Now I suppose I will have to keep an eye out for another Jeep part in the junkyard...
They're not a direct drop in though. The astro piece is a little short and if IIRC the cherokee is a bit too long.
have you had a chance to try this wolff unit yet? Any feedback if so?
I just ordered one, came in quick, the guy who makes it is local to the Houston area. It seems like a really quality piece, just havent had the time to install it yet.
I bought it yesterday and will report back once I get it installed. By that I mean in 5638 months when I drive the car again.
has it been 5638 months yet? Lol
any feedback on the unit would be greatly appreciated if installed. Will do this upgrade along with new borgeson steering shaft (when I eventually break the bank for the borgeson unit) lol
I installed the Borgesson#000315 steering shaft along with the Wolff M109SS back in October and they were both a very easy install. The only issue I had with the steering bearing was getting the last set screw tightened on the collar. It is in a weird position and does not spin with the inner shaft. If I had smaller hands, that would have saved a lot of time and cuts. Both units are nice, but the Wolff M109SS is well engineered and fit perfectly. I was having two issues, one with a slight clunk when the steering wheel was turned a few degrees. The second was a tiny bit of play in the steering. After installing these units, those problems are gone.
I installed the Borgesson#000315 steering shaft along with the Wolff M109SS back in October and they were both a very easy install. The only issue I had with the steering bearing was getting the last set screw tightened on the collar. It is in a weird position and does not spin with the inner shaft. If I had smaller hands, that would have saved a lot of time and cuts. Both units are nice, but the Wolff M109SS is well engineered and fit perfectly. I was having two issues, one with a slight clunk when the steering wheel was turned a few degrees. The second was a tiny bit of play in the steering. After installing these units, those problems are gone.
Thank you for the review! I plan on getting and installing both these that you mentioned the steering shaft along with the wolff bearing. Did you use your stock steering box as well?
Yes, the stock steering box was used. The car only has 33,000 miles on it, which I know is not an indicator of wear, but the steering box is not a problem. One thing to keep in mind with the steering shaft is, you can turn the steering wheel to manipulate the position of the screws and nuts that need to be tightened on it. Just a simple thing to remember, but it will make the installation so much quicker.
I did the Wolfe Bearing over the weekend, I had to pull the Borgenson shaft that I had in there out to clean it up and paint it. That's something I highly recommend, because it will surface rust. The Wolfe bearing is nice, but like stated the bottom set screw on the plastic collar is a pain. Everyone installing these are in K5s or other trucks, so much more room. Our cars not so much with the booster right there. The design is a bit overkill, because the set screws on the bearing to hold it in place, then you have to bend the tabs/fingers over it to be perfectly flush, that's essentially also locking it in place to where it cant go any where. If the tabs aren't flush, plastic collar wont slide on. But the collar essentially acts as a third method of retention.
