Removing upper steering shaft grommet

carguybill

carguybill

Senior Member
1934 Cabriolet. I am in the process of installing one of Dan Brusegard's upper steering shaft bearing kits. I'm at the point of having to remove the original (I assume) rubber grommet in the upper end of the steering column.


I tried inserting long screws into the grommet and pulling but this hasn't worked at all. It's apparently in there pretty tight. I've had such good luck getting suggestions from guys here that have BTDT that here I am again asking for techniques that have worked for them.


Any and all comments about how to remove that grommet will be greatly appreciated.
 
Might try rigging up a puller with a flat plate of some type with a hole in the center placed over the steering shaft. Then with 3 or 4 holes in it and bolts or all thread screwed into the bushing try tightening a bit at a time and see if it will come out.
 
I'm considering removing the steering column and pushing it out from the underside. At this point removing the sterring column seems straightforward.


Any comments about this approach?
 
carguybill said:
I'm considering removing the steering column and pushing it out from the underside. At this point removing the sterring column seems straightforward.


Any comments about this approach?
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It shouldn't be much of a problem with an open car. It's a bear on a closed cab pickup, however.
 
carguybill said:
I'm considering removing the steering column and pushing it out from the underside. At this point removing the sterring column seems straightforward.


Any comments about this approach?
Click to expand...

More work than I would want to do, but should work for sure.
 
Bill,I was exactly where you are at about a month ago on my 40.If you work at it slowly with lots of patience it will come out.I sprayed some PB blaster around the edge and let it soak for a day or two.I started picking and pulling at it with needle nose pliers and first got it to finally turn some.Mine was worn pretty bad and I managed to take two coat hangars with a very small hook I made at the end down through the center between shaft and bushing and started tugging up and down with vise grips until it started moving.Working slowly out it came.
 
I replaced the rubber bushing in my '40 several years ago and it seems I found a post on here regarding the replacement. I recall someone stating that he just pushed the old rubber bushing further into the tube and installed the one. I supposed it can't hurt. Also, check to be certain that the new bearing assembly will fit into your tube. I recall that there was a fitment problem with some of the earlier steering tubes being to small for new bearing. Good luck! Pat
 
I drilled my bushing many times with 1/8th inch bit and took it out in pieces and the crumbs I sucked out by placing the hose down over the shaft. I installed a wheel barrow bearing - perfect fit - the bearing has a flange on it. Your hardware can supply the bearing.
 
Bill OH said:
I drilled my bushing many times with 1/8th inch bit and took it out in pieces and the crumbs I sucked out by placing the hose down over the shaft. I installed a wheel barrow bearing - perfect fit - the bearing has a flange on it. Your hardware can supply the bearing.
Click to expand...


Thanks Bill OH. After trying many other techniques without success I used your drilling and vacuuming technique and it worked well. I was concerned about small pieces getting down into the lock mechanism or even down into the steering box but I was pleasantly surprised to find a block off above the lock mechanism on my '34.
 
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