Anything worth doing is worth doing twice................isn't it?
I found a solution for the lower steering column bearing. When I tore the column apart a few months back I could not find a replacement for the lower bearing so in an effort to get the car back together and driveable I put the old bearing back in. There was some "slop" in the column to the point where you could move the column shaft up and down a bit from the engine side, but nothing unsafe. Fast forward to last week and I found a replacement option from Southeast Chevy Parts. They offer a brass bushing in a factory bracket that fits in the orignal location rather than a stock ball bearing replacement (which I still can't find anyways). I had some time last night so I removed the column (again) and installed the new setup. While everything was out I re-did the coupling piece that I previously incorrectly painted black. Subsequent research suggests that this was grey phosphate - so that's what it is now. Got the column re-installed last night but called it quits prior to hooking evertyhing up and re-installing the steering wheel, hope to finish that up tonight.......which leads to my other little project.
In the miles I have put on the car I have noticed a steering wheel vibration around 60 MPH. I somewhat assumed it was related to the lower column bearing but thought I should check the balance on the tires (make sure the basics are correct first, right?). I took the fronts over to my friends shop and the right front was out by 2 oz. So then I brought the rears and one of those was out by about the same. I put the two with the least weight on the front and the other two on the rear. The spare was never balanced so I got that done at the same time too. Thinking this should get rid of the 60 MPH vibration. Hoping to have enough time tonight to get everything back together and take for a test drive.
