Best way to remove this bearing race?

   / Best way to remove this bearing race?
  • Thread Starter
#21  
After making my original post, I next tried heating the column with a propane torch and then ice on the race but that didn't do it. I then tried a puller and it was then that I figured out that the lip I had been beating and pulling on was part of the steering column, not the bottom of the race. The new race I had bought "looked" different than the original but as it turned out was identical to the O.E.M one. MAN, I can pull some boners!! The race sat flat against a ring that was welded to the column. Even after I had cleaned everything up with a wire wheel, there was enough rust etc present that I just couldn't tell what was column and what was race. Anyway, that's when I decided to break out the welder and forget about trying to save the old race (just in case).
This morning I was able to find a new steering box bearing for $19.00+ $8.00 s&h as compared to $51.00 for the one I ruined ( picked up 2 of bearings actually...just in case :eek: ).
I have been in a mad rush to get this fixed because we are having a church hay ride/picnic at our place this weekend and I usually work double shifts all week and knew I was going to be pressed for time. Plus, I have a guy coming Saturday to pick up a piece of equipment he bought and I have to have my FEL to load it on his trailer. Last night while I was in bed thinking about all of this I got the bright idea to make a bushing to replace the bearing. That way I wouldn't have to worry about receiving the new bearing in time or if I would have time to get everything back together. The top bearing keeps the steering shaft from rising vertically when turning left and the bottom bearing in the steering box is what the end of the shaft spins in and presses against when turning right. I had a 3'X3' piece of 1" thick nylon cutting board that is used in meat depts that I could make it from. It is super durable stuff and I've seen lots of bushings made from similar material. I decided to cut a piece of that and I turned it on my lathe to make a bushing that fit in the bottom race and holds the shaft. I just got everything back together and it appears to work great. If I have the new bearing and time to replace it before Saturday, I'll put it in but if not, I think it will be fine long enough that we can still do the hay ride.
I really appreciate everyone's help on this!!
 
   / Best way to remove this bearing race? #22  
Your "boner" in the first paragraph sounds like something I've done a few times.:D

But your temporary bushing idea sounds good, and is something I probably wouldn't have thought of, especially since I don't have a lathe.
 
   / Best way to remove this bearing race? #23  
Don't get wild with it.. some manufacturer did exactly the same thing for ford steering boxes.. .. made a nylon beairng insert... they self destruct quite easilly.. when you least expect it..

soundguy
 
   / Best way to remove this bearing race?
  • Thread Starter
#24  
Don't get wild with it.. some manufacturer did exactly the same thing for ford steering boxes.. .. made a nylon beairng insert... they self destruct quite easilly.. when you least expect it..

soundguy

Yeah, I am definately looking at this as a temporary fix. I am hoping that since it fits snuggly in the race that will help keep it together. I'm going to take the FEL off before the hay ride. Without power steering I know first hand that alone makes a huge difference in steering loads. I will say this is very durable stuff though. I have been a life long off road motorcycle enthusiast and a similar type material is often used for chain guards, guides and buffers. I have for years made my own guides and buffers when the O.E.M's wear out and have never had to replace one that I've made from this same material I made the bushing out of. I've also used it to make wheel spacers on four wheelers and shock bumpers. Idealy, the bearings will be here by Friday and I won't have to work a double (yeah, right!) and I'll have time to fix it correctly. Either way, this time next week I should have the bearings and time to put it in.
 
   / Best way to remove this bearing race? #25  
Well I, for one, am glad to have learned the weld trick on removing races. I've never heard of it and it sure seems to work. One day I'll be remembering this thread...Thanks!
 
   / Best way to remove this bearing race? #26  
Just keep the amps low.. don't want to penetrate the race and weld it to the barent material under it.. then you are in a pickle. Just a small bead along the face.. let it cool a few seconds, and then slap the assy down on your work bench and the rach should literally drop out. A lil while back i did one on a ford steeirng box top nearly identical to the piece in the pic above. Used a lil 70a welder and either a 1/16 or 5/64 rod.. I put grease on the exposed flange to keep weld spatter and pops off of the gasket surface.

soundguy
 
   / Best way to remove this bearing race? #27  
Gotta get me a welding rig...and learn how to use it!
 
   / Best way to remove this bearing race? #28  
they are pretty nice to have.. :)
 
   / Best way to remove this bearing race? #29  
edit: Holy mackerel just noticed this thread is 5 yrs old my bad guess its back in service by now! :laughing:

Glad you got it figured out! I saw this too late to offer another solution I have used the welded bead also but sometimes I use a 2" cutoff wheel on a die grinder and cut the race. Its normally on a diagonal cut but they come out nicely and if you nick the housing cutting thru its usually no big deal. I have a dremel sized die grinder that uses 3/4" cutoff wheels for smaller jobs fwtw.

I have even simply deeply scored but not all the way thru races with the cutoff in critical applications and then hit them with a chisel wearing safety glasses and the race will crack very easily just another time saver to put in the memory banks.
 
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