My upper column bearing seems to be a little loose. It clunks when I turn the wheel. It's not real bad but it is enough to be irritating. I have replaced the bearing and checked everything for tightness. It all seems ok. Is there a way to tighten the preload on the bearing on the bottom? I don't see any way to do it on the top. Thanks.
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Moving the shaft a bit closer to the steering box will do nothing. I've run into that clunk, I made up a thin wrap around shim between the solid shaft and inner bearing race, it needs to have a couple of thousands of lateral play that will be taken up with some grease. if done right....... it's a safe fix .
I did the same thing on my JPS. I made a shim from a pop can-- it worked pretty well.
And if you find that the upper bearing is toast (they dry out and self-destruct, sometimes) you can get a new one from the VW suppliers (I use Bug City). Be careful, though, there are several different designs used by VW and the Speedster builders representing different VW build years.
The shim idea is your best, first bet, though.
There is a nylon tapered busing that takes up the play between the column and the bearing. It is generally compressed in one direction by the column itself and in the other direction by the spring behind the steering wheel hub.
Then we use is longer with more tapered than shown in this link, but it was the closest thing I could find http://www.eisparts.com/111405...le+Top+of+Shaft.html
And, as mentioned above by others, your first step may be to identify the year/make of the column as the early VWs use a clip and not a bushing...
Everything in the car is 66-67. I'm pretty sure the column is from the same year from the investigation I did when I changed the horn around to use a relay. Anywhere you can think of to see a picture of where the shim goes? Thanks for the help guys!
Is this the shim you speak of?
Or is this bushing something else?
I saw that shim. I think that is the one that Carey linked to said it was for 68 and up. Will these bushings fit in my 66 column?
Our Speedster/Spyder upper section is Porsche 924, same diameter and spline as 74+ standard Beetle The tapered bushing we use will not work on 66.
Frank: Try looking at Bug City in Connecticut. It might be best to call them and talk about what you've got to get the right one. They're pretty simple to replace, too.
That link takes you to the bearing and spacer page.
I have an idea what to do now. Thanks everybody!
