Steering column
 

Well, that was an interesting little experiment. A while back guys on here were talking about the bearing or upper rubber bushing on steering columns and it was said you could go to a hardware store and get a wheel barrow bearing with a ridge on one side and use that. I went and got one today and it does not work on a forty unless mine is different than others. I ended up using a NOS rubber one that I had and put that one in. only problem is the rubber one does not have a metal sleeve but is good and snug for now anyway. As for pulling the wheel, piece of cake. It was drilled and tapped for 5/16-24 on each side of the center shaft so ran a tap to clean it good, made a small steel plate, drilled two clearance holes,backed off the big nut on the shaft a bit, put the plate on and used a socket slowly adding pressure to the 5/16 bolts and BINGO ! No drips, no scratches, no errors. :D

Re: Steering column
 

Bob NH,
Good for you, nice to hear a job went well with no hick em ups!! Using the ol' brain never hurts no one....

Re: Steering column
 

Yes, there is an inexpensive radial bearing available that fits perfectly in the upper steering column tube. I just bought two of them at $3.29 each. The ID = 3/4" and the OD = 1-3/8" with a flange at one end that acts as a stop in the flare of the column tube. I tried one in a '35 steering column and the other in a '38 column and they both fit like they were designed by Henry and his boys to be there from the day the cars were manufactured.
I would say you went to the wrong type hardware store and/or bought the wrong size bearing. I bought my two at a Tractor Supply Store. I would also think the correct size bearing would be available at a good hardware store and also at the big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe's. I will post pictures later of how well it fits and looks in the steering column along with all specifications and TS part number. I do plan to add one or two 'O' rings on the 1-3/8" OD to help keep the bearing stabilized inside the column tube.

Re: Steering column
 

I have some NOS OEM steering column bearings and a couple of NOS steering column tubes that had the bearings in them. Seems like (without going to get one out of the parts bin) that they are metal with maybe some type of canvas like material.

Re: Steering column
 

We use a few of that style bearing at work. We used to get them at the hardware store and had fair luck with them. We checked at the local industrial bearing store and found that they had the same bearings only much better quality, like them much better, smoother, not much more money, last longer. Good luck

Re: Steering column
 

Ah Ha, I know what went wrong, I bought AMERICAN and paid a few bucks more. What a mistake huh ? I bought the same exact size and if my camera will work I'll post a picture to show U guys why it does not go down below the bell of the tube far enough for the bottom hub of the wheel to fit on.

Re: Steering column
 

Well, the good news is I was able to make the camera work, (it accidentally went swimming with me last summer and has been a problem ever since) but the bad news is you folks have a "village Idiot " on your hands here. I can not figure out how to H - - - to upload the pictures on here to save my soul. I read the instructions and even copied them down to no avail. Some things U can do and some U can't ! :confused:

Re: Steering column
 

Send them to my email address and I will post them for you.
You can get access to my email address by clicking my Avatar picture or by clicking my screen name.

Re: Steering column
 

Bob, I finally found your pictures in my email in box messages and will attach them here. One thing I noticed is what appears to be the old rubber bushing still in place at the top of the column tube. That must come completely out and that area inside the column tube must be cleaned up to allow the new bearing to go down far enough in the tube flared end. I believe that new radial bearing shown in your pictures should work. It looks to be identical to the ones I bought at TSC.

Re: Steering column
 

John, what you are looking at is the new rubber bushing I installed after seeing the lip bearing was in no way going to fit in low enough in the tube so the extended 1/2 deep x 1 1/8 across protrusion of the wheel would nest down. I should do a better picture. Thanks to all of the guys for advise anyway