Upper steering collumn bushing puzzle

[Mitch]

I am replacing my upper column bushing pictured below. The original pot metal bushing measures 1.622 and is a nice press fit using ye ole thumb to install in the column housing. The worn re pop bushing i just removed is also that size, a nice press fit. Now here comes the kicker
The new replacement measures 1.630 no good, you can't fit a round large peg in a smaller hole. Just a quick note the one i removed was for the early style column with the 2 screws to hold it. This is the later column that uses the notch and dowel set up. So i called Jeff @ Brattons and he measured his in stock pieces early style and late styles. They also measured 1.630, so then he checked the Ford blue print and that says 1.630.
So what do you think is going on here??

[DaWizard]

What does the ID of the housing say, and is it round? I would be remiss if I didn't ask "do the parts and prints for AA show the same size?"

[CarlG]

Do these things shrink with age? (My old suits & jackets do!)

[2manycars]

The last ones I bought from bratton fit just fine, with a little help from a soft hammer. An interseting note is that the holes did not line up well, I could only use one. It went in tight, so I doubt if it would move anyhow. I oiled the lamp wick looking insert before installing.

[Ray Horton]

Mitch, I had the same problem on my '29 when I rebuilt a 2-tooth to replace my 7-tooth. First I had to drill two holes in the old bushing, which made it two pieces, which then came out easily. Then I had to sand the inside of the column housing where the bushing fits, ever so slightly. I think over the years, in my case anyway, rust and corrosion had built up around the original pot metal bushing. It took a little work, but I eventually got a thumb-snug fit. I probably could have used a hone instead of sandpaper, but I wanted more control than that.

[Dennis]

Mine was a little snug when I put it in recently. The hard part was getting the old original bushing out. Victor to the rescue! That bushing melts at a fairly low temp. As far as the holes for the screws, I thought I had read they were to be drilled and tapped after it is installed in the column, that was what I had done.

[Mitch]

The housing ID is 1.620 so the 1.622 is a nice press fit. The 7 thousands difference is just to much and no way will it go. I already ruined one when i pounded it in. There is no rust or deformity and the original as well as the worn repo i removed goes in fine.
To remove the old one i drilled into it and slapped it out wih a sheet metal screw on the end of a slide hammer.

[Mitch]

Thanks for all the replies and ideas. Does anyone have one that they can measure?

[tbirdtbird]

time to dust off the lathe
or use an exhaust pipe expander

[George Miller]

That is what I was thinking also. But Mitch probably wants to keep it to the original size. The other option is to turn the bushing down to the size of the old one.

I need to read it all. You said use a lathe. Anyway we both have the same answer.

[plyfor]

Mitch: many years ago, we had a 7 tooth column installed in a very early original '30 tudor that was set up to receive the '30 steering wheel. My recollection is we froze the replacement bushing and heated the column tube slightly to get it in.

[Mitch]

The lathe idea has already crossed my mind, but i need to hopefully find a more logical reason. Jeff said his prints are the original 30 genuine Ford. But what gets me is why does the broken original pot metal as well as the repo i used 3 years ago fit and measure smaller ... None of this makes real sense

[George Miller]

Maybe they had a running change, we use to change dia. some times on parts. But there should have been a change order and a updated print.

[BNCHIEF]

Well that is funny Mitch because I too have a 30 tudor june time frame i, I bought a new bushing from brattons and it went right in snug like itshould be with no issue. You might try a brake hone first to polish up the inside of the tube and see if you have high spots, I do not have any spares to check size .0008 is way to much for sure I did freeze my bushing before trying to put it in but that is only good for 1.5 to .0002 if these were wrong you would think others would have run into this.

[Jim Mason]

Are they plated?

[Mitch]

Jim no, just aluminum stock

[pAAt]

Mitch, I have one that came with my AA parts box and I'm not sure why yet. Column looks rebuilt already, but I'll check in the morning and see if I can find my mic. I'm sure it's 20 years old or more. Pat

[tbirdtbird]

Mitch I can't tell you the number of times I have worked on a repair of any marque and thrown my hands up in the air and decried, "the question is not why does it not work now, but why did it ever work at all"; ie there will always be mysteries out there.

A HD starter motor from an early Chrysler straight-8 IND industrial engine would be a prime example. One day it stopped working. After several go-rounds at diagnosis I determined the solenoid was wired wrong and it never could have worked. Once I rewired it, it was fine. It never made any sense

[Mitch]

When i restored the car i saved the original pot metal bushing which is pictured above with the lever stuck in it. Next to it is the new repo, but dummy me threw out the repo one that i just removed which also fit fine. As mentioned the measurements of the column opening and the original one jive perfectly. The repo is seven thous wider and according to Jeff the prints say that is correct. I was hoping that maybe he got a bad run, but that is not the case.

[Mitch]

When i figure this mystery out i will update the thread

[Tom Wesenberg]

I just measured my 28 7 tooth tube and the inside diameter is 1.630".

[Dennis]

Tom, do you have a new bushing for it. I remember the new one I bought was about twice as expensive, but it is also nickel plated. Bought it from Snyder's. I don't see any of the other vendors carry one that is nickel. Also my lower bearing assembly which is only a part that holds the bushing is way far off from the correct dimensions. I would have never gotten the correct preload end play if I were to use it.

[Mitch]

The bushing i removed from the car was a nickel plated early style and was only a few years old. It wore out that quick causing the steering shaft to have play.
This is what started this fiasco

[Dennis]

Did the nickel plated bushing have a packing inside where the steering shaft goes through?

[Mitch]

Yes it did... Did'nt they all use the packing?

[Tom Wesenberg]

I bought a new repro bushing about 20 years ago at a swap meet, but can't find it right now.
I don't recall if it was nickel plated, but most likely it was just polished aluminum.
I bought an NOS bottom bushing from Little Dearborn about 10 years ago.

[pAAt]

Not much help here Mitch all I could find was my dial ind. calipers. Which told me it was 1.629. I need to buy some more tools !

[slammin]

Not much help here Mitch all I could find was my dial ind. calipers. Which told me it was 1.629. I need to buy some more tools !

If your check was only .001 less that Mitch's 1.630, that is about as accurate as one should expect with calipers. Mitch, since the hole is off center on the bushing, your best bet to turn it down would be to bolt in down thru that hole indicate the OD on a faceplate. I don't think you can chuck it on the large OD well enough to turn it, even if you are just fuzzing off .008 If I had a faceplate for my lathe you could send it out, but I have 3 jaw and 4 jaw chucks, collects, a steady and a follow rest but no faceplate.

[DaWizard]

I have a couple face plates, but they are 12mm7.5 threaded for my Unimat SL1000

[Mitch]

Well It seems the 1.629-30 is the standard size from all the feedback and checking. Why this is smaller and why the Repo one fit from 2-3 years ago i have no idea. The column tube is not butchered or farmer fixed, so on Monday i will do some more brain searching. As of now milling seems to be the only option

[Mitch]

Update::::
The puzzle was not solved as to why the collumn opening is .007 smaller than the OD of the bushing. I also don't know why the original i have and the last repo fit perfectly either.
Wiz Pm'ed me and said to try a wheel cylinder hone or an exhaust pipe expander. Well i went for the gusto and used the expander with my 1/2 impact. I am happy to say that it worked perfectly and It now has a perfect interference fit.

Thanks for all the ideas and feedback

[tbirdtbird]

Mitch, see post #9

[BNCHIEF]

Also see post 12 do not want Wiz to get the big head.

[Mitch]

Your right Dave i forgot about your post. I hate when that happens to me so i dig it.

My apologies

Thanks

[tbirdtbird]

no need to apologize, nobody died!