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Has anybody ever replaced the bearings in the top of the steering column?

In my RX I thought the adjustable steering parts were loose so I pulled the steering wheel off and the indicator stalk and discovered that the steering shaft moves about inside the steering column at the top.

Anybody else come across this before?

Have the same issue with one of my RX Turbos.. Never thought pulling it apart.. let me know how it turns out.

Does the RX use the same column as the touring wagon? Easier to swap column than the bearings.

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this topic is ringing bells, never replaced a bearing - think I just shoved it all back and hoped for the best .....

Sure it's not just a sleeve? jam a bit of coke can down there.

Smokey wrote:Does the RX use the same column as the touring wagon? Easier to swap column than the bearings.

I'm sure the early (85-86) Touring Wagon does have the same column but would be pretty hard to find good ones nowdays.

Would it have the button that makes the steering wheel 'pop up' so people with fat legs can get out of the drivers seat?

I too thought the steering column has bearings rather than a sleeve. It shouldn't be hard to tap the shaft out then pull the bearing - finding one that fits in as a replacement could be tricky but if you get onto the right person (you know who!) or the right bearing joint it should be an easy fix.

Clearly all these RX owners have been flogging their turbos - all that swinging off the steering wheels as they hang on for dear life!

Cheers

Bennie

ah, tap nothing out !! I think there is some safety collapse system in there, maybe stuff whole shaft if you tap it out !! Could be wrong to !o

steptoe wrote:ah, tap nothing out !! I think there is some safety collapse system in there, maybe stuff whole shaft if you tap it out !! Could be wrong to !o

I thought this was built into the lower shaft (longer one)... but a good point to remember none the less!

Probably good to check out the manual

Cheers

Bennie

I have changed the top bearing. I got the Genuine bearing from Subaru removed the circlip swapped the bearing and slop gone colum fixed, Off memory the bearing was $40.00 roughley, and it was the same bearing as the spare column out of a 91 wagon i previously wrecked.

Excellent news Mick G Shall remember to check this when the time comes

So Mick, does the column have to be removed from the car to extract the bearing, or is it as simple as removing the steering wheel and blinker stalk unit and removing the bearing from the top?