TheSamba.com :: View topic - Steering Bushing

Tue Oct 07, 2014 12:25 pm

I've been chasing this issue on my 1974 Standard Bug.

I have play in the steering wheel, the play is in and out from the steering wheel (meaning towards and away from the driver if I push or pull on the steering wheel).

It seems that one of the bushings is missing between the bottom anti-rattle bushing and the top c clip.

I believe it is made of plastic and is the bushing shown in the picture below, and I cannot find a source for a replacement.

If anyone knows where I can source one, please let me know.

Here's the pic of the part I need to source:

Tue Oct 07, 2014 1:45 pm

I love your build and hope i can help. Hopefully this is what you are talking about.

https://www.westcoastmetric.com/viewProduct.php?productID=111-535D

Try #2
http://www.airheadparts.com/vintage-vw-parts/steer...-171419549

Should be the correct piece you need.

*edit - grammar and new link*

Tue Oct 07, 2014 3:52 pm

Chochobeef wrote: I love your build and hope i can help. Hopefully this is what you are talking about.

https://www.westcoastmetric.com/viewProduct.php?productID=111-535D

Try #2
http://www.airheadparts.com/vintage-vw-parts/steer...-171419549

Should be the correct piece you need.

*edit - grammar and new link*

It's hard to tell from their pic, but I'm not sure that's the part.

Here's two other views:

Here's the complete steering assembly. The part I'm talking about is fifth from the left.

Here's a close up of the part:

Here's my steering column, you can clearly see that the bushing/spacer is missing (Thank you previous owner for losing that!!!)

Zoomed out view:

Zoomed in view:

Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:20 pm

Hey Pete,

I just rebuilt my steering column and mine fell to bits too. I couldn't find a source for a new one, but I also couldn't find anything saying what it was actually for or if it was actually necessary.

I left it out and didnt worry about it and have had no issues. It appears it wasnt really a critical part. I believe the user "Scorwanna" is in the same boat as me, he had a thread about it a while back.

Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:27 pm

Its just a spacer. Not really needed.

See the thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=587120

Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:35 pm

Yep I had to replace mine last year due to excessive wobble in the steering wheel even though the wheel operated fine just didn't like the play in the wheel when hitting bumps or while turning. Mine was in pieces in the steering column once I pulled the wheel. Did get a replacement from MAM but like a lot of aftermarket stuff I had to file it down some to fit the steering shaft. Has a nice tight fit/feel now.

Tue Oct 07, 2014 7:02 pm

EXJAY wrote: Yep I had to replace mine last year due to excessive wobble in the steering wheel even though the wheel operated fine just didn't like the play in the wheel when hitting bumps or while turning. Mine was in pieces in the steering column once I pulled the wheel. Did get a replacement from MAM but like a lot of aftermarket stuff I had to file it down some to fit the steering shaft. Has a nice tight fit/feel now.

I've looked though a lot of threads and I still can't find the correct replacement part. Do you have the part number / link?

Tue Oct 07, 2014 7:04 pm

talljordan wrote: Its just a spacer. Not really needed.

See the thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=587120

Agreed that it's really a spacer, but without it, it introduces a lot of up/down play in the steering wheel and it causes some minor issues for me with the horn. I'd like to get it fixed right though.

Tue Oct 07, 2014 7:23 pm

http://www.bughaus.com/steering_column_bushing_-_111-535D.htm

http://www.bughaus.com/beetle111.htm

This one's a West Coast Metric part number and made in the USA.

Tue Oct 07, 2014 7:45 pm

peteandvanessa wrote: talljordan wrote: Its just a spacer. Not really needed.

See the thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=587120

Agreed that it's really a spacer, but without it, it introduces a lot of up/down play in the steering wheel and it causes some minor issues for me with the horn. I'd like to get it fixed right though.

I am running without it and have 0 play, as long as you have both cir clips in place and your lower/upper bearing and bushings are in good condition. I wouldn't worry about it.

The up/down play comes from a worn upper bearing, the spacer should have no effect on this as it doesn't press against anything vertically. It is such weak plastic it is incapable of adding any real rigidity.

Tue Oct 07, 2014 7:52 pm

Cip1, sells that spacer?

Tue Oct 07, 2014 8:38 pm

talljordan wrote: peteandvanessa wrote: talljordan wrote: Its just a spacer. Not really needed.

See the thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=587120

Agreed that it's really a spacer, but without it, it introduces a lot of up/down play in the steering wheel and it causes some minor issues for me with the horn. I'd like to get it fixed right though.

I am running without it and have 0 play, as long as you have both cir clips in place and your lower/upper bearing and bushings are in good condition. I wouldn't worry about it.

The up/down play comes from a worn upper bearing, the spacer should have no effect on this as it doesn't press against anything vertically. It is such weak plastic it is incapable of adding any real rigidity.

True, but that spacer also holds the anti-rattle bushing in place, which does have an effect on the steering play. I can push the anti-rattle bushing in and there's no up/down/left/right play, but then it works itself out and the play re-appears.

Tue Oct 07, 2014 8:39 pm

green1303 wrote: http://www.bughaus.com/steering_column_bushing_-_111-535D.htm

http://www.bughaus.com/beetle111.htm

This one's a West Coast Metric part number and made in the USA.

Awesome, I thank you very very much!!!

Tue Oct 07, 2014 8:48 pm

peteandvanessa wrote: talljordan wrote: peteandvanessa wrote: talljordan wrote: Its just a spacer. Not really needed.

See the thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=587120

Agreed that it's really a spacer, but without it, it introduces a lot of up/down play in the steering wheel and it causes some minor issues for me with the horn. I'd like to get it fixed right though.

I am running without it and have 0 play, as long as you have both cir clips in place and your lower/upper bearing and bushings are in good condition. I wouldn't worry about it.

The up/down play comes from a worn upper bearing, the spacer should have no effect on this as it doesn't press against anything vertically. It is such weak plastic it is incapable of adding any real rigidity.

True, but that spacer also holds the anti-rattle bushing in place, which does have an effect on the steering play. I can push the anti-rattle bushing in and there's no up/down/left/right play, but then it works itself out and the play re-appears.

That makes sense, my bearing is of different design and it is impossible for my contact ring to work itself loose.

Wed Oct 08, 2014 5:57 pm

Yep, acts like a sleeve on the shaft that rides partially inside the bearing shaft if I recall. Should take care of any wobble as long as the bearing is seated correctly.

Fri Oct 10, 2014 4:21 pm

So the steering Bushing/Spacer arrived today. Time to fit it and solve all my problems with steering play. Right!!!!

Wrong!!!!!

Here's the part I ordered from the links above:

It fits over the steering shaft just fine, BUT, I think this is a replacement steering anti-rattle bushing. I have that bushing already (it's the metal one that keeps pulling out and causing the steering play mostly play in and out).

Frustrated, and thinking the correct replacement part might be made out of un-obtainium, I decided to attempt to make my own spacer.

So I went to lowes with the part that came in the mail, since it was the correct internal diameter for the spacer I needed to make.

I looked in the parts bins and couldn't find anything close, so I dropped into the plumbing section.

I found that the Thick walled schedule 40 piping is close, but the internal diameter of the pipe was a shade too small to fit over the steering wheel column shaft.

The schedule 40 pipe is this piping here:

So I got out my trusty electric mitre saw and cut a short slot through one side of the pipe (you don't want to cut through both sides or the pipe will fall into two half pieces):

Then I squared off one end and then measured how long the spacer needed to be. Then I used the mitre saw to cut a spacer to fit between the metal anti-rattle bushing and the top C Clip.

Because the piping is a little too small to slide over the column, the slot allows you to press fit the spacer over the column, but still have it snug around the steering column shaft.

Here's the spacer fitted over the steering shaft:

Then I popped the end C clip over the top of the spacer I had made:

I then checked to make sure that the cancelation ring for the turn signals cleared the spacer and would turn off the turn signals in the left and right directions, it did.

I also checked that the turn signals could be turned on, left and right, they could.

So I re-installed the steering wheel and nut, snugged it all up. And no in and out play or left and right play.

So there you go, a cheap, cheerful easy fit for the in/out play that replaces the spacer that's made out of un-obtainium

Wed Apr 22, 2020 4:17 am

If anyone needs this bush in the future? This company 3d print them.

SHAPEWAYS.COM

Wed Apr 22, 2020 5:22 am

https://www.shapeways.com/product/GGMVQEBLJ/vw-ste...arketplace

Wed Apr 22, 2020 5:24 am

This one works, I used it on my '73.

https://www.mtmfg.com/part/view/spacer-sleeve-long...71-419-549

Sun Oct 03, 2021 10:34 am

The future is amazing.

This part is on shapeways as previously posted; https://www.shapeways.com/product/GGMVQEBLJ/vw-ste...d=60225092

Now... Does anyone know where to get the circlip to hold it in to place / what size it is?