Possible Steering Anti-rattle Bushing

[pat7582]

Earlier I posted a question on removing a broken off key in the ignition switch and received excellent advice on removing it (thanks Cusser).

I'm now in the process of putting the upper steering pieces back together. In taking the steering apart I found a broken bushing (see pictures). In researching the forum postings (what a great resource), I think the broken bushing might be the anti-rattle bushing mentioned in some of the forum postings. However in looking at many parts diagrams I cannot find than particular bushing. Some of the forums reference it and Bughaus and West Coast Metrics, show the bushing 111-405-535D in their catalogs.

However the bushing I removed seems like it is made from a different type of material (kind of a waxy, easily breakable type material, thought this may just be age) and has a slightly larger collar.

I think I could put the steering back together without the bushing I removed, but if 111-405-535D is a fitting replacement I would want to use it.

I'm interested in your thoughts. Thank you/pat

[jinx758]

VW engineers had that for a reason & it serves a purpose.
I would include it.

Just read you adventure/mishap from 2021 with your nice bug on the road. Like that color VERY much.

Gentle blessings... stay safe

jinx
_________________
" It's not valuable unless you learn something from an experience. " Henry Ford

It's not unlike the same difference ...

My Craigslist rescued 100 footer :
1971 Standard Bug
1776cc dual port
034 distributor
38mm EGAS Carburetor

[pat7582]

Thank you jinx, I would like to put a bushing like the broken one back in, but yesterday I did a little more investigating into the bushing 111-405-535D referenced in some other forum threads.

I went to the local old VW shop here in Virginia Beach (shout out for Frank at the Bug House). Frank had that same bushing as well as bushing part number 175-419-341A. He let me measure them and both were smaller than the bushing I removed from the steering wheel housing.

Steering column bushing 175-419-341A

Anti-rattle bushing 111-405-535D

The bushing I originally removed.

Frank also let me look at some of the used parts in his inventory and I could not find that bushing in any of them. So I am thinking of putting the steering back together to see if will work without it. Any thoughts/advice? Thanks/pat

[jinx758]

Got it ... nice to have an ACVW shop nearby. Too bad they didn't have the correct one.

Perhaps a Want To Buy in Samba Classifieds, VWNOS, Wolfsburg West, or West Coast Metric.

Just got off the phone with my semi-local ACVW parts house :
They have the 111-405-535D steering bushing in stock @ $9.89. It is approx 1&3/8" and is solid, no spaces. Probly WCM brand.
They are Buggy Warehouse in Adkins, Tx.
Been in business MANY decades. They are SUPER knowledgeable.

So it is available ... happy hunting

gentle blessings ... stay safe

jinx

PS :
I would NOT reassemble without it. This will allow metal to metal contact, may cause vibration and wallowing, & even put unnecessary stress on the "rag joint".
Sux, I get it !
_________________
" It's not valuable unless you learn something from an experience. " Henry Ford

It's not unlike the same difference ...

My Craigslist rescued 100 footer :
1971 Standard Bug
1776cc dual port
034 distributor
38mm EGAS Carburetor

[baldessariclan]

[my3bugs]

i see this at WCM

https://www.westcoastmetric.com/i-22964289-bushing...D9IGQ__dhJ

[pat7582]

Good Evening jinx/baldessaridian/my3bugs, Appreciate your timely replies.

jinx, I'm going to give Buggy Warehouse a call. the picture I posted from the Bug House in Virginia beach was a WCM 111-405-535D bushing, and as the picture shows it was less than an inch diameter, while the bushing I removed was very close to 1 and 3/8". If Buggy Warehouse has a 111-405-535D bushing of 1 and 3/8", that's the solution.

bald, I think the bushing I removed may only be an only 68-70 part, it is not on my 66, and I cannot find it in the VW 49-71 parts Manual.

my3bugs, see my measurement of a WCM bearing above. I'll give them a call also to confirm the measurement.

I'm putting in a new turn signal switch and not cutting any of the wires to do the installation so I sure want to get the right answer before I put the upper steering back together. Very anxious to get the car back on the road, I'm suffering from ACVW driving withdrawals. Thanks/pat

[baldessariclan]

Check the fit of your steering wheel shaft to the inner race of the upper column bearing, and the fit of that same bearing’s outer race to the column/ignition switch housing. If minimal or no appreciable gapping exists at both those locations, then I see no need for any additional bushing — where would it go, and what purpose would it serve??

E.g. here are some pics of that bearing, both with and without the steering shaft installed:

Note that those metal contacts on the bearing’s inner race need to be directly touching the steering shaft for the horn to work. So no need or way for an additional spacer to be installed at that location, or at least not as far as I can tell…
_________________
1971 Standard Beetle — fairly stock / driver

baldessariclan -- often in error, never in doubt...

[pat7582]

Good Afternoon Gents,
Thank you for your replies. I haven’t made much progress
Jinx, I spoke to the people at Buggy Warehouse about part 111-405-535D. The person I talked to was very helpful; they stock the same WCM part which I had previously measured at the Bug House. That part is too small to be the part I need.
Bald, the part I removed from my car does not go around the steering shaft. It goes around the inside of the upper steering housing, see the second picture above. It is located underneath the copper plated steering bearing in the last two photos of your reply.
This afternoon I went back to the Bug House and Frank let me take apart a 68-70 steering housing he has in his supply of used parts. I found remains of the same part in the steering tube when I took out the steering shaft, see following picture. The lighter bushing on the right is the one I removed this afternoon. It is not made out of hard plastic, but rather a soft plastic/rubbery type material, and has a lip (perhaps to prevent it from slipping down into the steering tube). Also, it is not a complete circle, but has a cut out where the steering lock bolt engages the steering shaft.
I’ve looks for this part in the type 1 parts manual on the Obsolete Air-Cooled Documentation Project (OACDP) site and have not found it. I’ve also looked for it on the Wolfsburg West, WCM and Jbugs sites, again without success. I haven’t been able to find anything about it in searching the Samba forums. Perhaps, since it is not in the VW parts manual on the OACDP site, it was a part that was not really needed and discontinued.
I really want to get the car back on the road, perhaps I should put the steering together without it and see what happens.
Your thoughts/suggestions are appreciated. Thanks/pat

[my3bugs]

would some sort of a o-ring whole or maybe cut to fit there do similar ? i have a bin full of assorted sizes n thickness .

i have worked on a lot of water craft n stuff with water n fuel hoses and have a box full of remnants , maybe cut a piece of hose to look n work similar ....semi circle shaped ??? clear vinyl may hold up better than rubber .

i did a little web looking myself and i didnt see what your looking for either .

sometimes i think we get hung up thinking we have to buy something , i think you could get creative with this n make something if its impossible to find .. if its just anti rattle ? not like insulating/isolating electrical ?

just thinking out loud here .