Upper Steering Column Bearing/bushing

I am looking for the upper bearing/bushing for my 75 and can't seem to find one. I have the lower but might as well do everything while it's apart. Anyone know where to get this part?

 

I believe 75 and prior CJ all the same, but you might double check.
https://shop.midwestmilitary.com/product/upper-column-bearing/
801422 Jeep part number; check with other suppliers as well.

 

I did this about a year go and it seems to me we used a 71 bearing, which is still available.

 

Thanks for the replies. Confusing when they say the cut off date is 71. I will order one.

 

Do you not have the bearing at all? Or are you looking to replace a worn out one? The reason i ask is because the new ones are not all created equally. Cliche, I know . I ordered an omix one to replace the stock one that was going. The Omix outer shell was pointy on the edges where there were detents that would press fit it in place. These pointy detents actually deformed my steering column enough to where is wasn't round anymore and caused it to gouge the inside of the new steering wheel once installed.

Long story long.... I ended up reusing my old bearing housing and just swapping the balls from the new bearing into it with some fresh grease. If you can find an older style one with the felt ring or even an NOS, go for that.

 

The bearing I linked to states OEM ??? If true should be okay.

 

I got lucky and found a NOS bearing.

 

I ran into the same issues as SweetPea... My tube is now a bit deformed. But i have other steering woes too! Now my Horn Brush placement interferes with other stuff

My setup was converted to a 9 bolt steering wheel, and now that I am putting everything back together the Spring is not pushing enough tension to keep pressure on the lower u-joint. Can anybody say or provide a picture of how far down into the tube the upper bearing is supposed to sit? I had it in almost flush prior to ripping everything apart again... but i was hoping someone had some more details before I put it back together, hopefully the last time

 

If I remember correctly it was flush with the top of the tube. Hopefully someone can confirm this.

 

Its flush on mine. a 64' with ross steering. Just a heads up, Vintage Jeeper sells a brass steering column bearing that looks overengineered/awesome. just gotta weigh what you think your stress is worth vs the bent tube you have haha. cause its $75

https://vintagejeeper.com/products-&-services/ols/products/heavy-duty-upper-steering-column-bushing

 

Ditto on the bearings are not created equally. Stay away from the Crown one. I just put one in that I got at a military swap meet. New-made from Joe's Motor Pool. I think MWM sells them. Make sure to specify JMP. I was very happy with the part, it appeared to be better built, and has lasted at least one Rubicon season.

 

Sits flush. There should be tiny tabs around the top of the bearing that stop it from going any deeper into the tube.

 

This thread is very helpful to me. I am doing a Saginaw conversion on one of my flat fender Jeeps and have just got a steering column out of a 73 CJ 5 to use in the project. Haven't taken it apart yet, but the bearings are obviously shot.

 

It's worth noting that Barney's Jeep parts has 3d-printed replacement horn brush assemblies for intermediate columns: https://www.ebay.com/itm/154363053179

 

But no one to my knowledge carries the insulated brass contact mounted on the steering shaft.

 

Agreed, I haven't seen that. It doesn't sound like the contact fails as often as the contact scraper, but I don't have any personal intermediate CJ experience, so don't really know.

 

Is the spring correct? The stock one is pretty stiff.
There may be an issue with the steering wheel adapter as well.
Perhaps a picture?