bellcrank bearing replacement.

Got brave this AM and tore into the steering (Ross on a '53 M38-a1) Got everything tore apart and quite literaly, when I pulled the bellcrank off, the little rollers bearings fell out. I got the bearing chases out (basically, the bellcrank is hollow now). My question is how do I put the new bearings in? My manual just says to insert them but how? Can I tap them in? Do they need to be pressed? I'd hate to screw these up. Also, the inside of the bellcrank is a little tore up. Not bad, but if you run your finger though it, it is not smooth. I'm thinking that with new enclosed bearings however, that it shouldn't be much of a big deal.

So, how do you put in bearings like this?

Dondo

 

Dondo, I was searching the archives lately for the same thing & found this:

I'm guessing the bellcrank was removed in the above sitch. HTH!

 

Hippo -- yeah, it did help, thanks! I managed to get it all back together. I ended up replacing all the guts inside the bellcrank, the tierod end that connects to the bell crank (what is that supposed to be torqued at, anyone know?) and I replaced all the little parts on both ends of the drag link. Now instead of 1/2 turn of slop in the steering, I have less then 1/4 turn.

Is that about the best I can expect from a 50+ year old Ross steering setup?

Dondo

 

Depends on the ball ends on the bell crank and the steering box arm. Mine were warn almost flat on one side. I had replaced all the tie rod ends and the bellcrank bushings. It made an even bigger difference after I replaced the bellcrank and the steering arm.