Steering column bearings????
- Gannon
- Senior Member
- Posts: 4580
- Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Bowraville, Mid Nth Coast, NSW
Steering column bearings????
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?
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?
Current rides: 2016 Mitsubishi Triton GLS & 2004 Forester X
Ongoing Project/Toy: 1987 RX Turbo EA82T, Speeduino ECU, Coil-pack ignition, 440cc Injectors, KONI adjustale front struts, Hybrid L Series/ Liberty AWD 5sp
Past rides: 92 L series turbo converted wagon, 83 Leone GL Sedan, 2004 Liberty GT Sedan & 2001 Outback
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Ongoing Project/Toy: 1987 RX Turbo EA82T, Speeduino ECU, Coil-pack ignition, 440cc Injectors, KONI adjustale front struts, Hybrid L Series/ Liberty AWD 5sp
Past rides: 92 L series turbo converted wagon, 83 Leone GL Sedan, 2004 Liberty GT Sedan & 2001 Outback
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- RSR 555
- Elder Member
- Posts: 6951
- Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2007 10:42 am
- Location: ATM... stuck in Rockingham
Have the same issue with one of my RX Turbos.. Never thought pulling it apart.. let me know how it turns out.
You know you are getting old when the candles on your birthday cake start to cost more than the cake itself.
RSR Performance
Home of the 'MURTAYA' in Oz
Subaru Impreza WRX based Sportscar
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Disclaimer: Not my website but hyperlink here to Subaru workshop manuals
RSR Performance
Home of the 'MURTAYA' in Oz
Subaru Impreza WRX based Sportscar
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Disclaimer: Not my website but hyperlink here to Subaru workshop manuals
- d_generate
- General Member
- Posts: 1529
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 1:51 am
- Location: Back in Perth and SORing it atm.
Sure it's not just a sleeve? jam a bit of coke can down there. 

98 Libbo with V3 STI running gear. 13.0 @ 105mph with CAI & 3" Zorst:mrgreen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKrsF-2JS3M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKrsF-2JS3M


- RSR 555
- Elder Member
- Posts: 6951
- Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2007 10:42 am
- Location: ATM... stuck in Rockingham
I'm sure the early (85-86) Touring Wagon does have the same column but would be pretty hard to find good ones nowdays.Smokey wrote:Does the RX use the same column as the touring wagon? Easier to swap column than the bearings.
You know you are getting old when the candles on your birthday cake start to cost more than the cake itself.
RSR Performance
Home of the 'MURTAYA' in Oz
Subaru Impreza WRX based Sportscar
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Disclaimer: Not my website but hyperlink here to Subaru workshop manuals
RSR Performance
Home of the 'MURTAYA' in Oz
Subaru Impreza WRX based Sportscar
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Disclaimer: Not my website but hyperlink here to Subaru workshop manuals
- Gannon
- Senior Member
- Posts: 4580
- Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Bowraville, Mid Nth Coast, NSW
Would it have the button that makes the steering wheel 'pop up' so people with fat legs can get out of the drivers seat?
Current rides: 2016 Mitsubishi Triton GLS & 2004 Forester X
Ongoing Project/Toy: 1987 RX Turbo EA82T, Speeduino ECU, Coil-pack ignition, 440cc Injectors, KONI adjustale front struts, Hybrid L Series/ Liberty AWD 5sp
Past rides: 92 L series turbo converted wagon, 83 Leone GL Sedan, 2004 Liberty GT Sedan & 2001 Outback
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Ongoing Project/Toy: 1987 RX Turbo EA82T, Speeduino ECU, Coil-pack ignition, 440cc Injectors, KONI adjustale front struts, Hybrid L Series/ Liberty AWD 5sp
Past rides: 92 L series turbo converted wagon, 83 Leone GL Sedan, 2004 Liberty GT Sedan & 2001 Outback
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- El_Freddo
- Master Member
- Posts: 12637
- Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Bridgewater Vic
- Contact:
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
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
- El_Freddo
- Master Member
- Posts: 12637
- Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Bridgewater Vic
- Contact:
I thought this was built into the lower shaft (longer one)... but a good point to remember none the less!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
Probably good to check out the manual

Cheers
Bennie
Steering shaft
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.
- RSR 555
- Elder Member
- Posts: 6951
- Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2007 10:42 am
- Location: ATM... stuck in Rockingham
Excellent news Mick G
Shall remember to check this when the time comes

You know you are getting old when the candles on your birthday cake start to cost more than the cake itself.
RSR Performance
Home of the 'MURTAYA' in Oz
Subaru Impreza WRX based Sportscar
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Disclaimer: Not my website but hyperlink here to Subaru workshop manuals
RSR Performance
Home of the 'MURTAYA' in Oz
Subaru Impreza WRX based Sportscar
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Disclaimer: Not my website but hyperlink here to Subaru workshop manuals
- Gannon
- Senior Member
- Posts: 4580
- Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Bowraville, Mid Nth Coast, NSW
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?
Current rides: 2016 Mitsubishi Triton GLS & 2004 Forester X
Ongoing Project/Toy: 1987 RX Turbo EA82T, Speeduino ECU, Coil-pack ignition, 440cc Injectors, KONI adjustale front struts, Hybrid L Series/ Liberty AWD 5sp
Past rides: 92 L series turbo converted wagon, 83 Leone GL Sedan, 2004 Liberty GT Sedan & 2001 Outback
------------------------------------------
Ongoing Project/Toy: 1987 RX Turbo EA82T, Speeduino ECU, Coil-pack ignition, 440cc Injectors, KONI adjustale front struts, Hybrid L Series/ Liberty AWD 5sp
Past rides: 92 L series turbo converted wagon, 83 Leone GL Sedan, 2004 Liberty GT Sedan & 2001 Outback
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