Hey, hopefully this hasn't been covered before; I searched for something similar and found nothing. If so I apologize.
Here goes: I'm rebuilding my steering box in my '49 Chevy 3/4ton and got the thing entirely apart without a problem except for the lower bearing between the worm gear and the large adjusting screw in the bottom of the box. The top bearing I just slid up the top of the shaft but the lower bearing poses a problem. There doesn't seem to be a way to remove it. I apologize, but my camera is vacationing in Ocala and won't be back till tomorrow so I'll try and describe what I am seeing until I can post pictures. (Holding the steering shaft with the worm gear towards the floor) On the bottom of the worm gear is the inner race for the bearing (machined into the worm), then the bearing just below it, then a flare comes out of the worm gear, through the center of the bearing and flares out just below the bottom of the bearing, slightly larger than the ID. This holds the bearing captive between the worm gear and this infuriating flange. There is maybe 1/2" for the bearing to slide up and down, and the flange doesn't appear to interfere with the bearing contacting the race in the adjuster screw. The picture in my shop manual shows no flange and has no special instructions on how to remove the bearing for replacement. The bearing isn't all that bad but a new one came with the kit and I'd like to replace it while I've got every thing apart. Hopefully I'll be able to post pictures tomorrow (1000 words is a bit to much for even me to write).
Thanks for all the help,
-Alan W.
