Is the spring under the steering wheel on my 57 3100 needed. On the build manual I have it doesn't show the spring. I have installed power steering using the original column and steering wheel. Truck was priced together when I bought it so now I'm correcting things. Thanks, Grady.
GM thought is was necessary. What benefit would there be to removing it?
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy) 1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather) | 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) | 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe | 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
I can't really think of one. Replaced the upper bearing that was in 2 prices. I think the spring put the pressure on it and made it wear out. The steering wheel was not on correctly when I removed it. Previous owner had lug nut holding it on.
On my '51, there's a split bushing that is pushed by the spring under the wheel into the gap between the steering shaft and the upper bearing to tighten it up, and prevent rattling there.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
My 57 3100 doesn’t have the spring. You said under the wheel. As in between the wheel and mast jacket bearing? They made some changes when they went to the deep dished steering wheel in 57.
'55.2-60 GMC Master Parts Book does show the spring (16.0630 in picture below). It should be the same on your Chevy 3100. Spring is described as "Spring, Steering Shaft Bearing, 3/4 ID" and is the same part number (264832) for all 55.2 thru 59 trucks 2.5 ton and smaller.
Last edited by Bill Hanlon; 03/15/20233:18 PM.
'57 GMC 102, Original 347 V8, HydraMatic, 3.08 rear gear, added A/C, disk front brakes, HEI, AFB carb, '98 Honda Black Currant paint. T-boned and totaled 10/12 '52 GMC 152 Stake Bed, Original 228, SM420, added A/C, HEI, disk front brakes, '67 Chev 3.55 rear gear. Gets used as a real truck.
Based on Bill Hanlon’s info posted above, I looked in my Chevrolet parts books and found a diagram that shows the spring and a retainer listed in section 6.521. Now I need to find those pieces too.
