Steering wheel slop on a /6 Options

[Lavanaut]

I saw a thread recently where someone reported experiencing steering wheel slop in their 4-cylinder car. The quick fix there was a $13 'shim'. Naturally as I researched the topic more I came to find that on a /6 the only fix is to replace the $200+ upper steering column bearing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) A little more research and I found out that if the 'pressure spring' between the steering wheel and bearing is missing you'll experience slop as well. Please let that be it, I hoped...

So I pulled my wheel off and here's what I saw. Just to be sure that I'm clear on what I'm seeing here, it looks to me like there is no spring AND no bearing?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) That 'lip' at the bottom of the splines is part of the steering shaft.

Anyone here familiar with this?

Thanks

[Lavanaut]

I put a magnet on what I think is the bearing jacket/housing to see if there was a separate piece that would pull out, but there wasn't. This shit is confusing. I'm going to just pick up the spring and see if it works.

I doubt its oem as stated, but should work.

Actually the guys at Sierra Madre sell quality stuff in my experience, everything I've ordered which was listed as OEM or NOS has shown up perfect and still in the original parts bags. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks again for the help,

Reid