914-4 Steering Column Bearing replacement, how I did it Options

[RTz]

Yes….if you use that sleeve that is offered on many Porsche websites it takes up the 2mm’s needed to fill when using that VXB bearing that is all steel. It is a Much better fix than the one offered as a stock replacement.

Thanks for the clarification. When I took my car apart it had been put together just as you have described/pictured. It was very loose, from old age deforming the plastic race.

It has a plastic insert with tiny little plastic teeth that surrounds the shaft

So does the bearing I gave a part number to, it bites into the shaft with no need for a bushing. Both methods will eventually loosen up again as the plastic deforms. However, once that happens, I can install the steel bushing and tighten it up, whereas with your method, you can’t. You’re back to replacing everything again, correct?. I guess I don’t see the benefit.

[Chad911sc]

When I replaced the factory bearing at I think around 75 bucks, I was all excited to get it right because it was very loose. I took the column completely out and replaced the upper and lower bearings. The lower is steel and worked fine, but the factory replacement has the plastic inner lining that is in contact with the steering shaft. It was immediately loose already! Even without use it had play in it.
So after days of driving around to different bearing dealer around the Orlando area, I found out that no one made a steel bearing of that size. I went back home and grabbed the sleeve that was on the shaft from the PO. Measured it, and it was exactly 2mm thick. I then searched for a bearing that was 24mm wide instead of the factory 22mm wide and found the steel bearing that is listed. Once you change out that bearing to the VXB one with the previous mentioned sleeve, you will never change it again. Unless you are 20 years old and plan to keep it until you are 70….lol