Caliper and column advice req'd.

Evenin all, two questions:

(1) I have got noticable play in the botton bearing on my steering column. Can I just replace the bearing or is a new column the answer?

(2) I have noticed my drivers side front caliper has a partly siezed piston causing the pad to heavily chamfer. Occasionaly I get a knock/clunk from that hub area, could my caliper/pads be causing that?** I have just rebuilt the hub because I thought the swivel bearing was worn (thats when I found the piston) **it mainly happens when setting off or going from forward to reverse or somtimes when going over a slight bump. (it is not constant when driving though)

Thanks in advance for any advice folks.

I would rebuild that caliper and put in a new axle set of brake pads first off. Even if that is not the noise leaving them like that is not a good idea

Sorry (oddly) no experience with steering column bearings. I have removed and replaced complete columns and that is not as bad as it seems.....something that you would have to do to replace the bearing anyway.

Is this the bottom 'bearing' you mean? NRC7704 Bottom steering joint
visible from the engine bay.. a top joint goes with it.

andyb66 said:

I would rebuild that caliper and put in a new axle set of brake pads first off. Even if that is not the noise leaving them like that is not a good idea

Sorry (oddly) no experience with steering column bearings. I have removed and replaced complete columns and that is not as bad as it seems.....something that you would have to do to replace the bearing anyway.

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Hi Andy thanks for your reply, I took out the pads and oiled the pistons and worked them a bit to try and get them working better (all beit temporary) so I will get hold of a caliper repair kit and get it sorted.

Mr Jc thanks also for your reply also, the bearing I mean is after the top steering shaft uj. The shaft goes into an outer "pipe" and through the baulkhead with this bearing being at the bottom where the shaft exits.

The noise I mentioned in my first post seams to occour when reversing up a shallow curb on the car park at home, then as I turn right out of the car park I get the same clunk/knock again and also occasionaly on rough ground.

If you go for a repair kit for the calipers buy genuine as pattern part ones leak after a bit and are harder to fit!

As J H says, use genuine seals else yu'll be cursin for ages tryin to get em in. should be able to re-use the pistons tho, long as u careful gettin em out and they aren't corroded.

if you don't rebuild it it'll just keep gettin worse until the pistons become seized solid and yer brakes'll be all ova the place

Thanks guys, I will ensure I get a genuine kit. I see your point, it's pointless spending a few hours now, and then again in a few weeks with the same problem.

I've finally found my clunk!!!!!! after replacing two front calipers, (couldn't be arsed messing about with pistons) renewed both bottom swivel bearings, one top swivel pin and bush, prop ujs checked along with bushes*, balljoints renewed, front diff out and checked then swapped with the rear diff. (which I had previously replaced with a good one) once all diffs were back in place, hubs rebuilt, oils topped up, I drove 3 foot then clunk after a period of swearing shouting and throwing my dummy accross the floor I put the jack under the drivers side radious arm and as I jacked it up.. clunk, what the noise was was the bolts through the bushes were too tight so as the arm moved the bushes wernt being allowed to flex so the arm was catching on the axel mounting bracket. All I did was unbolt both bolts in turn and plastered them with copperslip and refitted. No fookin clunk now!!!!
*obviously not enough though!:doh: