Type 3 Steering column bearing

[deaceabea]

I need to replace the steering column bearing on my 72 Type 3 Variant. I have replaced the corrugated metal bush but there is still too much play.

Is the only one that I can find for the Beetle and Karmann Ghia 71 on suitable?

[Dave Summers]

The steering box is the same as on the Beetle, and VW Heritage are showing the earlier steering column bearing as fitting beetles and Type 3s 1968-70, so I think there's a good chance that this will fit. Sadly the on-line parts book I used has disappeared so I can't check for certain.

[deaceabea]

Thanks for the reply Dave. I did have an extended phone call with VW Heritage about the the subject. However, they could not confirm, despite trawling through old microfiche documents etc, that the bearing for the 71 on Beetle was suitable for my 72 Variant. I have established that the bearing size is 40 o/d x 24 i/d x 8 thick and is available - at a price, so that may be the way forward.

[purplepeter]

This is going to sound crazy, but are You 100% certain that there is one?
I can't see one for a Late column in the parts book here: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/ma ... eering.pdf
Or for that matter on the interactive parts pages on ISP Here: https://vwispwest.com/type3/front-axle- ... ring/late/
Though there is a bearing shown for early cars: https://vwispwest.com/type3/front-axle- ... ing/early/

I do have somewhere a tin labelled "Type 3 steering column bearing" with corrugated ring & bearing inside, but I thought it looked suspiciously like a wheel bearing, so I think its buried deep in back of my garage full of crap, rather than in the garage where good parts are stored!

[purplepeter]

If you decide to go for the Beetle Bearing, they have it here: https://www.mecatechnic.com/en-GB/steer ... 20-COL.htm
I bought something from them recently & service was superb! 5 Euro's postage & arrived in 3 days, no customs charges!

[deaceabea]

Thanks for the information. In the end because the bearing ran smoothly I decided to repack the bearing with grease and put it back. I've got a problem now with the starter motor so my attention has shifted to sorting this out.

Thanks again