TR6 As the World turns -TR6 steering column bushings

I am trying to replace the two steering column bushings in my TR6. I drilled out the four rubber nipples that appear to position and hold them into the steering column tube, but they don't seem to budge when I try to pound them out with a dowel. I am worried about doing damage before I go any further. Anyone done this before that can give me some tips on how to do this? Also, how do I get the new ones in?
Thanks,
Kevin

Re: As the World turns -TR6 steering column bushin

Bob Danielson has a nice site and I think that it's on there.

Yep, here it is:

Steering column bushing installation

Re: As the World turns -TR6 steering column bushin

I just finished this. To remove the first one i used a large toggle bolt on a threaded rod (standard hardware store 1/4" x 3') long enough to go through the steering tube, with washers on the outside end for a stop and a turning nut. Be careful the toggle doesn't catch on the soft aluminum tube. The second I removed with the threaded rod and a washer just the right size inside the tube, again pulling it out with the nut on the large washers. Putting them back in with the rod, washers and turning nut worked well.

Re: As the World turns -TR6 steering column bushin

Thanks for both replies. Your article is helpful, Paul, in that it also covers other steering repairs I am going to do shortly. I have a 69, and the bushings for mine look different from the article. The bushings for my car have two nipples each that hold it in the steering column tube. I have already pulled my entire steering column, so I think I am going to use the threaded rod that was suggested. Thanks again.
Kevin

Re: As the World turns -TR6 steering column bushin

Kevin,
The idea behind the bushings that Paul directed you to on my site https://tr6.danielsonfamily.org/SteeringColumn.htm are installed OVER the old bushings. There's no need to remove the old bushings and they don't look like the stock bushings. These are made from Delrin which will "never" wear out. Art Lipp makes them and the need came from his auto-cross experience. The Auto-x guys wanted something simple, solid and reliable and these were the answer.

When you have the rubber coupling at the lower end of the column off, make sure you check to see if it's split. Chances are it will look like this and you'll need to replace it.

Re: As the World turns -TR6 steering column bushin

I like the bushings you added Bob, but Art may not be selling them as a kit anymore. I contacted him about a month ago, he said he was not selling them separately because he had some installation complaints from customers. I may have caught him on a bad day - hope so as I think a big value of those bushings is that you don't need to remove the column.

Randy

Re: As the World turns -TR6 steering column bushin

TR4nut said:

I like the bushings you added Bob, but Art may not be selling them as a kit anymore. I contacted him about a month ago, he said he was not selling them separately because he had some installation complaints from customers. I may have caught him on a bad day - hope so as I think a big value of those bushings is that you don't need to remove the column.

Randy

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That's interesting. Maybe there's some variance in size among our steering columns that's causing a problem. I'll have to drop him an email to see what's going on.