Control column bushing

MontanaBird · Post by **MontanaBird** » Tue May 15, 2007 11:11 pm

I have a '56 170B.

Is it necessary to ever lubricate the main bushing located where the control column/shaft penetrates the instrument panel?

Thanks

MontanaBird

Post by **GAHorn** » Tue May 15, 2007 11:15 pm

No. Use a soft cotton cloth to wipe the control column shaft clean. The only lubricant advised for this area is silicone spray on the cloth...not on the shaft...(but watch out...it can build up.)
If your column-shaft is rusty/damaged/rough it should be removed, bead blasted, re-chromed, baked (to remove hydrogen embrittlement) and reinstalled or replaced. The teflon bushings are a good mod.

hilltop170 · Post by **hilltop170** » Wed May 16, 2007 6:27 am

If I remember right, the original chrome was hard chrome and had a dull finish. Re-chrome will probably be the high polish finish but it still looks good.

Post by **GAHorn** » Wed May 16, 2007 7:43 am

I believe a common phrase for it is "satin" chrome. It's produced by a less-than polished surface prior to plating. (aka "bead blasting" or sometimes also acquired using short periods of alternating current during plating.)

blueldr · Post by **blueldr** » Wed May 16, 2007 5:10 pm

I have found that a sticky control column tube is best made slippery by liberal application of some of my girl friends cold cream.

1SeventyZ · Post by **1SeventyZ** » Fri May 25, 2007 9:35 pm

I replaced my control column bushings with the newer teflon ones, and occasionally spray a little ACF-50 on a rag and wipe the shaft.

If there are sticky spots, make sure it's not just the bush/eyeball clamp being too tight. Since the column movies in an arc, if the eyeball movement is restricted you'll have sticky spots.