steering shaft loose by firewall

[rhagoki]

I have an 85 k10 with a problem i've been trying to figure out for some time.  Replaced gearbox a while back and hasn't been right since, i could have messed something up and not realized it?  Bought new shaft thinking that will fix the problem, but didn't.  Have tried several rag joints with no luck.  The problem is this, where the steering shaft connects to the column under hood up near firewall is really loose.  I pulled the dash apart yesterday and pulled the column almost all the way out to tighten any bolts that might have come loose etc.  Still no luck.  Pics to follow.

[rhagoki]

Second image is with me pulling up on the shaft to show the amount of movement it has. 

[Irish_Alley]

I think I remember seeing a post years ago about this. On my phone or I would search for you. But I think its a bearing someone who knows will chime in soon

[Captkaos]

Your bearing is toast.  Someone just posted about fixing it recently.

[rhagoki]

lower retainer bearing? that was all i could find, but thought that was on the inside of the column.

[VileZambonie]

Get a used column.

[rhagoki]

any way to fix this one or is it really just easier for new/different one?

[slammed79]

It be less effort to get another column. I see them on Craigslist here frequently for $40-$50

[bake74]

     By getting another column you can tear it apart, check it out it you want and not have to worry about tearing yours apart and then needing to find parts that might take awhile.

[rhagoki]

Thanks for the replies, this newbie has already learned quite a bit from poking around on this site.  Seems a bit obvious, but with the column being in the shape its in and steering shaft loose i have to assume that the way it drives currently (wanders and shimmies from time to time) is directly related to the column? 

[VileZambonie]

Check the front end too, the steering, suspension (ball joints, wheel bearings), tire balance and the frame. Do a dry park check and have an assistant rock the steering wheel back and forth while you observe for any unwanted movement.

[rhagoki]

Maybe the search has been cleared not finding page im sure I've found before and off topic for this thread.   How do you check wheel bearing?  Driving with bad one what are some symptoms?

[rhagoki]

Seems I don't know how to use the search, didn't realize I was searching under just one category ...

[bake74]

     You have to search under the correct topic heading.

[1979C20]

Or if you search from the home page it searches all topics.