Steering Issues - Hard Steering, Steering Wheel "Cracking"

[mnoehez]

Hi guys,
I got an LS 2002 recently (2 months) and having some issues, love this car but go it in bad conditions, so I'll be posting everything as often as I can...

Well, at this moment steering it's very hard at stop position, when driving its more easy to move and steering wheel gets strange movements when I hit a bump or any other road imperfection, so any suggestions will be appreciated...

Also I've hearing a crack like noise when turn the steering wheel, and it feels somewhat loose, so I took apart and find out that the upper steering column bearing is falling in pieces, did an exhaust search but not found anywhere to buy it, did any of you already change it? See the pic...

Thank you in advance...
Mario

 

[joegr]

I'm pretty sure you have to buy the whole column to get that bearing.

 

[RollinLS]

Try http://www.LKQonline.com/default.aspx for the whole steering column.

 

[epikls]

Try craigslist you might get lucky
I've seen ads for a whole Ls being parted out

 

[Broseph]

Since I'm anti-new thread guy, I'm posting here. I've put up my concerns with metal to rubber suspension noise elsewhere but I believe I got it narrowed down....hopefully not the steering column.

I get a metal binding on rubber sound from driver side wheel well when breaking (creating load) and especially when turning the wheel just left and right of center.

I've replaced the lower ball joint, upper control arm and putter tie rod this past year. Could something have gone wrong during install on these (ie wheel bearing) or is it something else?

I only ask because a friend pressed out the lower ball joint jerry-rigged style so I hope the wheel bearing housing in the control arm wasn't jacked up.