I have some up and down play in my steering wheel. I took the steering wheel off and the turn signal switch assy. It seems there should be a bushing between the steering shaft and housing. Is there a bushing and if so where does it go? Also, where might I get one? Here are some pics of my steering shaft with the wheel off and signals switch off.

 

had the same problem and ordered a new one from mazda, cant remember the part number
but it was only about 7 dollars cdn.
there is a guy on ebay selling them for 30 or 35
the new part isnt a perfect fit i think there was a tab i had to grind off but other than that
it was a perfect fit.
next time i would just make a new one myself.
http://cgi.ebay.com/MAZDA-Steering-C...QQcmdZViewItem
I almost thing the 1st gen cars had the same.

 

Thanks now. I have some questions though. Where exactly does the bushing go as I didn't see one when I took it all apart? As you can see in this pic-#1 is pointing to the shaft coming out of the column and #2 is pointing to the signal switch assy. The only thing I see that resembles a bushing is the black hard plastic sleeve in the signal switch assy as pointed out in #2. Is that the bushing or am I totally missing the bushing here? Thanks for the help and Merry X-Mas everyone.

Jarrett

 

From the looks of the bushing in the pic, I'd say it sits at the end of the outer tube and centers the steering shaft.

 

100% right.
the one in my car was almost all gone as well it was a white or yellow plastic.
the new one was black and had to be trimmed a little to fit.
matt

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ADME:B:SS:US:1

 

wish i had the part number for the one i got from mazda it was under 10 canadian!

 

Thanks guys. It was kinda confusing as my bushing was totally missing. The pics that I posted is as I disassembled. Looks like I will be ordering again from Australia.

 

old part number that i used and that the dealer had a change up number for.
dont pay 30 + dollars + shipping!
0259 32 071
if your dealer cant get it for you let me know and i will get you a part number to order.
like i said before they are not much and you can get them right from mazda.
matt

 

if they keep selling for this kind of money on ebay i will have to get a bunch to sell on ebay myself!

 

yeah, I'd probably make something before paying $30 for that. I just put it up for reference.

Mike

 

this is good info here... maybe we should sticky this. i also have the same eerie problem in the 4 and they seem to be universal fit for the old school RX (less REPU) from the description.. ? what do you guys think?

 

Matt, I just checked my local Mazda dealer and gave them that part number and they said they can still get it. So I'm going to order one on Tuesday. Takes three days to get. I'll keep you guys posted. Oh yeah, it's only $13.00! Thanks for the help and info.

Jarrett

 

thats got to be full retail because i paid less than that in canadian dollars!
told ya its less to go to the dealer than that guy selling on ebay

 

Not only less, but I don't have to wait fricken two weeks to get it and find out I got the wrong parts like my steering parts I just got.

 

I was having the same problem on my '75 REPU. I took off the steering wheel and there was no bushing at all.

I figured a 1st gen RX7 bushing might work since they still had the old type steering boxes like the rest of the old school Mazdas. I went down to the local Pick Your Part junk yard, found a RX7, removed they steering wheel, and used a small pick to get out the old bushing. FYI: make sure the donor car dosen't have play and even check for milage because usually the lower mileage cars have parts in better shape.

I went home took off the REPU's steering wheel, filed down a small tab that was on the RX7 bushing, and it fit like a glove. NO MORE UP AND DOWN PLAY!!!


Here you can see the "non-existant" bushing. This is why we get all that slop.


This is the RX7 bushing i got for FREE 99 from the junk yard.


Here is the steering shaft after I Filed that little **** and popped in the bushing. Tapped it in for a nice snug fit.


Hope that helps out!!!

 

^ Thanks for showing pics and what you did. That really clears up things for me as my bushing was completely gone too. I'm ordering mine tomorrow.

 

No problem. I actually took those pics a while ago and was going to post them on www.mazdarepu.com but I keep forgetting. I usually lurk more than I post but I'll try to be more helpful in 2007!

BTW, the pics you have of the turn signal/headlight switch: that just goes right back on the way you took it off. The sleeved part has nothing to do with the steering bushing at all. That sleeved part is only to help it stay mounted on the steering column.