When reinstalling the steering column, I decided to replace the lower bearing, spring, etc. The steering shaft slid easily through the lower bearing, and with some gentile persuasion, the old bearing popped out of the lower end of the mast jacket. Interestingly, there was no bearing housing between the mast jacket and the bearing - the OD of the bearing is stepped, and fit right in to the jacket. Anyway, tried to use the new parts and found (1) that the new bearing housing would not fit inside the mast jacket (not even close - the edges hit metal to metal) and (2) the bearing wouldn't budge up the shaft once past the slotted end that fits into the rag joint. Am I right that bearing housing should slide easily into the mast jacket, and that the bearing should slide easily up the shaft to mate with the housing? Given the ease with which the shaft slid through the old bearing, I just reused it to get it going, but this has be puzzled. Any thoughts appreciated.