P31 Discussion Boards

[Jim Kern]

I replaced my rudder bearing a few years ago and was told by a knowledgeable person to use a car jack when installing the rudder post through the new bearing. I could not have done it without using the car jack and the help of a friend.

[dmurraymaine]

I replaced mine a couple of years ago. Old ones popped out pretty easily. Used a dab of epoxy to keep the new ones in place as others have. I did find that I needed to do a bit of sanding on the new bearings to ensure free movement. One trick I figure out (the hard way) was to slide the lower bearing on the shaft first then ease the shaft up into the stern tube until the top just sticks out the top of the tube then slide the upper bushing over the top of the shaft and push it down into the strn tube. Then jack it up the rest of the way while pushing the upper bearing down. You'll never get it ligned up otherwise. If you have a jack and a friend it should go pretty easily.

Good luck.