83 Rabbit Steering Column Repair

The steering column on our 83 Diesel Rabbit started making a loud knocking sound. I noticed that a bearing had slid out of the bottom of the steering column tube, along with some pieces of plastic that I assume were either part of the bearing or a bearing retainer. I could push the bearing back into the tube, but it doesn't look like there is anything to hold it in. It looks like if I disconnected the universal joint at the bottom of the steering column I could slide the old bearing off and a new bearing on, leaving the outer race in the column tube and using it for the new bearing. Anyone know whether this would work, and if so how the new bearing would be retained in the column tube? OR - ouch - will I have to remove the whole steering column/tube assembly to fix this?

Thanks,

Howard

You could also add a few drops of bearing fix adhesive to the case before sliding it back. Look at this as the permanent fix and the zip-tie as a failsafe device.

Huw