Steering Assembly in '50 Mercury

I am rebuilding the steering assembly in my '50 Mercury. I have bushings in mine that hold the steering gear sector. The shop manual shows the bushings but also say that it is optional with needle bearings. Ford number 33576 are the bushings and 3576 are the bearings.

My question, are the bushings and bearings interchangable in the housing and if so, which way is better?

Thanks, Neal

 

My first thought is needle bearings as they offer less friction for the moving part. However, at this point I would think the condition of the bearing surface on the shaft would be important to consider. If it is not now very smooth, maybe the bushing would work better. If it is great shape, or you can get a new shaft for it, then my choice would be the needle bearings.

Rat

 

The housing would have a larger bore for the needle bearing application.
IF the sector shaft is the same size as the pre-48 Cars and trucks the bearings would be a Torrington number commonly used in Model A needle bearing conversion and is the stock application for 36 Fords, part number 68-3576.
SURPRISE: stock 49-54 FORD passenger cars use the 68-3576 bearings in the housing. Just checked my 49-54 Ford Chassis Parts Catalog. Sorry, can't find my Merc chassis book right now but...?

 

Found it! 49-51 Mercury Chassis Parts Catalog.
The stock Mercury steering sector shaft bushings are Ford part number 7RT-3576-A (1 5/16" OD X 1 1/4" ID X 1 5/16" overall length), used 49-41 in Mercury AND 38-47 Ford Trucks except 122" and 48-52 F-4, F-5, F-6, 48-55 F-3, F-5 & F-6 COE.
These bushings were also used in Ford trucks of varying models up into the early 60s. Shouldn't be too hard to find.

 

Thank you for the help. Neal