Lower bearing ball stuck

[Viviane2000]

To check my sanity, the lower bearing ball should be able to move right?
I tried hitting it with a hammer and a piece of wood, no movement whatsoever.

Our steering was very light, with the seized lower bearing ball. So for the time being I'll leave it as it was.

In about 2 months we'll get a new rudder. It seems wise to order a new lower bearing ball at Jefa at the same time? Then I'll cut this bearing ball in two and remove it. Or could the lower bearing house be at fault?

Bavaria 42 - 2001. The housing reads JP3L/SW

[Yngmar]

It's self-aligning but only really does that when inserting the rudder and then it stays put. So it did move once (it has to be rotated after inserting into that slot after all), but no longer needs to. Usually they're stuck with swelling, corrosion on the housing and calcium deposits and not going to be removable the way they went in. Once you've cut it out, clean up the housing so the new one goes in smoothly.