i have the steering column out of my 71 f250 crew cab figured ill rebuild it and put new bearings in while i'm at it. anyone do this and have some pictures to go by? where would the best place be to buy new bearings from what i read the bearings are different then the 2wd vehicles it takes 2 different bearings as opposed to the 2wd with same top and bottom. can you give me a rundown on disassembly and reassembly any tips and tricks you's might have. and will the bearings come right out or do they need some work to get them out to replace? anything else i should replace or do while i have it all torn down? ill be taking pics as i go for future reference along with my heater box restore.

 

Do you have to do any modifications to the steering column if you put a 3" body lift on? I read you might have to cut the column dash bracket off and move it up farther which would make the steering wheel farther away from you?

 

I just did this last week on my 72 F-250 4WD, I did not make any pictures of the Column but it was very easy to do. the best part is that the parts are still available from your local ford dealer, it was around $40 dollars for everything I needed. You are correct in that there are two different bearings on the 4WD column vs the 2WD ones.To change the top bearing just take off the steering wheel, the small retaining plate and the bearing will come out. The bottom one just slides off the bottom of the shaft. The bottom one is mounted in a rubber sleeve and fits in a recess in the bottom of the column and is held in place by a clamp on the shaft. I know I have put this is simple sounding terms but it really was very easy to do. I must add that I do have the front end off my truck because I just finished installing Power Steering on it. The picture below shows the finished job. The power steering unit was from a 1978 F-250 4WD, it is the easiest to install, by that I mean it takes less modifications to make it work and is a very strong unit.

I have the current ford part numbers listed below

Bottom Bearing - F23Z-3517-B - $17.37
Top Bearing - C3DZ-3517-A - $9.28
Top Sleeve - B1AZ-3518-A - $8.80

I do not have the number for the bottom rubber sleeve, I did not replace it because it was not bad.

I hope this helps and just ask if you need more help

 

Thanks for the reply ill ask if I need any help how do you get the bottom bearing retainer out with a small dentists pick or something? Could you give me a quick rundown of the Power steering install? How long did it take? Any more pics of the box to frame and pump on motor pics you could post up

 

I just sprayed it with wd-40 and then worked the bearing out. I have posted pictures and some information about the steering swap at another forum. I am going to add more detailed information when I have time to write it up. here's the link to it, hope it helps.

The FORDification.com Forums • View topic - 72 Highboy, Added 78 Power Steering

 

that a bronco steering box or maybe a f150 box??

 

No it is from a 78 F-250 4WD, it was only used in 78 and 79 and only on the 250/350 4WD trucks. Having only been used for two years, it is not something you find everyday at your local salvage yard. The way to tell it from the others is that it has four mounting holes instead of three and it has the correct pitman arm you need for the drag link. Unlucky for us is the fact that most people that have them know what they have and it can be quite pricey to buy.

 

hey i got one of those! maybe i shoudl swap it into my 75 so i can get rid of that crap assist

 

i'll be trying the power steering swap this summer i got the bearings out of the upper and lower part of the column i just need to order new bearings i'll post up some pics of the teardown of the column and rebuilding as i work on it it's a rainy day project as i'm working on the truck outside whenever the weather allows it. anyone know about the body lift? if i add a 3'' body lift will i need to extend the steering shaft or cut and move the column mount that bolts under the dash? or would it work ok how it is?

 

hey everyone finally got around to posting some progress pics have it all disassembled. i'm going to get the outer housings powder coated while it's apart. can anyone answer my question about adding a 3'' body lift if i need to modify the steering column in any way? need to know this incase i got to do some fabricating before i drop it off to be painted. and just need to buy the bearings i'll get to the dealer next week i hope.

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also is there anything else i should do while it's apart or is the bearings all that's needed?

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^picture above would you pull that apart inside the wheel for anything? or would you leave it how it is?

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With a 4x4, you have that long shaft with universals so you shouldn't need to do anything to the column. You may need a longer shaft, though. It'll probably need to be custom made, but shouldn't be too expensive.

 

I needed to see these pictures, so I fixed them.

 

Awesome thanks haven't updated this thread as its still all torn apart and at the powder coaters need to get the parts back. my powder coater had some injuries from a motorcycle wreck shortly after these parts got taken to him then after that he had to move his facility into storage because of a flood so it took him awhile to finally reach my buried parts and should have them back within acouple weeks. Ill update this thread and show the reassembly process I believe I still have my whole tear down process pics if you need any others I may have them just ask and ill see what I have. Ill redo the pics above when I get a chance to.

 

Part numbers in post 3: Prices different, lower bearing obsolete as is its sleeve (not listed in post 3). tpdaniels got "laid away" on the upper sleeve, cuz it was never $8.80.

C3DZ-3517-A .. Steering Column Bearing / Available from Ford.

Too many 1960/79 car/truck applications to list.

MSRP: $10.68 / FTE sponsor tousleyfordparts.com price: $7.05.
--------------------------------------------------------------
F23Z-3517-B (replaced E1FZ-3517-B, D4TZ-3517-A & B, DOAZ-3517-A, C7SZ-3517-D & C3AZ-3517-A) .. Steering Column Bearing / Obsolete

Misc applications: 1966/76 F100 4WD (lower) / 1967/79 F250 4WD (lower) / 1975/79 F150 4WD (lower) / 1981/97 Escort/Lynx & 1984/95 Tempo/Topaz (upper).

Over 100 available NOS
------------------------
B1AZ-3518-A .. Steering Column Bearing Sleeve / Available from Ford.

Too many 1951/79 applications to list.

MSRP: $4.85 / tousleyfordparts.com price: $3.20.
------------------------------------------------
C6TZ-3518-A .. Lower Steering Column Bearing Sleeve / Obsolete ~ 4 available NOS

Applications: 1966/72 F100 4WD / 1967/72 F250 4WD
========================================
1966 F100 4WD, 1967/75 F100/250 4WD: The lower steering shaft & coupler is the same as is its u-joint (there's only one).

E2HZ-3815-A (replaced C6TZ-3815-B) .. U-Joint / Obsolete ~ Over 185 available NOS as it was also used on 1966/86 C Series Tilt Cabs.