I have a '71 F250 4-spd 4WD, but it has the motor and power steering out of a '76, not sure what model. To make matters worse, it has been determined elsewhere on this forum that my steering box is a Dodge unit. I have full sets of both 1971 and 1976 Ford Truck Shop Manuals. I'm trying to determine if I need upper and lower bearings and retainers for my steering column, which squeaks horribly. I have a 61-70 3-spoke steering wheel and horn ring that I'm going to put on, and I want to replace the turn signal switch and steering column bearings at the same time. The steering wheel on the truck now is a 71-77 model style. When I look in each of my manuals, it's rather confusing. The 1971 manual has instructions for removal and installation of steering column for F100-250 (4x4), F100-250-350 (4x2), but there is no exploded view of the steering column so I can't determine where the bearings are, and if there are both upper and lower so that I can order them. Also, the manual makes mention of the "flex coupling [which I assume is the rag joint] or coupling assembly." Mine has a u-joint outside up near the firewall, can I assume this is what is meant by coupling assembly? Or do all 71's have a rag joint? See, I'm trying to determine if the steering shaft is the original one or if it is a mongrel as well. I wondered if maybe the steering shaft came out of the same truck as the motor (76) but my 76 manual only shows illustrations for P-series trucks with shift rod above tube, F-100 thru F-350 4x2 with shift rod within tube, Bronco, Econoline, and Floor-Mounted Shift for F-, B-, C-, CT-, L-, LT-, LTS, W-, and WT-Series 500 and up only. There are some very nice exploded view illustrations and photographs for the big trucks, but none for mine.

I see no steering column bearings, bearing sleeves or bearing seal retainers in the DC 67-79 catalog for a 4WD truck. They have all of these items specified for a 2WD truck. The only steering column component I see for 4WD is the rag joint, which I don't have. On the C&G Early Ford Parts site I found Lower Bearing Seal Retainer (DOTZ-3510-A and an Upper Steering Tube Bearing Kit (their part number I guess, B-3517-K), for '57-'73 F-100 & F-250, but it doesn't say if for 4WD or if for power steering. The bearing in the kit is PN C3DZ-3517-A; there is a also an upper bearing for F-100 thru -350 for '74-'79, PN C3AZ-3517-A, if the column is from a '76 truck. This same catalog offers several other steering column related parts for my year/model truck, but none specified for 4WD, and I'm not sure when that becomes an issue. The reason I thought there may be different part numbers for 4WD is because the shop manual differentiates between the two. There are some pictures of parts of my butchered steering setup in this thread here, particularly notice the nasty weld in picture #4.

Thanks for any input y'all can give me.

(norton waits for ND to come and correct his part numbers.)

 

Ahh, I see, the rag joint goes at the bottom end of the steering shaft to couple to the gear box. I don't have that, I have two u-joints.

 

I ordered the bearings etc. for the '71 from C&G Early Ford. I'll post back if they work.

 

They worked, thanks.

 

do you have a part number? I have the exact same steering column as your self and am having the same problem.