I just purchased a 1990 F-350 4x4 truck with a 7.3 diesel and 5 speed. I have noticed about 3in. of rotational play in the steering wheel. I checked everything and the shaft from the u-joint by the firewall to a little before the steering gear is at fault. The shaft is an oval/rectangular shape. Can I fix this with replacing only the long part or is the shaft that fits inside of this to the gearbox also going to have to be replaced?

Could I remove the female shaft, heat it with a torch and hit it with a hammer to draw it up tighter? Or is there another(easier) way to fix it. What is this shaft even called?

Any help is appreciated.

 

You might try getting the proper size piece of strap iron and with a grinder and other tools fashion it to fit tight in there. Leave a long enough piece of the strap iron stick out to attach a hose clamp or two to hold it in place. Just a suggestion.

 

That's a good idea. I think I will try that tonight. Thank you.

 

I think it is called, believe it or not, a steering shaft. I'm not sure how it is configured on the 90. I have an 89 and haven't ever really looked at it. But, I changed it out on a 84, with a Borgeson steering shaft. OEM was a rag joint up top, then a shaft, then a u-joint at the steering gear. The Borgeson had two u-joints, one of which had a vibration reducer, and a telescoping rod. I had to cut the telescoping rod to fit. The telescoping rod was merely a connecting piece. You can probably just change yours out, if it is indeed the issue. But, you may have a bad rag joint or u-joint.

It turns out to be the same part from 80-91
Borgeson Universal Company :: Ford Truck 1970-04 :: 80-'91 Full Size Ford Truck

Of course, your play could be in the steering gear itself, in which case, you may want to take advantage of the Red Head Steering Gear group buy.

 

there is a teflon bushing with a spring steel clip that holds the lower steering shaft tight in the upper column when the clip breaks the bushing falls out giving you the slop. this is not a serviceable item.
you will need to replace the column with a junkyard one.

it is repairable if you have all the parts from a broken column, but is difficult to do.
i have rebuilt 3 so far, and it still takes me around 2 hours to do it.
and it must be done out of the truck on a bench.

 

As mentioned there is a flat spring inside the shaft that creates tension between the two pieces. It broke on my 90 and caused a lot of play. I was able to fashion a replacement piece from a cheap feeler gauge of the same thickness. If it is gone completely as in fell out you will still see the two slots on the male shaft where it goes. It should bow out about an eighth of an inch or so. I'd cut it long and fine tune it with a grinding wheel til you find a good fit. Good luck!

 

I have less play than this in mine, but it seems to come from the same place. I think I may try what "ccopes75" is saying. I was looking at it already thinking that'd probably work, now I have confirmation of some improvement on doing it!