I've been considering going with a tilt-wheel column for Dad's truck. However, a couple of days ago while driving Rusty, which has a tilt wheel, I noticed that the wheel moves up and down on bumps in the road. Sure enough, it is due to slack in the tilt mechanism, which otherwise works fine.

I had noticed the shake before but assumed it is due to some looseness in the bolts on the steering column or something else loose. But, now that I realise it is due to the tilt mechanism I'm rethinking the idea of a tilt wheel on Dad's truck. After all, I find the best position for me is with no tilt so there's no real advantage other than having more options on the truck.

So, does your tilt wheel shake on hard bumps? Is Rusty's just worn?

 

Gary..You've seen my truck firsthand. When I bought it, the wheel had the "play" that you describe. Little things like that drive me nuts. Seems that the general concensus is that the aluminum casting cracks from the driver grabbing the wheel to use as an assist in getting seated..I was nearly in shock at the price for a replacement, and IIRC..I replaced another item in the column. I must caution that taking one completely apart is a risk. I had my very experienced mechanic help with mine.The fix was 3 or 4 years ago...and it remains tight as new..

 

My '83 has tilt and just a touch of the slop, you're describing. I had an '86 with tilt and terrible slop. The parts for these columns are getting hard to find and when you do find them the price will make you choke. If tilt isn't important, swap it out for non-tilt or..... forget the original column and get a Flaming River or other aftermarket column for about half of the cost of rebuilding the stocker.

 

Well, I've had the column for Dad's completely apart as I converted it from auto to manual, so I'm not afraid of working on it. But, from what you two are saying the part(s) are expensive so, since I don't really care to have a tilt column, I think I'll stay with the fixed one.

Thanks!

 

Gary..I think the aluminum collar that is usually the culprit is about $275.00 !!

 

That is expensive! I think I can live with a non-tilting column, which won't have the hippy-hippy shakes, and spend that kind of coin elsewhere.

 

Mine has some slack but not under driving conditions. I believe I read that later models tilt in a different location and are not **** to this slop. Think you have to have tilt for the cruise.

 

Thanks, but there's no connection between tilt and cruise. Dad's had cruise but no tilt, Rusty has both.

 

Take a look-see at 3B661 in this pic. This is the tilt wheel locking lever, notice the serrations.

When the serrations wear down, the tilt wheel will not lock in position properly.

The bad news is...it's obsolete...and the last time I looked, no Ford dealer or obsolete parts vendor had any NOS

E2TZ-3B661-A (replaced D0AZ-3B661-A) .. Tilt Wheel Locking Lever / Obsolete

1970/80 FoMoCo Passenger Cars / 1978/91 F100/350, Bronco & Econoline / 1981/91 FoMoCo Passenger Cars with T/S handle operated tilt wheel.

 

Thanks, Bill. I'm thinking I shouldn't break what's fixed. I'm having no trouble with the column on Dad's truck and don't really need the tilt function, so why put one in when it'll likely shake and/or break.

 

Mine doesn't shake up and down going over bumps. But if I pull up and down, and side to side there is a tiny bit. I checked some of the trucks in the junk yard last time I was there. They all did the same thing.

 

Rusty moves enough to make me think the column isn't bolted in solidly. Makes it seem the truck is coming apart.

 

Never was much of a fan of tilt steering myself. I RARELY use it.

 

Gary, my column had been rebuilt by the PO not long before I bought the truck.

Now, maybe 40,000 miles on, it's still tight; I don't pull myself up into the cab using the wheel.........because of both the tilt, & also the die-cast pedal/column bracket.

But I have a parts truck with tilt.......& a lot of slop in the wheel, from the badly worn top bearing (I think 400,000 miles); the position latch is actually still good - so Rusty's might be okay.

 

So, it might actually be the top bearing instead of the tilt mechanism that is worn. Thanks, Ken, that is something to check out.

Having said that, I do find that I pull myself into the truck at times using the wheel - even though I know I shouldn't. And, when my offspring drive the truck they aren't going to understand why they shouldn't. So, there's a good chance that a tilt wheel would eventually break. So, why go with a tilt wheel?