I was gassing up this morning and when to pull out of the gas station but the van would not go into gear. The gear handle flopped like a fish. Got towed home and dropped the steering column to find this! Follow along in the pictures.

Big thanks to the ford parts guy that recommend the center shaft as he said they get bent sometimes and cause the break. Found mine bent too! Bushing were shot too!




Before control tube change.




OD connector.




The break up! Crappy bushing.




Break before shift Lock out .




Looking way back in with shifter disconnected.




Good look at the break.




Another




The new stuff.




Close up of invoice and part #'s

 

Great write up AND advice too! Even as complex as our steering columns look at first glance or in an exploded drawing they're fairly easy to service, even still installed.

The bushings you mention along with their clamp straps fasteners have all been known to wear out or become loose---good idea to check those every 100K miles or so.

Thanks PST!

 

Thanks, was not sure if this post was showing.

 

Showing up perfectly, at least for me.