Hello everybody, my steering column is in real bad shape so I peeled the one out of my parts truck that is in good shape and figured I could rebuild it in my spare time and swap it out when I'm done.
I've done quite good so far at stripping it down but can't seem to figure out how to get the tilt pivots apart. To me it looks like they are some kind of threaded inserts not just regular bolts. Can somebody please tell me how to get these pivots apart so I can finish stripping it down and get the shaft out. Thanks in advance.
Ps if you can't figure out what the hell I'm talking about I'll try and get some pics up later. Lol

 

 

 

I have a tilt column from a '78 F150 that I put in my '69 F100.

I used an 8-32, 1-1/2" long Allen head screw to pull the pins out.

Run the screw all the way into the threaded portion of the pin (don't force the screw) and then take a pair of pliers or dikes and catch the screw just under the head. Tap the pliers/dikes with a hammer to drive the pins straight out. Don't whale on the pliers when trying to drive the pins out.

There are no new upper and lower tilt flanges or pivot pins available, unless you can find some on eBay or an NOS supplier (likely to be $$$ if you did find them).

When you go to reassemble, run the 8-32 screw back into the pin, put some red Loctite on the pin and tap it back into the bore.

 

Wow thanks for your very quick and knowledgable response. I'll try that in the AM before I go to work.
Do you have any other tips and advice for rebuilding this unit? It's actually in pretty good shape. So far my parts list has the two upper bearings, one lower bearing and plastic bearing retainer. (the little clips broke off)
Also going to clean, paint and lubricant all pieces and reassemble.

 

. I win. Lol

 

I got most of my rebuild parts through Jeff's Bronco Graveyard and some through NPD (National Parts Depot). The column bearings are around $20-$25 bucks a piece through vendors but, I think Ford still sells them --don't know the part numbers off the top of my head.

J'sBG also has a diagram of the tilt column on their website. I had never rebuilt a steering column before, let alone a tilt column but, it wasn't too difficult to figure out.

I replaced the turn signal switch, bearings, shift collar, installed a 2" shorter turn signal lever (I have an aftermarket steering wheel --smaller diameter than my stock '69 steering wheel, 13.8" vs. 17"). I also replaced the gear selector dial (PRND21) and the rubber bushing on the gear selector lever.

If you have a bead blast cabinet, or access to one, it will strip the column tube the quickest and give a nice smooth surface to spray the new paint onto.

I painted my column with Dupli-Color Ford Semi Gloss Black spray paint p/n DE1635.

 

Cool thanks again for your help.

 

I better get this saved cause I might need it. Good info.

 

Upper Pic: 1978 F150/250 A/T with 4WD / 1978/79 Bronco A/T / 1979 F150/350 A/T with 4WD

Lower pic: 1978 F100/250 2WD A/T & F350 / 1979 F100/250 2WD A/T & F350 2WD

 

Ok looks like I need all three bearings. Most diagrams I see don't show two upper bearings. LMC and JBG.
NumberDummys Ford diagram shows two upper bearings but both have the same numbers? The bearings I removed are two different sizes plus the third one at the bottom in the plastic housing.
Can somebody help me find these bearings? Please and thanks. This column came out of a 1978 F150 supercab 4x4 with cruise, and tilt.

 

A thread I found from 3 years ago on this subject.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-bearings.html

 

Thanks for the link. Although I'm not sure I speak Ford very good. lol here is what I've put together so far.
F23Z3517B
E1FZ3517B
C7SZ3517B
D4AZ-3D651-A
C7SZ3517C
Not sure which three numbers I need? So confused.

 

Fixed it for you.

 

So does anybody know where I can get all three bearings in one place?