I'm putting the column back together after changing the 2 upper bearings. When I installed the spring and snap ring there is very little pressure on the spring, I can easily turn the spring with 2 fingers. Does anybody that has done this remember how much the spring should be compressed? This is with a new spring.

 

your in the first groove on the steering shaft it sounds like. there should be one more further down the steering shaft. you should not be able to move the spring by hand

 

I only have one groove on there. Its about 1/2" above the bottom of the flat machined into the shaft. The only other thing I can think of is the shaft isn't going all the way in.

 

I had to make a tool out of pipe to tighten down just so I could get the clip in place. if the clip snaked out of the groove it would be like a bullet shooting out. similar to this in this link

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1175201-steering-column-wobble-repair.html

 

xrsfsho, you were right about having the snap ring in the wrong groove. when I put the directional signal canceling block on and it was way to high I realized the ring had to go on lower. I never thought the lower position was a snap ring groove because somehow it wore to a groove almost 1/4 " wide. Thanks for your help.

 

no worries glad to help