steering column rebuild?
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
Likes: 92
From: Denver Metro Area, CO
Well....
I'm not paying REAL close attention, but it seems like there are half a dozen different variants of that lower half with most of the changes occurring 1980-1982.
Except for Broncos & vans which, in addition to the above-mentioned changes, also changed in 1988 for some reason (but the F-series didn't).
We don't know what the changes were (without some investigation) nor the reasons...
Were they trying to correct design flaws found in the field? Perhaps a result of design changes from the 70s to 80s models? Or maybe they were just trying to increase manufacturing & assembly efficiencies.
You said something that got me to look further:
My first response came in a Bill Gates-type of fashion:
Are you sure?
The 3504 steering gear seems to do some of that "Before/After X/Y" stuff, too:
Look at all that 'replaced by' stuff... and the 1989 stripped chassis variant was ultimately replaced with a 1972 design.
Jeez.........
I have no idea what P/S and M/S are; in my mind, they're Power Steering and Mud/Snow.
Just figured it out - manual vs power steering, I'd guess.
That 3A525 rag joint thing seems pretty consistent on the pickups but not so much so on the vans:
Back to F-series, that part is serviced only as part of 3B676 after 2/81 but yet that damn 3B676 is broken out into upper & lower halves. *sigh*
BTW I think my own 1981 may have the same problem if this is what you're talking about:
With all that being said, I would want to do the same as you - replace the parts with those more commonly available.
I'm guessing the steering gear should be OK staying the same (I'd have to check my own build date to see about mine) same with that rag thing.
You might be able to call up a place like Green Sales and have them pull two versions of the lower half and compare them, then tell you the differences over the phone.
If they'd be inclined to help like that, I don't know.
I haven't looked to see if any Ford dealers might still have this stuff but I for some reason doubt it.
Anyhow, yes, I'd also want to go with the 1982+ variant based mostly on availability, lemme know whatchya come up with, ok?
But what else would need to be changed......?
I'm not paying REAL close attention, but it seems like there are half a dozen different variants of that lower half with most of the changes occurring 1980-1982.
Except for Broncos & vans which, in addition to the above-mentioned changes, also changed in 1988 for some reason (but the F-series didn't).
We don't know what the changes were (without some investigation) nor the reasons...
Were they trying to correct design flaws found in the field? Perhaps a result of design changes from the 70s to 80s models? Or maybe they were just trying to increase manufacturing & assembly efficiencies.
You said something that got me to look further:
With that as given above, and with the steering gearbox being the same 1980-1996...
Are you sure?
The 3504 steering gear seems to do some of that "Before/After X/Y" stuff, too:
Look at all that 'replaced by' stuff... and the 1989 stripped chassis variant was ultimately replaced with a 1972 design.
Jeez.........
I have no idea what P/S and M/S are; in my mind, they're Power Steering and Mud/Snow.
Just figured it out - manual vs power steering, I'd guess.
That 3A525 rag joint thing seems pretty consistent on the pickups but not so much so on the vans:
Back to F-series, that part is serviced only as part of 3B676 after 2/81 but yet that damn 3B676 is broken out into upper & lower halves. *sigh*
BTW I think my own 1981 may have the same problem if this is what you're talking about:
With all that being said, I would want to do the same as you - replace the parts with those more commonly available.
I'm guessing the steering gear should be OK staying the same (I'd have to check my own build date to see about mine) same with that rag thing.
You might be able to call up a place like Green Sales and have them pull two versions of the lower half and compare them, then tell you the differences over the phone.
If they'd be inclined to help like that, I don't know.
I haven't looked to see if any Ford dealers might still have this stuff but I for some reason doubt it.
Anyhow, yes, I'd also want to go with the 1982+ variant based mostly on availability, lemme know whatchya come up with, ok?
But what else would need to be changed......?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
Yes, mine has the same exact rip. Not good for the joint inside I bet.
Aha! That's the reason.
Look at the Rag joint (Steering Coupler) for the 80/81 F/U-100/350.
Before 2/81, and the first change of the lower shaft as well... 2/81. Seems the change in the lower shaft in 2/81 was to combine it with the coupler.
This seems it might be doable to swap them as units. But would still need to do some more investigating. Look at some parts in the wreckers etc...
Aha! That's the reason.
Look at the Rag joint (Steering Coupler) for the 80/81 F/U-100/350.
Before 2/81, and the first change of the lower shaft as well... 2/81. Seems the change in the lower shaft in 2/81 was to combine it with the coupler.
This seems it might be doable to swap them as units. But would still need to do some more investigating. Look at some parts in the wreckers etc...
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