My front end is really loose on my 83 F-100, so I had the garage check the front end parts...........all is well they say, BUT the intermediate or connecting steering shaft (that's the term they used) is really sloppy and needs to be changed, they said.........

The part can't be found in any of their available data bases............

??????????????????????????????????????????????? Who ? What ? Where ?

 

You should clarify & confirm, but I think they're talking about what is commonly referred to as a "rag joint." Google it, you'll probably find lots of hits, even pictures.

 

You could also be talking about the "double D" shaft that collapses during a accident so the steering shaft doesn't go through your chest.

I did a little research on this and didn't find much, except some other people have the same problem. I believe LMC sells a new assembly made by Borgeson with fancy u-joints, but it's very expensive.

I ran into this when my power steering box went out during a long vacation several years ago. I had to get a garage to replace the box being so far from home, and what they did was take the box loose, and then just slide the inner double d shaft out of the outer sleeve. I noticed as soon as I got out of the road the steering was very sloppy, but I wasn't going back, I knew they would try to stiff me for an aligment which I didn't need, but they tried to force me to do.

I did some research on the internet, and come to find out there is a plastic piece that slides up into this shaft assembly somehow, and that takes the slop out, but still lets it telescope. They apparently lost this piece when they took mine apart, and what I did temporarily was to jamb a slender piece of metal up into the shaft assembly to take the play out of it. That was on the road during the vacation, with noble thoughts of fixing it right when I got home, but I never have looked at it again. They also messed the steering wheel up and it's out of level, so that will have to be fixed also someday.

 

You're probably more correct in your interpretation than I am, Dave. I couldn't think of how that 2-piece thing could suddenly (or even over time) wear out and become sloppy. I've taken mine apart, I don't recall any plastic (or any other) piece in there but it was a long time ago and maybe I just don't remember.

 

Yes, that's exactly what they're referring to..............

 

OK, this makes more sense now, and it seems they're right.

3A525 in the image below was incorporated into 3B676 (shaft assembly) after 2/81.

And, it gets more complicated from there...

1983 F100, correct? Tilt or fixed wheel? Power or manual steering? I need to know this to look it up in the catalog.

 

Fixed wheel, power steering..............

 

Now, I need your build date - it's on the certification label on the driver's side door jamb. Sorry, would have asked before if I had known I'd need it.

 

I don’t have any posts to message you directly but would you help me find out exactly what I need for my 1988 f-150 xlt lariat 5.8 351windsor auto stdcb 8ft 2WD Dual tank.

Bonus: what are the capacities for my two gas tanks? Because they’re shaped different and rear is looking smaller to me.

 

All 8ft bed trucks with dual tanks came standard with 19 gallon tanks front and rear. That was easy.