Grounding your steering column
Do I drill and tap a hole?
Grounding your steering column
Believe Nothing
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,517
Likes: 403
From: W. Central FL.
Mechanicals of the stock columns are grounded to the truck frame and the outside tube is grounded to the dash and the mechanics. If you have a lot of paint on the tube, put a star washer or scuff the paint between the tube and the tube support. Now if you're doing a later or aftermarket column, I don't know how much plastic you're dealing with. If you're dealing with a rag joint, install a ground strap between the two metal shafts.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 283,916
Likes: 8,371
From: northwestern Ontario
I'm in the process of wiring the panel, something I've never done in my life. I have the EZwire harness and a simplex grounding kit from Ron Francis which has a ground designated for the just about everything including the column. I contacted both Ron Francis and Ididit and they confirmed that it gets grounded to the outer tube.
As far as having electrical problems I won't know until I'm brave enough to hook up the battery
As far as having electrical problems I won't know until I'm brave enough to hook up the battery
Believe Nothing
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,517
Likes: 403
From: W. Central FL.
I'm in the process of wiring the panel, something I've never done in my life. I have the EZwire harness and a simplex grounding kit from Ron Francis which has a ground designated for the just about everything including the column. I contacted both Ron Francis and Ididit and they confirmed that it gets grounded to the outer tube.
As far as having electrical problems I won't know until I'm brave enuff to hook up the battery
As far as having electrical problems I won't know until I'm brave enuff to hook up the battery
Thread Starter
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FTE Legend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 283,916
Likes: 8,371
From: northwestern Ontario
Not too much of my panel is stock,lol.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Usually the column with be grounded thru it's mountings as stated. If you are paranoid and are using an aftermarket column, drill a hole in the top of the outer jacket just below where the wires exit, being careful when breaking thru that there are no wires in that area. Use a short blunt tipped self tapping screw to attach a ground wire with a toothed eyelet or a toothed washer underneath. Route the wire to a place where you can attach the other end to an out of the way bare metal spot under the dash with another self tapping screw. An 18 ga ground wire will be plenty heavy enough.
Wiring is not rocket surgery! I've posted my divide and conquer system before but I'd be glad to give it again if you would like. First thing you need to do is clear your mind if any hesitation or fear .
Wiring is not rocket surgery! I've posted my divide and conquer system before but I'd be glad to give it again if you would like. First thing you need to do is clear your mind if any hesitation or fear .
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Thread Starter
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FTE Legend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 283,916
Likes: 8,371
From: northwestern Ontario
Usually the column with be grounded thru it's mountings as stated. If you are paranoid and are using an aftermarket column, drill a hole in the top of the outer jacket just below where the wires exit, being careful when breaking thru that there are no wires in that area. Use a short blunt tipped self tapping screw to attach a ground wire with a toothed eyelet or a toothed washer underneath. Route the wire to a place where you can attach the other end to an out of the way bare metal spot under the dash with another self tapping screw. An 18 ga ground wire will be plenty heavy enough.
Wiring is not rocket surgery! I've posted my divide and conquer system before but I'd be glad to give it again if you would like. First thing you need to do is clear your mind if any hesitation or fear .
Wiring is not rocket surgery! I've posted my divide and conquer system before but I'd be glad to give it again if you would like. First thing you need to do is clear your mind if any hesitation or fear .
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 6
From: Houston
My Ididit column has the drop from the dash and goes through the metal mount that is bolted to the firewall. I clear coated it pretty heavy and mine is wired and there is no problem with any of the electrics that go through it. I don't have a separate ground for the column, just the mounting.
Thread Starter
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FTE Legend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 283,916
Likes: 8,371
From: northwestern Ontario
My Ididit column has the drop from the dash and goes through the metal mount that is bolted to the firewall. I clear coated it pretty heavy and mine is wired and there is no problem with any of the electrics that go through it. I don't have a separate ground for the column, just the mounting.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,688
Likes: 1,255
From: Jefferson City, MO
LITANY AGAINST FEAR
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
Great book, movie...well great book.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 6
From: Houston
The simplex grounding kit has a ground wire pretty much for everything and probably more suited for a fiberglass body but from my understanding current travels better through copper. I bought the kit to insure I get the best ground possible, likely overkill but so be it.I thnk I mentioned that I don't care much for wiring as I don't have a very good understanding of it and trying to keep things neat is a chore. Most of the mods I have done have not helped make things go easy.
I am not a big fan of wiring either, I get confused by over thinking things. But, so far, everything is working great. The only thing that I haven't tested yet is the speedometer/odometer since it hasn't gone over about 50' back and forth out of the garage. And it is a GPS so it wouldn't work in the garage anyway.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
John, I'd be glad to repost it, but I don't think it will of much value to you since you are almost done. It's mostly how to divide up the wires into smaller related bundles so you don't get overwhelmed by the large number wires and route them so you don't end up with a plate of spaghetti under the dash. If you haven't already done so, you can remove any unneeded wires from the fuse block without cutting them so you don't need to try to store them under the dash and can add them back in should you decide you need them later. If you pull the unneeded fuse you can use a straightened paper clip or a jewelers screwdriver to release the clip holding the connector into the block and it's attached wire. Put the wires away in a safe place. I like to roll them into a ring and slip them into a heavy duty ziplock bag. I can then write any info about the contents on the outside of the bag with a sharpie marker.