steering wheel bearings
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Elder User
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 556
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From: Elyria, Ohio
steering wheel bearings
My steering wheel moves left right up and down about 1 to 2 inches. From looking around it seems to be the steering wheel bearings. Has anyone changed these? How hard is it? Is it easier to just swap in a new steering column? Thanks in advance guys
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,177
Likes: 40
From: Newport, WA
It's not hard to replace them (somewhat of a pain on a tilt column but still not bad) but you'll be money and time ahead by buying a used column from a yard. I rebuilt my column last summer to the tune of $100 and I could have bought one from a yard for $30.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,177
Likes: 40
From: Newport, WA
I still say just swap in a known good column. But if you do decide to tear it apart, pay close attention to the gear and rack assembly for the ignition switch, the position of the ignition switch, and to get creative with compressing the tilt spring to reassemble everything (it's a heavy duty little bugger). Also, the easiest way I found to remove the wheel (since it's tough to get ahold of with a steering wheel puller) is to thread the bolt that holds the wheel in part way, stick a deep well socket and extension on it, hold the wheel and hit the extension with a hammer to drive the column out of the wheel (only works with column removed obviously).
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,647
Likes: 1
From: Exton, PA
OP - funny - my truck looks almost identical to yours - color, cab, bed, and maybe even bumper and running boards someday (yours are better than mine) - and my wheel has the same issue.
I looked into the parts of doing the fix and determined i'd rather just buy a junk column and replace wholesale - since its the same column in F150's there are tons of them out there with relatively low miles - the trick is finding the same cruise/tilt/auto/manual configuration...
haven't got around to it yet, though as the truck still drives just fine. actually it drives better this way. I used to think my power steering pump or steering gear were bad. then, one day about a dozen ball bearings fell onto my lap from the steering wheel and everything freed up! though, it freed up in the up down/left right directions as well as rotationally... oh well.
I looked into the parts of doing the fix and determined i'd rather just buy a junk column and replace wholesale - since its the same column in F150's there are tons of them out there with relatively low miles - the trick is finding the same cruise/tilt/auto/manual configuration...
haven't got around to it yet, though as the truck still drives just fine. actually it drives better this way. I used to think my power steering pump or steering gear were bad. then, one day about a dozen ball bearings fell onto my lap from the steering wheel and everything freed up! though, it freed up in the up down/left right directions as well as rotationally... oh well.
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Postmaster
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 0
From: Monroe City in
Word of caution. Dont drive too long with the bearings out cause it will eventuly eat in to the shaft and bearings will not fix your problem any more. I know this from experince. It will also break your components for cruise control and your horn will start beeping when you turn the wheel.
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 292
Likes: 1
From: Cary, NC
Mine had play too, then on the highway it gave me problems at the worst time. Almost crashed at 75 MPH because my steering wheel locked up in a turn, and I couldn't get it back to straight for a split second. Another split second longer and it would have been a bad day. Get it fixed sooner than later. Had to have mine completely rebuilt, and yes my cruise stopped working shortly after. Perhaps that was the cause?
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,647
Likes: 1
From: Exton, PA
that's kind of what happened to me when my bearings fell out. though I was doing 7 mph in a parking lot rather than 70 on a highway. it locked up tight for a second during a turn, and I almost smacked into a parked Benz. I jammed on the brakes and kept turning on the wheel has hard as I could, figuring the powersteering had gone out. ...then the ball bearings fell in my lap and everything freed up :-)
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 292
Likes: 1
From: Cary, NC
that's kind of what happened to me when my bearings fell out. though I was doing 7 mph in a parking lot rather than 70 on a highway. it locked up tight for a second during a turn, and I almost smacked into a parked Benz. I jammed on the brakes and kept turning on the wheel has hard as I could, figuring the powersteering had gone out. ...then the ball bearings fell in my lap and everything freed up :-)
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 869
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
Ive heard that some late model columns With built in controls for the stereo can be made to fit. i checked into it because the stereo I have in mine can hook up to factory c ontrols on the steering wheel.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 292
Likes: 1
From: Cary, NC
That's interesting. I'm due for a new steering wheel in my reg cab. It's a bit beat up and the middle horn piece is starting to bulge out at the bottom and coming disconnected.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,177
Likes: 40
From: Newport, WA
FYI, 00 F250 SD auto column from a wrecked truck compared to both auto and manual OBS columns.