tilt steering column
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 35
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From: Evans, Colorado
tilt steering column
Good Day all. The tilt wheel on my '79 F-150 will not stay tilted up with just the slightest pressure down. I suspect that the pin that appears to fit into the rack is worn from previous owner pulling self up into the truck since it has been lifted and is quite a "hike" to get into the seat. ( have since installed steps). I think I may be able to disassemble the column and replace the pin but don't want to do this unless I know I can find parts or if I need special tools, etc. Any help or suggestion would be greatly appreciated. 
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 416
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
I had the exact same issue with my 79 f150. The pin had worked loose and all it took for me to fix the issue was to hammer the pin back into place. Now my steering column is rock solid. I hope your problem is just as easy to fix 
Edit: as for disassembling the steering column. You should not need and special tools besides a fairly large socket (a deep socket is best). However your steering wheel might be stuck on pretty good. If that is the case, my best advice is to sit on the seat and slam your hands up against the back of the wheel a few times and hope it pops off. Good luck
Edit: as for disassembling the steering column. You should not need and special tools besides a fairly large socket (a deep socket is best). However your steering wheel might be stuck on pretty good. If that is the case, my best advice is to sit on the seat and slam your hands up against the back of the wheel a few times and hope it pops off. Good luck
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Evans, Colorado
tilt steering column
I had the exact same issue with my 79 f150. The pin had worked loose and all it took for me to fix the issue was to hammer the pin back into place. Now my steering column is rock solid. I hope your problem is just as easy to fix
Edit: as for disassembling the steering column. You should not need and special tools besides a fairly large socket (a deep socket is best). However your steering wheel might be stuck on pretty good. If that is the case, my best advice is to sit on the seat and slam your hands up against the back of the wheel a few times and hope it pops off. Good luck
Edit: as for disassembling the steering column. You should not need and special tools besides a fairly large socket (a deep socket is best). However your steering wheel might be stuck on pretty good. If that is the case, my best advice is to sit on the seat and slam your hands up against the back of the wheel a few times and hope it pops off. Good luck
Thanks for the response. The pin looks to be in place from what I can tell. I had the wheel off and can see the rack engaging with the pin; I just can's see the bottom of the pin to see if it is worn or not. I'm a little leery of taking the assembly not knowing if special tools are needed to get it back together against the spring tension. I have a steering wheel puller for taking the wheel off. picked it up at O'Reillys for about $12 I think. Handy to have around. Thanks again. BTW, Nice truck showing as your avatar. Is that yours restored?
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 878
Likes: 3
From: british columbia, canada
There are 3 allen head bolts that come loose also. They are located under the 2 piece plastic cover that joines the dash. Take the cover off and you can look up there and locate the bolts and tighten them up. My wheel was loose as wheel, then a friend told me about this. Hope that helps you.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 416
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
Thanks, my avatar picture is just a good angle of my truck lol. I bought my truck this fall, I still have a long way to go before shes done. You can check out my build thread if you want to see it. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...uild-pics.html
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 35
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From: Evans, Colorado
Thanks, my avatar picture is just a good angle of my truck lol. I bought my truck this fall, I still have a long way to go before shes done. You can check out my build thread if you want to see it. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...uild-pics.html
I'll check it out. Take care.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 35
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From: Evans, Colorado
Thanks for the response. The pin looks to be in place from what I can tell. I had the wheel off and can see the rack engaging with the pin; I just can's see the bottom of the pin to see if it is worn or not. I'm a little leery of taking the assembly not knowing if special tools are needed to get it back together against the spring tension. I have a steering wheel puller for taking the wheel off. picked it up at O'Reillys for about $12 I think. Handy to have around. Thanks again. BTW, Nice truck showing as your avatar. Is that yours restored?
Talked to a 40 year Ford Truck mechanic. He said the rack that engages with the pin is worn. I found a site that rebuilds the tilt mechanisms so I have one on order. No where could I find where I could buy just the rack that engages with the pin. When I get the rebuilt unit in and installed, I'll evaluate and post the results.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2015
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From: Evans, Colorado
Yep, I took a look at your link and pics. You do have some work ahead of you but there is great potential there and you will have a lot of fun doing hit. Enjoy and good luck.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 215
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From: NM
Talked to a 40 year Ford Truck mechanic. He said the rack that engages with the pin is worn. I found a site that rebuilds the tilt mechanisms so I have one on order. No where could I find where I could buy just the rack that engages with the pin. When I get the rebuilt unit in and installed, I'll evaluate and post the results.
I have a 78. Around here the best rebuild quote I got was $640 needless to say I called junk yards. A local tow driver had a 78 nontilt in a junker he sold me.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 35
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From: Evans, Colorado
tilt steering column repair
I found it on a site steeringcolumnservices.com
It was $210 and cents including shipping to my home.
I should get it tomorrow and install (at least try to) on Friday. I can post how the install goes and how it works if you want to see before you consider ordering. I'm pretty confident that I'm OK with it either way since this company allows for returns.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
3B661 in this parts catalog pic is the tilt column locking lever. It has serrations on it that wear down. When this occurs, the wheel will no longer lock in place.
E2TZ-3B661-A (replaced D0AZ-3B661-A) .. Tilt Column Locking Lever / Obsolete
Applications: 1970/80 FoMoCo Passenger Cars / 1981/91 misc FoMoCo Passenger Cars (with tilt wheel operated by T/S handle) / 1978/91 F100/350, Bronco & Econoline.
No Ford dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any.
E2TZ-3B661-A (replaced D0AZ-3B661-A) .. Tilt Column Locking Lever / Obsolete
Applications: 1970/80 FoMoCo Passenger Cars / 1981/91 misc FoMoCo Passenger Cars (with tilt wheel operated by T/S handle) / 1978/91 F100/350, Bronco & Econoline.
No Ford dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2015
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From: Evans, Colorado
I managed to get the reconditioned tilt housing installed and, problem solved; the tilt lock is solid.
In the process, however I discovered that one can recondition these by one's self if you can find parts. Remove the pin that the serrated rack hinges on and the whole thing comes apart. If you can find a rack and the spring that goes underneath it, just replace those, reinstall the whole unit and your problem may be solved. I'm certain that is all they do when they recondition them; they may replace the two bearings but those are available from several vendors.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Evans, Colorado
3B661 in this parts catalog pic is the tilt column locking lever. It has serrations on it that wear down. When this occurs, the wheel will no longer lock in place.
E2TZ-3B661-A (replaced D0AZ-3B661-A) .. Tilt Column Locking Lever / Obsolete
Applications: 1970/80 FoMoCo Passenger Cars / 1981/91 misc FoMoCo Passenger Cars (with tilt wheel operated by T/S handle) / 1978/91 F100/350, Bronco & Econoline.
No Ford dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any.
E2TZ-3B661-A (replaced D0AZ-3B661-A) .. Tilt Column Locking Lever / Obsolete
Applications: 1970/80 FoMoCo Passenger Cars / 1981/91 misc FoMoCo Passenger Cars (with tilt wheel operated by T/S handle) / 1978/91 F100/350, Bronco & Econoline.
No Ford dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any.
Thanks for the schematic. It sure helps to see how everything goes together in the tilt column. If you can see the post to "Dentsides", I found a reconditioned one and it works well. Now I have my old one that I think I'll try to find parts for and recondition it. Have a good day.
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