Okay, so my intermediate steering column bushing has ripped up twice now, so I've decided to take that whole problem out of the equation.

So tell me what yall think...

So this is it...

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Now, a few questions before I show my proposed modification...


This is a vibration dampener, correct?



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Okay! So this is what I propose, I want to remove this portion...



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and replace with this!



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I would remove the center portion and replace it with that spline and shaft so that it can still collapse but, no longer needs a bushing.


I would turn the two female portions just slightly so that there would be zero play in the shaft, then weld it all together.



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Thoughts?

 

I looked at doing something similar before but my truck got traded and the new one has a borgeson shaft on it try looking into them

 

the issue with doing this is you will seriously limit column collapse in a front end collision. this could very easily tirn the steering shaft into a "death spear" like was noticed in the early cars that had the column as part of the steering box.
with the current slip joint, the steering box can move toward the cab over 12 inches before the upper column would ever see any impact. with that slip spine design, i bet you will only get around 4 inch movement before the upper column shaft starts coming toward your chest.

i would repair what you have and call it good to go. i have only had to repair the slip joint in the column of my 88 twice in 494,000 miles.

 

Most jurisdictions expressly forbid welding on any steering components. Looks like a sure way to fail a safety inspection.

 

I forgot to say that I wouldn't be using this spline. It's just some spare pieces I had. I would get a much longer spline, but I WOULD use the female pieces where I showed.

Also, this is the third time I've had to mess with this in 281,000 miles. I don't know if it's user error or what.



No inspections in Oklahoma

 

I think you're trying to reinvent the wheel, that there's better ways to go about solving this problem.

First the cause, does this truck have body mount issues, a body lift, something along those lines?

That joint you asked about, yes in a way it's a vibration dampener it's also a form of joint, like a U-joint or CV joint called a rag joint. This may in part be your initial problem that joint should be straight 99% of the time. If it's not straight then because of the kind of joint it is it's applying a side load to the bushings that your wearing out. Back to the asking about a body lift, a body lift would be a very common reason why it might not be straight.

The inside of the female end of your DD(the two flats) shaft may be worn, warped, etc. This may be the cause of the bushings going so fast, not that the design itself is poor.

My suggestion, get a new shaft with true U-joints on both ends and ditch the rag joint, they're unreliable anyway. Several companies make and or provide the parts for doing exactly that. Here's one specifically for our trucks 1984-94 Ford F150 / F250 / F350 Slip Shaft Kit - FR1518-1DD - 577 - 5875

If you still insist on ditching the DD style shaft and going to a spline then let a shop make it for you. IDK where you are but somewhere in most cities is a driveline shop, they also often do PTO shafts, have them use PTO shaft parts to make you a collapsing steering shaft using U-joints.

 

<p></p><p>interesting. what condition is the spring steel retainer clip in ??&nbsp; both times i had to redo mine was because the spring steel retainer broke letting the bushing fall down.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

 

Well.... When I took this out, the bushing was torn to shreds and the clip was gone.



BruteFord,
Thanks for the information! The only real reason I don't want to buy one of those is the price tag haha I could do this basically for free. BUT, I will definitely go check out one of the driveline shops in the city. For some odd reason I never even considered it.

 

Do you have any pics of the pieces or where they are located?

Thanks for the info so far!

 

<p></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>ok, it sounds like maybe you did not notice the clip was broken the last time you did it and that caused the bushing to self destruct.</p>

 

<p></p><p>Leo, on the 91 and older columns, there is an intermediate shaft that goes from the upper column to the steering box. it has a slip joint in it that consists of a teflon bushing and a spring steel retainer clip. they are not serviceable parts according to ford and can not be purchased separately. you have to buy the complete column.&nbsp;</p><p>but if you have street smarts, you go to a junk yard and get a column out of a wrecked truck for $25 and scavenge it for parts to rebuild the one you have in the truck.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

 

I just spent a good deal of money on a new Borgeson shaft and had some serious issues. First of all, it is NOT a collapsing shaft. There is a telescoping adjustment on it, but that only gives about 2" of play. Second, the shaft was about 8" too long. I assumed they sent me the wrong part, but since I didn't want to wait on shipping back and forth, I trimmed the shaft, drilled the hole for the set screw (there was no hole at all to begin with) and installed. I was seriously unimpressed and wondered if I got a Chinese knock-off or something. I don't want to keep my shaft, but I don't want to spend another $200+ either. Has anybody else had issues with the Borgeson?