I was going to take my bronco to the shop to have the broken actuator replaced, but found out that as a side effect, I could not shift the car into gear. I tore the column apart and got a hack saw blade and cut the broken actuator bar out of the column. Now I can shift, and I have a vise grip hooked on the rod going to the switch so I can start the car. Now that the car is usuable again, I have time to try and replace the actuator. I got the piece from Ford, but I can't seem to fit it in.

Here is where I got to: BTW I never worked on steering columns before, so I don't know the terms.
I pulled the wheel, dropped the column, removed the key lock, took out the 3 hex head bolts that connect the round shift thing to the piece the keylock and turn signal is in. I can pull those two parts far enough apart that when I tilt it I can get a needle nose pliers and hack saw blade to the actuator, but I can't pull it apart any further.
I searched the forums and saw a post about removing pivit pins by threading a screw into them and pulling them out when dealing with tilt steering.

Are the pins located at the bottom of the column in the gap between the two pieces? I found two pins which are a little bigger than an 1/8 drill bit and I tried to drill them, but they are so hard, the drill will not go through them. If there is a special tool needed, do you think I could borrow it from Autozone? What do I do now? I'm so close ... yet so far away. TIA

BTW - it is amazing the amount of difference a new high pressure fuel pump can make - I never thought the Bronco could run this smooth and have this much acceleration.

 

If you have a tilt wheel those pins can be removed by threading in a machine screw that fits the threads . Once the screws are threaded in you can use a pair of pliers to remove the pins . If you have drilled the pins then they are likely junk now . The pins have to be removed on the tilt wheel applications to gain the nessecary angle to reinstall the new actuator rod .

 

Oh, the pins are already threaded. I must have been fooling with the wrong pins, and since the drill hardly scratched the surface, no harm done. Where exactly are the threaded pins I need to take out? I have maybe a 1/4" to 1/2" gap between the two pieces and I can only find the really little pin(s) at the bottom of the column. Are the pins I have to remove more toward the middle? (of the gap between the two pieces) which way should I tilt it to see the pins, up or down? Thanks for the ideas, because I have never worked on this before it is turning out to be a very tricky job - I would rather replace my intank fuel pump then work on this.

 

Ok , Tell me what model yr Bronco you are working on so we arent talking about 2 different types of tilt steering columns .

 

It's an 89 Bronco full size.

 

If you tilt your steering back and forth you will see where the column pivots. They are located on the side of the column and there is one on each side.

When you remove the pins the column will drop down. You will probably still not have enough room to install the rod. I was able to use the handle of a cresent wrench to "VERY CAREFULLY" pry the two joints apart just enough to install the rod. Be very careful because it doesn't take much to break it!

 

Just to add that you have to lower the entire column , there is a brace under the lower section of the column . Once you remove those pins there is a spring inside the column , Just be careful you dont angle the column to the point where that spring can pop out .

 

Thanks for all the help - I'm going out now to hunt for those pins.

 

I think I am missing a step. The tilt seems to pivit inside the black cover where the keylock, and turn signal are attached. I think I have to remove this cover, but I don't know how to. Do I need to pull out the guts of the turn signal and how do I get the turn signal stick out of the black cover. I just can't seem to get the cover far enough off to see the pivit pins.

 

Just finished it a few minutes ago! I had not pulled out the turn signal, and removed the three screws holding the front cover. Once I did that I pulled the pins and put the new actuator in. I also used plenty of white lithium grease, so now it is smooth. Thanks for all the help.