79 F250 4WD manual trans. Ok I got tired of wondering just how there can be some play inside that bell shapped part at the end of the steering shaft. I am talking about where the shaft goes into the bell and where it connects to the steering box input shaft. I wanted to know if there was a washer in it, and or what could be worn out. I had heard there was a washer, and you can flip it around to take up some slack. NO there is not!

I am talking about part #3B676 and there is a great breakdown of the inside of that bell, on the last PDF attachment.

So I had a spare steering shaft on the shelf with some radial play (meaning round and round), not axial (in and out) play. It is suppose to have axial play because it is designed like that. Meaning the shaft will slide in and out of the bell, to a point.

Not installed on the truck and in a vice, makes this way easier.

Step 1. Since the boot was dry rotted, I simply used a cut off wheel and cut the metal clamp. As far as getting it off and NOT cutting it, good luck.
Step 2. Flat tip screwdriver and remove snap ring just inside the bell end.
Step 3. Same flat tip screwdriver and pry out what is left of the other end of the rubber boot. It is in the bell shaped piece pretty good.
Step 4. Pull the shaft out of the bell.
Step 5. See the spring clip that holds the 2 square blocks? Remove it.

The 2 square blocks fit in a square channel on each side of and in the bell. And those can be worn themselves or where they mount on the 2 pins.

I flipped the 2 square blocks around (rotated 15 degrees from initial position), reinstalled the spring clip that holds the blocks with some outward pressure and put the shaft end back in the bell. No idea if the rubber boot is available?

It did take up some slack/play in the shaft. Now if ND or mikeo0o0o0 can find us some inside the "bell" parts, like the blocks, we will all be back in business. Instead of all of us going out and buying Borgeson steering shafts. Nothing wrong with that though, I did if for my silver truck, 100% tighter steering. Now I need a Red Head steering box, because ultimately that is where most of the play is coming from.

Borgeson Universal Steering Components

Red-Head Steering Gears - Custom Rebuilt Steering Gear Boxes in USA

Really this was a information thread, but I would like to hear what everyone has to say.

 

Here is ND's input from another thread.

D8TZ-3B676-B .. Lower Steering Shaft & Coupler Assy. (one piece, no parts were available for it).

1978/79 F150 4WD Super Cab / 1978/79 F250 4WD / 1979 F350 4WD

No one has any NOS, so you have to use a Borgeson shaft instead.