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1. The part number for 65-72 manual steering retainer assy is C5TZ 3D681-A, while the part number for 65-69 Bendix power steering is C6TZ 3D681-B. Does anyone know what the difference is and perhaps have a picture they could post? The manual steering part is readily available from rearcounter sources but the power steering part is no longer available anywhere I can find.
I'm trying to make my power steering as factory correct as possible. I shortened the steering shaft 5/8" to make it the same as a production power steering shaft. Both of the bearings in the column seem to be in good shape. The lower B1AZ 3518-A bushing is steel while the upper one is the more common replacement style nylon with fluting.
2. The illustration in the Ford Truck Parts manual in section 35 page 8 shows the lower bushing is installed inside the tube past the bearing (with respect to the flanged end). What keeps the bushing in place?
The part number for 65-72 manual steering retainer assy is C5TZ 3D681-A while the part number for 66-69 Bendix power steering is C6TZ 3D681-B Bendix P/S: 1966/68 F100/250 2WD; 1969 F100/250 2WD before serial number D96,001.
The lower B1AZ- 3518-Asleeve is nylon while the upper one is also B1AZ-3581-A
1965/79 F100/250 2WD with M/S / 1967/79 F350 with M/S / 1969 F100/250 2WD & F350 from serial number D96,001 with Ford/Saginaw P/S / 1970/79 F100/250 2WD & F350 with Ford/Saginaw P/S
----- C3DZ-3517-A .. Steering Column Bearing / Available from Ford
1965/79 F100/250 2WD with M/S / 1967/79 F350 with M/S / 1969 F100/250 2WD & F350 from serial number D96,001 with Ford/Saginaw P/S / 1970/79 F100/250 2WD & F350 with Ford/Saginaw P/S
----- C3DZ-3517-A .. Steering Column Bearing / Available from Ford
All I can tell you is that I have a steel sleeve at the bottom and a nylon one at the top. It has the same ID and cone shape as the nylon bushing, just no flutes. I'll take a picture when I get home. What I can't figure out is how it stays seated in the bearing if it mounts inside the tube? The upper bushing is held in place by a spring, but on a 4 speed there is nothing but the shaft above the bottom bearing. As usual you are right ND, both bushings are supposed to be nylon. The metal one goes at the top either under or on top of the nylon bushing. I'm missing the steel race the lower nylon busing is supposed to ride on however.
I'm starting to think the picture is wrong CONFIRMED. The bushing GOES on the underside of the bearing and is held in place by the 3D681 retainer assembly such that the cones face each other with the upper end spring loaded. I'll take a closer look when I get home. Found a good write up on the Fordification website.
The manual retainer assy on the shorter PS shaft ends up very close to the end of the tube, so my guess is that the 66-69 PS part either has a longer neck or a narrower body to move the upper edge farther away than the regular manual steering one. However, it will fit, just barely and I can always add a spacer. If anyone has factory PS and could snap a close-up pic that would be greatly appreciated.
I found this picture in the 67-72 forums. The metal part I mentioned above is the one on the right. If you can identify which part this is I'll know where it's supposed to go.
Here's the 1965/72 2WD pic, there's no way to tell if upper/lower 3518 is nylon, steel or platinum!
B1AZ-3518-Asleeve is nylon. When new, it's bright white, but over time (as you can see!), it turns yellow. Roger that! I'm missing one of the nylon bushings,
3517 is the bearing. Both seem to be in good working order.
Click on the pic twice to enlarge it.
Can you identify the mystery part in the picture I posted (next to the B1AZ 3518-A sleeve)? I can't find anything in the picture that looks like it could be it. In a fifty plus year old truck who knows what some PO installed, but it seems more than just a coincidence that someone else has the exact same part on a 67-72 truck steering column.
Can you identify the mystery part in the picture I posted (next to the B1AZ 3518-A sleeve)? Nope.
I can't find anything in the picture that looks like it could be it. In a fifty plus year old truck who knows what some PO installed, but it seems more than just a coincidence that someone else has the exact same part on a 67-72 truck steering column.
It looks like it may be 13318.
13318 is the T/S cancelling cam, fits onto the inside hub at the bottom of the steering wheel. Whatever that thing is, it's not a 13318.
All I know is your 2WD truck came with TWO C3DZ-3517-A Bearings and B1AZ-3518-A Sleeves. Who the hell really knows what previous owners might have swapped in?
And be aware that 4WD's used a different lower bearing and sleeve.
OK thanks. I may put it back in at the bottom just because it works, I have it, I don't have another B1AZ sleeve and it will probably outlast the correct nylon piece anyway.
I know this is an old thread, but I thought I'd add my findings on theB1AZ-3518-A sleeve.
I have disassembled 2 steering columns (1973 F100 auto, 1972 F100 3-spd) and both have had 1 nylon bushing (lower) and 1 steel bushing (upper), exactly the same as 66v8baby posted the pic of.
Both trucks that my columns came out of were build at the Ontario, CAN plant. Could it be that different plants did things differently when assembling trucks?
That makes 4 documented cases of the exact same part being used in place of the B1AZ 3518 nylon sleeve. Clearly not a coincidence nor something an elf on the shelf previous owner did on 4 different trucks in 2 different countries.
Also note that in all 4 cases, there was one nylon and one steel sleeve. This leads me to believe it was likely done to meet some performance spec that it couldn't meet with 2 nylon bushings.
I know that assembly line workers would use a suitable substitute to keep the line moving when the "correct" part was not available, and the metal sleeve appears to be the substitute part in this case.
Last edited by 66v8baby; Jul 22, 2019 at 03:07 PM.
Reason: more info
retainer assy is C5TZ 3D681-A while the part number for 66-69 Bendix power steering is C6TZ 3D681-B
