Hey Everyone, new to the site (although I thought I used to be when I had a '65 F-250). Regardless, just picked up a new-to-me '79 Bronco and trying to correct a few things to give it some better manners on the road. The worst, which didn't seem to bad, is that the steering wheel was quite loose. I popped off the steering wheel and then the blinker wires and connection and noticed there was a bearing that had completely came apart. Simple enough...took more stuff apart to get it down to the u-joint. Part of the bearing in question is still on the shaft. I ordered what I thought was the new bearing, part 45-0741 from LMC, but that came in and is too small to replace the bearing that is below. In the 2nd picture, that's the bottom of the tilt flange where I'm assuming the other part of the bearing goes. I've searched and searched and can't seem to find the right bearing to replace this. Or is this even correct? Thanks for your help, I'm sure I'll be around more.

1979 Bronco Auto w/ a Tilt column.

 

After looking at it several more times, I realized that the races for the bearing that had came apart were still fitted in the separated pieces. One can be seen in the first picture above still on the shaft. The outside race is still pressed into the tilt flange (is that the flange? May be calling that the wrong part...). This picture below shows the bearing that came apart beside the new bearing I ordered. The new bearing does fit perfectly over the shaft. That large bearing is what I can't seem to find and directions or part numbers too...

 

@NumberDummy

Section 35 Pages 30 & 31 of 73-79 Illustration.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. Pardon my ignorance, but what is section 35 referring to? I found references to the Ford Truck Parts Catalog, but can't seem to locate the full version on google anywhere, to download or buy. Thanks again!

 

Heh, I'm sorry.

I pinged ND Bill in that post, hopefully he will stop by and provide the full-page images from the 73-79 FoMoCo parts manual (I'm on a laptop)... I left him the page numbers... he'd then ask you to identify which exact parts you're looking for but looking at a Ford diagram, not an LMC one.

If he sees me pinging him and doesn't delete it en masse with all his other e-mail.

 

Ahh makes sense now. Looking forward to getting this part figured out. If I can help with more pictures or description, let me know. I think all the googling I've done has only confused me further...lol Thank you!

 

It looks like the bearing I'm trying to solve has an od of 1.5" and id of 1", .25" width. Guessing my best bet at this rate is to just get one from an industrial shop?

 

That's maybe not a bad idea, I have no idea of the availability of these things.

For some reason, having 2wd or 4wd matters in these years. I'm attaching two PDFs from the 73-79 parts catalog (one for each configuration) see if you can identify the number pointing to your bearings and I'll see what I can look up...

 

Nevermind, those pictures won't work... I remembered that the Broncos were catalogued with the cars in the 70s, I'm used to looking up 80-86 stuff in the truck catalogs.

Problem is, I can't find a steering column for a 1979 Bronco with an automatic transmission, just for a stick shift.

 

Finally found it, the bearing from this link was the exact bearing. Back together and the wheel doesnt flop around, always a plus! Now on to the brake light problem.

ford housing bearings brg16 3517 upper bearing small | Steering Column Services

Thanks!
Austin