steering column
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 37
Likes: 1
From: O-H-I-O
steering column
New to all and not a mechanic. Picked up 77 f150 withe 39,000 original miles.shifter colar broke and can't seem to get it back where it was. what do the 2 column flange bolts do? Taking it slow. Don't want to mess anything up. This is a great site by the way.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 787
From: Simi Valley, CA
A/T or M/T? The two bolts retain the shift collar to the upper flange. I'll edit in the steering column pic in this post once I know what trans your truck has.
Do not believe the miles shown on the odometer, as it reads to 99999.9 then returns to ZERO!
Edit: See 3541 in pic. This is a FoMoCo typo, the number is actually 3641
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 117
From: starship enterprise
flange bolts, hmmm. You are probably battling the two bolts that have the 7/16 nuts on the steering wheel side of the collars. these bolts are quanity 2 and they hold the column together. make sure that the teflon washers are all there and you actually have to hold the two bolts inward toward the steering shaft and make suretohook the little groove into the steering column tube. this sucks the collars all together with the nuts on top. It probably doesn't make sense because I put them together wrong about 7 times until I was shown and that made sense of it all. those are VERY important. Not only to install but to install correctly.
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,246
Likes: 5,812
From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Welcome to FTE, here is a walk thru to get the column apart to change the t/s switch, maybe it will help you? it mentions those 2 bolts.
Turn signal issues?
First you need to remove the steering wheel, then the turn signal switch. Drive the roll pin out of the gear shift and pull it out. There is some spring pressure to work against to get the shifter out. Then, underneath the turn signal switch are two nuts. Try loosening these first then remove the casting. These are what "clamps" the collar in place. If you take the nuts all the way off the little square head bolts might fall into the steering column and can be a real pain to retrieve. Once all that's out of the way, you can pull the shift collar off. To remove the turn signal switch, you need to remove the phillips head screws that hold the switch in place. Unplug the switch harness under the dash. Look at the harness plug, then look at the terminals, there are little plastic fingers that lock them in place. Depress the fingers and pull the wires out of the plug. Be sure to make a chart of where the wires go. Once the plug is removed, tie a string around the wires and pull the switch out all the way. The string will make getting the wires back through easier. The shift collar just pulls off and the new one pushes on. After that reassemble in reverse order.
Turn signal issues?
First you need to remove the steering wheel, then the turn signal switch. Drive the roll pin out of the gear shift and pull it out. There is some spring pressure to work against to get the shifter out. Then, underneath the turn signal switch are two nuts. Try loosening these first then remove the casting. These are what "clamps" the collar in place. If you take the nuts all the way off the little square head bolts might fall into the steering column and can be a real pain to retrieve. Once all that's out of the way, you can pull the shift collar off. To remove the turn signal switch, you need to remove the phillips head screws that hold the switch in place. Unplug the switch harness under the dash. Look at the harness plug, then look at the terminals, there are little plastic fingers that lock them in place. Depress the fingers and pull the wires out of the plug. Be sure to make a chart of where the wires go. Once the plug is removed, tie a string around the wires and pull the switch out all the way. The string will make getting the wires back through easier. The shift collar just pulls off and the new one pushes on. After that reassemble in reverse order.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2019
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From: O-H-I-O
It's all starting to make sense about pinching the bolts inward. Those bolts and the snap ring are what holds the steering column in place. Thanks for all the help. Just a concrete guy trying to restore an old truck.
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5th Wheeling
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From: O-H-I-O
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When you get to reassembly, I've found the best way to deal with those bolts that go through the flange and into the slots of the shift tube is to put the nuts on them far enough that the bolt heads are actually a little tight against the tube as you slide them on. When they get to the slots they should drop in there.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 37
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From: O-H-I-O
Thanks for advice Old Coyote, might attempt today. Believe it or not I do know how an odometer works. Truck was not a daily driver. Used to haul wood in the winter on his farm lane. Then stored in his garage for who knows how many years when his health went south.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2019
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From: O-H-I-O
Ok. An up to date. Followed all the great advice here and thought I had it together. Drove it Friday. No issues. Drove it Sunday and noticed signal flange was wobbly.. Tore it apart and could not get the 2 flange bolts to catch. Started to do a little investigating and noticed a space between column and flange. Was not seated. With the help of a small rubber mallet and and a couple of beers, finally got it seated and bolts in. Ready to go. Thanks for all the advice. Maybe someday I can be on the helping end.
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