Shifter broke inside steering column
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 34
Likes: 7
Shifter broke inside steering column
A couple nights ago I pulled into a parking lot when something slipped inside the steering column and the park position turned into reverse. After going through gears a couple times trying to figure out what was going on I lost the ability to shift into any gear but luckily I had someone with me to shift it from under the hood so I could get it home. After looking yesterday I realized the lever for the neutral safety switch is still moving but nothing at the end of the column. Does anyone know what could have broke/came loose in the bottom of the column and if it’s fixable how to go about fixing it? Any help is appreciated
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 34
Likes: 7
Beartracks, so I have to tear the column down starting from the top and work my way down to the bottom where the broke piece is? Do you know where I can buy the collar and is there anything else you would recommend replacing while I have it took apart? Thanks.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 1,177
Likes: 362
From: Anderson, California
Yep, someone will have a diagram of the column, or you may find one searching the net.
If you have a non-tilt column, those are much easier to disect, and more plentiful in recycle yards.
We have a Pick-n-Pull 15-mi up the road, and it is sad to see all of the old Fords going to the crusher.
Probably FB Marketplace or eBay will be your most likely source for a collar.
I would disassemble first to know exactly what you will be needing.
Good luck with the refurb.
If you have a non-tilt column, those are much easier to disect, and more plentiful in recycle yards.
We have a Pick-n-Pull 15-mi up the road, and it is sad to see all of the old Fords going to the crusher.
Probably FB Marketplace or eBay will be your most likely source for a collar.
I would disassemble first to know exactly what you will be needing.
Good luck with the refurb.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,860
Likes: 2,621
From: The Shenandoah Valley
Fix Shift Collar but broke neu/rev switch tab! - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums (ford-trucks.com) Is a start maybe? Even broke, it can still cause some movement of the NSS tab.
More Information for DORMAN 83242 (rockauto.com) Description says that it's made of steel, but mine was a sort of pot metal like as best as I could tell. I didn't check it with a magnet.
More Information for DORMAN 83242 (rockauto.com) Description says that it's made of steel, but mine was a sort of pot metal like as best as I could tell. I didn't check it with a magnet.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,646
Likes: 352
From: Albuquerque
The collor is in the top. The shift lever goes into it. Just pull the wheel and horn assembly as I recall. It turns with the lever but breaks inside the column.
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FTE Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,288
Likes: 200
From: springfield Missouri area
He said the neutral safety switch arm was moving but nothing below that. Something has come loose in the bottom of the column
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Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,860
Likes: 2,621
From: The Shenandoah Valley
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,267
Likes: 5,822
From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Steering column diagrams, click, scroll a bit, have at it . And there are 5 more in PDF format. Hope that helps.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post14696866
Go buy or rent/borrow a steering wheel puller from a auto parts store. here is some FTE talk from a while back.
"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."
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post14696866
Go buy or rent/borrow a steering wheel puller from a auto parts store. here is some FTE talk from a while back.
"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."
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,860
Likes: 2,621
From: The Shenandoah Valley
We stocked them at Advance Auto, but kept them in the back. I don't know what he used, but I used the DORMAN 83242 ... was 11 years ago.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 500
From: Kenai
Thanks, I'm surprised this is a dorman part or an auto parts store part. I had looked at Dennis carpenter, then LMC and didnt see one. But a google search shows them everywhere.