I am having a heck of a time researching and trying to find the proper parts to fix a wobbly upper steering column on a 1990 f350 tilt steering column.

the ignition is positional due to this vertical play. I have to lift the play upwards to get the ignition actuator in the correct position to work properly. I haven’t torn it apart yet, is it possibly just a loose bolt.

i am 400 miles away from this truck and I am trying to get all of the hard research and parts ordering done before I get back to it so I can drive it home.

 

I don't think there is much available as far as parts to repair the tilt aspect of these columns. I am no expert but I tore into my 1990 tilt column a couple months ago to replace the ignition actuator rod and learned a few things. There are two pins, 1 left & 1 right, that the column pivots on. One of my pins had nearly worked itself out of position so maybe that's all that is wrong with yours. There is also a metal piece with teeth on it that hold the wheel in a selected position of tilt. You do need a puller to remove the steering wheel. I bought a cheap harmonic balancer puller from NAPA for about $20 but it does not include the correct bolts--you need to buy two 3 inch 5/16-24 bolts and a couple of matching washers. I think the nut holding the steering wheel on is 15/16th and you need an extension or maybe a deep socket will work without the extension. I can't recall for sure but I think you need snap ring pliers or I may be confusing the '90 column with my '92. There is a stiff spring in there that can be a PITA to deal with but not that bad in my limited experience.
If the ignition became a serious problem you could always remove the shroud where the column meets the dash, turn the key to Run, and then grab the ignition actuator rod with needle nose vice grips or similar to push the rod into the ignition switch.

 

Is your vertical wobble only in the tilt portion or the column below?

 

feels like vertical wobble in the upper portion of the column only. I don’t think it has to do with the tilt portion though.

im thinking about ordering these parts to try to fix it. Upper and top bearings and retainer clip.

 

Folks have reported reduced play in the steering with replacement of those bearings. Does your column wobble side to side? Do you have excessive play in the wheel?

 

Does your truck have a manual trans? If so maybe you have a firewall reinforcement plate? Perhaps when it was installed the lower column bolts didn't get tightened.

 

no, just vertical, and no play in the steering.

 

I will keep this in mind when I tear the thing apart.

worst case, there is a whole junked column about an hour away from the truck.

 

tilt column has 3 (i think) retainers holding it tight in the column. they tend to loosen up and cause upper column play, especially when drivers use steering wheel to pull themselves up into the cab.
it has been at least 20 years since i repaired one though so i am rusty on that repair. either way the top of the column has to be stripped down to below the tilt assembly to fix it.