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Changing the column on my truck and also the steering wheel. Going to a tilt column and cruise control steering wheel. It is a work truck, so I did not go for the leather wrap. My 02 F350 has a rubber wheel and cleans up pretty nice, so I did get the appropriate rubber cruise wheel with airbag for my 96. Thought that I could reuse my original bolt from my nontilt steering column and just put a little thread lock on it, torque it, and call it good. Looked at LMR and they showed a torque to yield Ford steering wheel bolt, so now I am second guessing. Is it just a regular bolt for the wheel or is torque to yield? By the way, what should it be torqued to?
Thanks,
HMM. Any steering wheel I have dealt with is held on with a nut. The steering wheel has splines in the middle of it which fit on the splines on the outside of the steering shaft. Unless they changed something on the 1996. Wait for more answers.
Yes, the majority of the vehicles that I worked on in the past have all been secured with a nut. I have done anything with air bag columns before because changing the steering was not usually an option.
The new ones use a torx bolt to retain the steering wheel 1991 and up IIRR if you have an airbag
They might "say" "torque to yield" and replacement necessary
Yes, if you were at a Ford dealer and they had a new bolt you could use one (I did) at the dealer when I worked there
However, most of us just reuse the original bolt with no trouble
I don't think most mechanics have even read what you read
Good job
The bolts are readily available
I would hit the dealer the Ebay ones are a ripoff
Here is one, item number 276869097190
[img alt="I have reused them with no trouble
I have replaced them too, who is paying? If under warranty, and Ford says to replace the bolt, then by all means, it gets a new bolt!"]https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ford-trucks.com-vbulletin/2000x1075/steering_wheel_bolt_5a72192bb8ee6fc1c0933644d81eca 687906aca1.jpg[/img] I have reused them with no trouble I have replaced them too, who is paying? If under warranty, and Ford says to replace the bolt, then by all means, it gets a new bolt!
Thank you very much for the reply and the part number. I am trying to turn my 96 work truck XL into an XLT. It is a little project, but it will be worth it when done. I have acquired the parts and a lot of information, it is just the time to do the work. By the end of the year I plan to have power windows, power door locks, power mirrors, tilt steering, cruise control, 1996 tach cluster, alternator upgrade, sway bars front & rear, 93-95 Lightning front valance with fog lights, and my towing wiring at the rear of the truck completed. Thanks again.
