Help with steering column bearings
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Joined: Feb 2004
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Help with steering column bearings
Gentlemen,
I have a '75 F250 that is in serious need of new cab mounts and will be getting them in a month or so (if I can figure out how to weld to rust!). A few months ago, I asked about lengthening the clutch rod so I could keep driving this workhorse until I could fix the mounts and you were a great help.
But now a new problem has come up: the upper steering column bearing/bushing seems to have broken and disappeared down inside the column. I can still drive it but now the shaft is free to move around inside the column and of course, the turn signal no longer shuts off automatically. My question is... is this another symptom of the bad cab mounts? If so, should I wait until after I level the cab again to fix this? Or, if it's not related, how big a hassle is it to replace this? Can I do it all from the top end?
Thanks
Webly
(actually, Jack)
I have a '75 F250 that is in serious need of new cab mounts and will be getting them in a month or so (if I can figure out how to weld to rust!). A few months ago, I asked about lengthening the clutch rod so I could keep driving this workhorse until I could fix the mounts and you were a great help.
But now a new problem has come up: the upper steering column bearing/bushing seems to have broken and disappeared down inside the column. I can still drive it but now the shaft is free to move around inside the column and of course, the turn signal no longer shuts off automatically. My question is... is this another symptom of the bad cab mounts? If so, should I wait until after I level the cab again to fix this? Or, if it's not related, how big a hassle is it to replace this? Can I do it all from the top end?
Thanks
Webly
(actually, Jack)
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 6
From: SD
Yes this is a symptom of the bad mounts. The sinking cab puts extra pressure on the column. Sometimes it wears/ruins the outer housing which holds the bearing. Once the mount is fixed, pull the column out and inspect it. If it's still good, just pull the center shaft out and slide new bearings in. If column is too worn, find a used replacement.
Marty
Marty
