Steering column trouble
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Steering column trouble
I have a '68 F-100 2wd with a 360. I am having steering trouble. My steering wheel can be pushed in and out, about 1/2" and you can see the roller bearing on the column under the hood. I have a leather? i believe as a bushing? i think you would call it, and that is in tact. I have some grabbing when I turn but not all the time. Is this going to be a huge project? Has anyone out there ever replaced this bearing? Do I have to pull the whole shaft, and is the bearing pressed on? Please help if you can. thanks
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From: topeka
Sounds like your talking about the rag-joint. The good replacements have wire emeshed in with the fiber. Cheap rag joints can be found at Autozone for 7 bucks or less in the Help line.
Replacing the column bushings isn't too bad. I got stumped by the wiring harness. A very small screwdriver on the back side will release the wires from the connector. Keep track of what goes where.
A word of caution if you have an automatic and have a brain freeze like I did. Don't do it on incline and bump the AT out of park. It rolls and you have no steering. Block those wheels
Replacing the column bushings isn't too bad. I got stumped by the wiring harness. A very small screwdriver on the back side will release the wires from the connector. Keep track of what goes where.
A word of caution if you have an automatic and have a brain freeze like I did. Don't do it on incline and bump the AT out of park. It rolls and you have no steering. Block those wheels
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After a few trips up and down the ALcan and numerous trips into Mexico ( not the greatest roads) the support bearing on the end of my steering collum came apart - luckily just as I pulled into my drive way. This is on a 68' f250 4x4 with the original Gemer steering gear box with all power steering removed. I've driven it that way for over 20 years all the time wondering if I was putting too much stress on that skinny little bearing.
Any way , they had it at the local dealer believe it or not. Wasn't that bad of a little project to replace but since then I have a little play in the collum I didn't before.
When I get the time I'm going to pull the entire collum again and see if I can fabricate a stronger and larger holder on the end of the collum to accept a beefier bearing.
Any way , they had it at the local dealer believe it or not. Wasn't that bad of a little project to replace but since then I have a little play in the collum I didn't before.
When I get the time I'm going to pull the entire collum again and see if I can fabricate a stronger and larger holder on the end of the collum to accept a beefier bearing.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: topeka
take a look at this thread guys. lots of good info.
http://https://www.ford-trucks.com/f...teering+column
You can also use the *search this forum* feature up towrds the top, just under the page 1 of 374 line. this problem has been discussed a bucnh of times. Think one user even found a place that sells u-joint replacements for the rag joint.
Good luck
http://https://www.ford-trucks.com/f...teering+column
You can also use the *search this forum* feature up towrds the top, just under the page 1 of 374 line. this problem has been discussed a bucnh of times. Think one user even found a place that sells u-joint replacements for the rag joint.
Good luck
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
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Removing, rebulding, and replacing the steering column is really easy. Mine was in real bad shape. The bottom bearings were shot and the shift tube had been broken and welded back together by someone who didn't know what they were doing. So I took it out and put a new shift tube and bearings in it. Put it back and now my steering is real nice. It's real easy and I only spent half a day doing it. That included a couple trips to the salvage yard and a trip to the dealer. What you might want to look at is your front cab mounts. When they rust out the cab collapses and you end up with the firewall pushing down on the column. This is what caused my bearings to fall apart and then with no bearing the shift tube was riding on the steering shaft which caused it to wear in half. Needless to say I replaced the cab mounts also.
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Qman , good points to consider . Even though with my stock leaf spring set-up on the front end only allows several inches of travel, there's enough vibration and chassis flex from one place or another that eventually transfers to the steering shaft to cause problems.
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Thanks guys and once again awesome input. I have been scoping out my LMC truck catalog and they parts seen to be all there. I am gonna try to do it, but with this New England weather changing every five minutes, it is kinda hard.