Steering Column Rebuild
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Steering Column Rebuild
Hi Everyone,
I've got a 1977 F150 4x4 tilt steering column.
My problem is there is a lots of play in the steering wheel when driving. I know I've got some play in the rag joint & ujoint of the steering shaft, but what I'm concerned about is when I hold the output shaft of the steering column I still have about 3/4-1" of play at the wheel.
I'm assuming this is because I have a tilt steering column & something inside is worn out. I also get about 1/2" movement up & down along with 1/4" side to side. There's also some sort of plastic cap where the shaft comes out into the engine bay that is falling out. If I hold the cap up & in place I can get rid of some of the movement on the engine side of the shaft.
Has anyone rebuilt one of these? Does anyone know where you can get replacement parts? Thumbing through Dennis Carpenter & NPD shows replacement parts for 2x4 & straight shaft columns, but does anyone sell a rebuild kit for the tilt column?
Thanks a lot for any information!
I've got a 1977 F150 4x4 tilt steering column.
My problem is there is a lots of play in the steering wheel when driving. I know I've got some play in the rag joint & ujoint of the steering shaft, but what I'm concerned about is when I hold the output shaft of the steering column I still have about 3/4-1" of play at the wheel.
I'm assuming this is because I have a tilt steering column & something inside is worn out. I also get about 1/2" movement up & down along with 1/4" side to side. There's also some sort of plastic cap where the shaft comes out into the engine bay that is falling out. If I hold the cap up & in place I can get rid of some of the movement on the engine side of the shaft.
Has anyone rebuilt one of these? Does anyone know where you can get replacement parts? Thumbing through Dennis Carpenter & NPD shows replacement parts for 2x4 & straight shaft columns, but does anyone sell a rebuild kit for the tilt column?
Thanks a lot for any information!
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 3
From: Cleveland, WI USA
I have the same column in my 78 and I've had it apart several times. Inside the column, therer's a u-joint right at the tilting part. That could be where you're getting the play when holding the shaft. It's a solid shaft on either side of that joint so it's pretty much the only place for movement.
The up/down and side/side movement is probably the 3 bolts up inside the shaft that hold the outer shaft to the guts of the column. If you look up the column from the floor (with the plastic dash shroud off) you can see them. You'll need a long allen wrench to tighten them. The bolts have hook-like things on them that hook into holes in the outer shafts, and those holes get worn out from using the steering wheel to climb into the truck. One of mine actually broke.
The plastic cap on the bottom is a bushing/seal that snaps into the bottom of the tube. Every one I've ever seen is poping out. I pushed mine in and used two self tapping sheet metal screws through the tube and into the plastic. It's been holding solid for 1.5 years.
Unfortunately, I have no idea where to get parts. That's why I repaired mine myself.
Hope this helps.
Kevin K.
The up/down and side/side movement is probably the 3 bolts up inside the shaft that hold the outer shaft to the guts of the column. If you look up the column from the floor (with the plastic dash shroud off) you can see them. You'll need a long allen wrench to tighten them. The bolts have hook-like things on them that hook into holes in the outer shafts, and those holes get worn out from using the steering wheel to climb into the truck. One of mine actually broke.
The plastic cap on the bottom is a bushing/seal that snaps into the bottom of the tube. Every one I've ever seen is poping out. I pushed mine in and used two self tapping sheet metal screws through the tube and into the plastic. It's been holding solid for 1.5 years.
Unfortunately, I have no idea where to get parts. That's why I repaired mine myself.
Hope this helps.
Kevin K.
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