74 highboy steering collum
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 105
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74 highboy steering collum
Hey guys I have a 1974 highboy F250 with manual steering [soon to add a 79 power box], I have a lot of slop in the collum and I want to replace all the bearings and bushings. The problem is everyone lists something different in the way of top bearings, bushings, and bottom. how many are there and where can I see a diagram . I drive it daily and would like to finish it all at once.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 828
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From: Baltimore
If you visit the wildhorses4x4 website, you will find almost all of the steering column parts you need. They have some good diagrams in their online catalog.
I rebuilt the column in my 1973 F100 using parts from wildhorses4x4. In 1973, Ford was still using 1972 column parts and I think 1974 was the first year for the new columns.
I rebuilt the column in my 1973 F100 using parts from wildhorses4x4. In 1973, Ford was still using 1972 column parts and I think 1974 was the first year for the new columns.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 748
Likes: 0
From: North US Border, Canada
Altough it's probably a good idea to rebuild the column, are you sure the slop is coming from the column? I have a 74 highboy as well and thought I had a good deal of slack coming from the column. Turned out being my manual box. When I had the manual box out for a powersteering conversion, I clamped down the steering shaft between the firewall and box and no more slack on the steering wheel.
Unless your sloppiness happens when you turn the steering wheel and it wobbles you could maybe save a few bucks and time by checking it out. That is ofcourse assuming you haven't already checked it out.
Let us know what's going on.
Good luck
Madmike33
Unless your sloppiness happens when you turn the steering wheel and it wobbles you could maybe save a few bucks and time by checking it out. That is ofcourse assuming you haven't already checked it out.
Let us know what's going on.
Good luck
Madmike33
Senior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 202
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From: Gatlinburg
Broncograveyard.com has a very nice lower column bearing wich replaces the push in rubber bushion at the lower end of the column. It looks like someone has fabricated these but they work really well. I installed the 78-79 bearing into my 77 column which really took the rest of the slop out of it. The bronco graveyard p/n is 27064, $35. The 76 to 77 p/n is 17062. You can take a look at it on there website. Yours being a 74, it might be different though, but maybe not. You could ask them when you call.
I used there small upper column bearing which was only 6 bucks. Seems like that was all mine needed. Hope this helps.
I used there small upper column bearing which was only 6 bucks. Seems like that was all mine needed. Hope this helps.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
They COLUMNS are the same.
The difference is after the column on a 4x4 there is a shaft about 14" long that runs to the steering box.
The difference is after the column on a 4x4 there is a shaft about 14" long that runs to the steering box.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Mountville PA
There is a difference of 2" in length between a power steering column and a manual column I found this out when I tried to take guts from a good 71 f-250 manual column and fixed my 72 f-100 power steering column The inside shaft had a difference of 1/2 and the outside tubes had a difference of 2-7/8 with the pwr steering column parts being shorter. most of the parts like bearings and retainers can be interchanged on different years as long as you keep your matching bearings and retainers together.
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