"New" steering column
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Dexter, MI
"New" steering column
For three years I have struggled to get in and out of my truck. The problem was caused by having a fixed, one position steering wheel. The "fix" required a replacement column that had a tilt wheel. Off to my favorite parts recycler , aka junk yard. Found the column I needed in '94 Explorer. They pulled it so I didn't know how much of a job it would be to make the change.I've lost count of the number of times I reread the procedure in my Ford Service Manual. As it turned out, the job was simple. Remove two nuts from the instrument panel, remove seven nuts on the firewall, loosen one bolt on the shaft in the engine compartment, disconnect wiring. This took about a hour and a half, mostly because I tried to be super careful in the removal process. Installing the "new" column was a snap. In a half an hour it was all finished.
Now getting in and out of my truck is much easier. If you have a non-tilt wheel, you may want to consider doing this yourself.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: suburban atlanta
If you kept the switch attached to the top of the steering column, you may want to think about that a little. The ignition switch is a 'slide' type switch, rather long and slender, attached to the top of the column, and linked by a pushrod to the lock cylinder.
The one that came with the recycled column may have been exposed to the weather and started its corrosion death. Unless you can be sure, it might be worth while to swap in the switch that you know. I think I would have inspected them both, and picked the one that looked the best. Same with the 'combination' switch that does lights, wipers, etc. Does not need to be 'cleaned' by May showers, etc.
tom
The one that came with the recycled column may have been exposed to the weather and started its corrosion death. Unless you can be sure, it might be worth while to swap in the switch that you know. I think I would have inspected them both, and picked the one that looked the best. Same with the 'combination' switch that does lights, wipers, etc. Does not need to be 'cleaned' by May showers, etc.
tom
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Dexter, MI
Fortunately, the slide ignition switch and the multi-function switch were in good condition on both columns. The newer one (tilt wheel) looked to be the better of the two so I used that one. Same for the multifunction switch. I am keeping the other set in case I need to replace either one.
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