This 69 F100 4x4 needs a lower steering column bearing, where the steering column comes out of the cab.
Any advice on this repair? Is it a bearing? The shaft is clankin in the tube, and I want to fix it while the engine is out.

 

F23Z3517B (replaced: E1FZ3517B; DOAZ3517A; C7SZ3517D & C3AZ3517A) .. Lower Steering Column Bearing / AVAILABLE from Ford.

Fits: 1966 F100 4WD / 1967/79 F100/250 4WD / 1972/75 Bronco with P/S / 1980/96 myriad F Series trucks, Bronco's, Aerostar's and etc. / 1963/97 myriad FoMoCo Passenger Cars.

MSRP: $19.97 // FTE Ford Dealer Parts Dept sponsor PARTSGUYED.COM price: $14.38.

 

Really! I had been told it was obsolete....I might order a couple of extras right away!

 

Not by me you weren't, because...I know better. Ford is in-famous for replacing 10's of 1000's of part numbers every year.

Because of this, you have to verify part numbers by using the O-S-I (Obsolete-Supercede-Interchange) Catalogs. How many FTE members have any? Next to none.

The dealers have them, but most don't wanna bother. They see the part number listed in an old catalog, then when its typed into Ford's website and comes up invalid, the dealers have to break out the O-S-I catalogs and start looking.

This is a time consuming process...to say the least.

The bearing is listed in the 1964/72 catalog as DOAZ3517A. One O-S-I catalog shows DOAZ3517A replaced by C7SZ3517D. Another shows C7SZ3517D replaced by E1FZ3517B. And still another shows E1FZ3517B replaced by F23Z3517B.

See what I mean? It's a royal PITA chasing down these replacement part numbers. I did this everyday for 35 years, and now have to do it on FTE...before I type ONE part number...I kid you not.

How many ppl would know that a 1992 Tempo part number (F23Z3517B) would fit all those applications?

And...because of this, you cannot go by part number prefixes to ID what vehicles used the part, or what specific years the part fits.

 

Unless you're striving to stay original, I'd beef it up with a larger bearing. After blowing several in my 68' f250 4x4, I removed the tube , cut out the bearing / rubber gromet holder and fabbed it so I could put in a 1/2" x 1 5/8" bearing . Hardest part was making a new , larger urethane bushing, but once I found the materials even that wasn't bad.

 

Wow thanks for the part numbers Bill. You make it sound like the part is available through FTE... Is this true? I am kind of partial to the guys at my local NAPA, but it would be good to know of a source for otherwise "obsolete" parts.

 

Very interesting, you would not assume that this bearing is a week point, but then again, why else would this bearing be shot. I like the idea of beefing up any week points, so I'm going to consider this modification.

 

What obsolete part?

The F23Z3517B bearing is NOT obsolete, I made that clear in post #2.

Post #3: FTE member Unimog was told it was obsolete by some beetle-brained cluck, but that's CACA del TORO!

The bearing is AVAILABLE from all FoMoCo dealers.

The bearing is available at a discounted price from FTE sponsor PARTSGUYED.COM = Ed Olson, parts manager of Horizon Ford in Seattle WA

 

Simple answer is that it is just too small for the stresses that are there. Plus, over time , in most cases the bearing never gets removed , cleaned and relubed unless there's a problem.

 

Thanks again Bill, you made it absolutely clear in your first reply that the F23Z3517B is not obsolete. I was just quoting the guy that doesn't know better, and uses the word "obsolete" to make his day easier.
But again thank you, I really appreciate the help.

 

Well sure enough, I took the Ford part # into my local Napa, and got nowhere.
Ordered the part through PartsGuyEd.com, and zippitydoodah, it's on the way...
Thanks again for the help.