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Steering column disassembly

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kramttocs

Re: Steering column disassembly

Administrator

Nevermind. Looks like they are some kind of retaining setup.

Scott
'Camano' 1986 F250 Supercab XLT Lariat 460/C6
'Chanute' 1980 F350 C&C 400/NP 435 - Gin Pole

But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio

Gary Lewis

Re: Steering column disassembly

Administrator

I was just about to say that. NOT!

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

CountryBumkin

Re: Steering column disassembly

In reply to this post by Ray Cecil

I need that plastic collar at the bottom - if anyone has one

-Mike
1982 F250 4x4 XLT Lariat, 460cid, 9.5:1, TFS 290 Street Port heads, Crane Hyd. Roller cam (278/286 adv.,216/224 @.050, .560"/.586" lift), Edelbrock Performer 460 intake, MSD Atomic TBI fuel injection, MSD 6AL ignition, MSD Billet distrib., Hedman headers, NOS Cheater system, 4" Suspension lift, 3" body lift, 4.56 gearing, 17x12.5Rx37 tires MT Baja ATZ-P3.

Rembrant

Re: Steering column disassembly

CountryBumkin wrote

I need that plastic collar at the bottom - if anyone has one

Do you mean the one at the very bottom end of the column?

It's still available from Ford for about $8 bucks, or at least it was a couple years ago when I bought one.

1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

Steve83

Re: Steering column disassembly

Banned User

In reply to this post by CountryBumkin

CountryBumkin wrote

I need that plastic collar at the bottom...

Got a pic of what you need?

kramttocs

Re: Steering column disassembly

Administrator

In reply to this post by CountryBumkin

At the jy right now pulling an auto/tilt column to get the shift tube (played around a little too hard with those white plastic pieces

).

I'll grab a couple of the lower bearing retainers and can ship you one if needed.

Scott
'Camano' 1986 F250 Supercab XLT Lariat 460/C6
'Chanute' 1980 F350 C&C 400/NP 435 - Gin Pole

But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio

CountryBumkin

Re: Steering column disassembly

In reply to this post by Steve83

I'll attach a photo when I get home tonight.
thanks

CountryBumkin

Re: Steering column disassembly

This is the plastic piece I'm looking for. Mine melted. If it is available NOS please let me know the part number. I don't mind paying. Thanks

Rembrant

Re: Steering column disassembly

CountryBumkin wrote

This is the plastic piece I'm looking for. Mine melted. If it is available NOS please let me know the part number. I don't mind paying. Thanks

I don't know the part number, but I bought a new one from a local Ford dealer only a year or so ago. It was less than 10 bucks if I recall correctly.

It's the bearing inside it that is hard to find. I ended up buying one from Jeff's Bronco Graveyard because I couldn't find it anywhere else. It's a weird little bearing with an O-ring in it.

Rembrant

Re: Steering column disassembly

This should be it...somebody else can confirm.

https://www.tascaparts.com/oem-parts/ford-main-shaft-upper-retainer-eotz3d681a

Gary Lewis

Re: Steering column disassembly

Administrator

That part is the one highlighted below:

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

CountryBumkin

Re: Steering column disassembly

In reply to this post by Rembrant

The description in that link says "without tilt wheel". I have a tilt wheel.
What does that change the part number to?

Gary Lewis

Re: Steering column disassembly

Administrator

I think the same part fits both columns. Here's the whole listing from the MPC, and nothing is said about tilt or non-tilt:

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

kramttocs

Re: Steering column disassembly

Administrator

Ended up welding a nut to the backside of the shift tube. Didn't want to go back with a rivet and trying to hold a nut in there would have been a pain and require the top of the column to be removed.

Scott
'Camano' 1986 F250 Supercab XLT Lariat 460/C6
'Chanute' 1980 F350 C&C 400/NP 435 - Gin Pole

But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio

Gary Lewis

Re: Steering column disassembly

Administrator

How hard was it to get in there and weld the nut? Was there plenty of room?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

kramttocs

Re: Steering column disassembly

Administrator

I thought it was a cinch, just stood there and poof it was done :)

My dad has my wire welder building corner posts right now so I had to take it to a buddy's shop.

As you expected, it was a pain but he managed to get a weld on either side. Worst case he was going to cut the top of the tab, bend it out and then weld the tab back when done.

For this the nut isn't super critical as the tab itself provides the shear strength when shifting since it fits into a fairly tight slot in the collar. The rivet (or nut/bolt) just stops the up/down play or the sleeve from pushing down on the lower bearing retainer I guess.

I would definitely go this route again as opposed to the loose nut or rivet (and the rivet before the loose nut) for the reason mentioned earlier - being able to easily remove the sleeve without taking the top of the column apart. Not that I plan on doing it often...

The button head provides good clearance and will throw some blue loctite on there.

Scott
'Camano' 1986 F250 Supercab XLT Lariat 460/C6
'Chanute' 1980 F350 C&C 400/NP 435 - Gin Pole

But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio

Gary Lewis

Re: Steering column disassembly

Administrator

That's funny! And, I understand. You saw the weld on Big Blue's engine crossmember. That was easy as well. WelderScott sure did a good job.

Good pics, thanks.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

kramttocs

Re: Steering column disassembly

Administrator

Have everything disassembled so I can coat the 3 collar pieces and the two upper bearings are on order. Not finding much on the factory grease or the xg-1-c. What's the recommended grease for packing the bearings as well as all over the column? Ford was fairly liberal with that amber colored grease.

White lithium? Red and tacky?

Scott
'Camano' 1986 F250 Supercab XLT Lariat 460/C6
'Chanute' 1980 F350 C&C 400/NP 435 - Gin Pole

But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio

kramttocs

Re: Steering column disassembly

Administrator

Any suggestions?

Scott
'Camano' 1986 F250 Supercab XLT Lariat 460/C6
'Chanute' 1980 F350 C&C 400/NP 435 - Gin Pole

But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio

Gary Lewis

Re: Steering column disassembly

Administrator

In reply to this post by kramttocs

I forgot.

As you've probably found, there are several references in the FSM section on the steering column of lubricating things, but most of them don't specify what to lube with. The one exception I can find is:

NOTE: Apply Multi-Purpose Long Life Lubricant C1AZ-19590-B (ESA-M1C75-B) or equivalent to lower bayonnet flange before installing into column.

So I'd just use the high-temp wheel bearing grease I'm using for most other things, like the balancer on the front of the 460 that I just put on.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

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