Gary Lewis Posted April 11 Author Share Posted April 11 it being the wrong one would imply that it has been off before. it's possible. But you have driven this many miles and seemingly not always on smooth roads. it's more likely that it was removed without snap ring pliers and is not exactly flat anymore therefore not seating properly, and it finally worked out. unfortunately, the most irregular stress the column will endure is being used as a handle to pull the driver up into the truck. I certainly do use the wheel as a handle to get in. But that would put stress on the snap ring to the rear that sits in a nice slot, not the shallow groove the front one sits in. Stressing that one would take pushing down on the wheel, which may have happened when offroading? Anyway, we will see in a couple of hours. Gotta catch up with what's going on here, drink some coffee, and chill a bit first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted April 11 Author Share Posted April 11 I certainly do use the wheel as a handle to get in. But that would put stress on the snap ring to the rear that sits in a nice slot, not the shallow groove the front one sits in. Stressing that one would take pushing down on the wheel, which may have happened when offroading? Anyway, we will see in a couple of hours. Gotta catch up with what's going on here, drink some coffee, and chill a bit first. Well, the plot thickens. Got to looking at the spare shaft that was on the bench and then the one in Big Blue and I could see differences in the snap ring groove. So I pulled the shaft out of BB and here they are, with the one from BB on the bottom. Looks like the part was bad from the factory and the stepped groove allowed the snap ring to come out. So the one on the top is going back in. However notice the "knurling", which is what the shop manual calls the grooves between the two snap rings. The one on top measures .735 and Big Blue's measures .740, while the ID of the bearing is .750. So I'm looking for a way to shim that when I put the bearing in. http://www.garysgaragemahal.com/uploads/6/5/8/7/65879365/thinking-26_orig.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85lebaront2 Posted April 11 Share Posted April 11 Well, the plot thickens. Got to looking at the spare shaft that was on the bench and then the one in Big Blue and I could see differences in the snap ring groove. So I pulled the shaft out of BB and here they are, with the one from BB on the bottom. Looks like the part was bad from the factory and the stepped groove allowed the snap ring to come out. So the one on the top is going back in. However notice the "knurling", which is what the shop manual calls the grooves between the two snap rings. The one on top measures .735 and Big Blue's measures .740, while the ID of the bearing is .750. So I'm looking for a way to shim that when I put the bearing in. Gary, both shafts look like they have been turning in the bearing. After doing that for 39 years or so, the softer shaft metal has worn. Maybe some shim stock wrapped around the knurled area to make the bearing a slight press fit would solve the issue. The other option would be similar to what you did on the lower bearing, again just enough to make the bearing inner race a slight press (with your hands) fit. Unfortunately for you, all the steering columns I have are tilt wheel Saginaw built for Chrysler or the Ford stub columns used on later vehicles. Darth and the 1990 Town Car we owned and the 1994 Taurus all used the same style stub column. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted April 11 Author Share Posted April 11 Gary, both shafts look like they have been turning in the bearing. After doing that for 39 years or so, the softer shaft metal has worn. Maybe some shim stock wrapped around the knurled area to make the bearing a slight press fit would solve the issue. The other option would be similar to what you did on the lower bearing, again just enough to make the bearing inner race a slight press (with your hands) fit. Unfortunately for you, all the steering columns I have are tilt wheel Saginaw built for Chrysler or the Ford stub columns used on later vehicles. Darth and the 1990 Town Car we owned and the 1994 Taurus all used the same style stub column. Bill - Like minds! I have .008" shim stock wrapped around it and have pressed the bearing on using a tube against the inner race. Nice tight fit, so there's no way the bearing is going to turn on the shaft. And I've lubed the bearing with Mobil 1 synthetic grease. Now if the snap ring, the spare one as the one from BB is a bit spread, will go on I'll start installing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBrother-84 Posted April 11 Share Posted April 11 Bill - Like minds! I have .008" shim stock wrapped around it and have pressed the bearing on using a tube against the inner race. Nice tight fit, so there's no way the bearing is going to turn on the shaft. And I've lubed the bearing with Mobil 1 synthetic grease. Now if the snap ring, the spare one as the one from BB is a bit spread, will go on I'll start installing it. Progress! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted April 11 Author Share Posted April 11 Progress! Yes, PROGRESS! Got the snap ring in and the upper shaft into the lower shaft and finally got them into the right position. But I need to document that process. They are held in position by two spring "bumps" on the upper shaft that hold them tightly. The FSM says to tap one shaft while holding the other to prevent it moving. But when you already have the lower shaft in the column and the column in the truck that's not easy. As it turns out the Borgeson shaft will only compress so far and it stopped the lower shaft from coming more than a few inches out of the column. So I'd tap the upper shaft into place, lever the lower shaft back into the column, tap the upper one down, rinse & repeat. Eventually I got them into the right position where the upper bearing is seated in the recess and the Borgeson up against the red plastic spacer that protects the lower bearing. Then the turn signal switch in and the steering wheel on. Done! So we are taking Big Blue out for a spin in a few minutes and I'll let y'all know how well the steering does and how many noises it makes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted April 11 Author Share Posted April 11 Yes, PROGRESS! Got the snap ring in and the upper shaft into the lower shaft and finally got them into the right position. But I need to document that process. They are held in position by two spring "bumps" on the upper shaft that hold them tightly. The FSM says to tap one shaft while holding the other to prevent it moving. But when you already have the lower shaft in the column and the column in the truck that's not easy. As it turns out the Borgeson shaft will only compress so far and it stopped the lower shaft from coming more than a few inches out of the column. So I'd tap the upper shaft into place, lever the lower shaft back into the column, tap the upper one down, rinse & repeat. Eventually I got them into the right position where the upper bearing is seated in the recess and the Borgeson up against the red plastic spacer that protects the lower bearing. Then the turn signal switch in and the steering wheel on. Done! So we are taking Big Blue out for a spin in a few minutes and I'll let y'all know how well the steering does and how many noises it makes. SUCCESS!!!!! Man, it is amazing how much difference that made! There is NO noise in the steering now, and there always has been, although I didn't realize it was in the steering. And the steering seems much smoother. I'm a happy camper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBrother-84 Posted April 11 Share Posted April 11 SUCCESS!!!!! Man, it is amazing how much difference that made! There is NO noise in the steering now, and there always has been, although I didn't realize it was in the steering. And the steering seems much smoother. I'm a happy camper! Yeah! Happy you solved this annoying noise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted April 11 Author Share Posted April 11 Yeah! Happy you solved this annoying noise! Thanks, Jeff. It was a really good feeling - or lack of sound maybe I should say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viven44 Posted April 11 Share Posted April 11 SUCCESS!!!!! Man, it is amazing how much difference that made! There is NO noise in the steering now, and there always has been, although I didn't realize it was in the steering. And the steering seems much smoother. I'm a happy camper! Excellent news. With all the machining you did, I think very people in the world can attain the perfection you have. Always love a solution that involves ingenuity vs. parts swapping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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