1979 Ford F150 4x4 steering

ErwinRommel · 05-03-2009, 11:27 AM

Well I have made another thread for my truck but with a different issue.

THE STEERING IS WACKED!

You can move the steering wheel up and down. Feels like it could come off any time.
When yer trying to turn right (left-vis versa), you have to keep turning the steering wheel around and round until you finally turn that way.

The power steering seems like it is ok. I don't really know if it could be the gear box.
I looked to see in the column under the hood was tighten up right, the bolt seems a little loose (you can tighten it up way more if you want) but I tried to see if it was bad but it seem like it wasn't.

I looked at the steering stabilizer and it looks like the bushings are wore out.

I have some pictures here (I have to get more):

75K30 · 05-03-2009, 01:25 PM

If the steering wheel pr column is loose, and yo are looking at a damper under the vehicle, your are not quite looking in the right areas. While you do have some worn bushings, and a saturated rag joint, but this will not tighten up your condition.
It would appear that you have some issues with the internals of the coulumn itself.
Remove the steering wheel and see if this movement is in the shaft itself. To me it sounds as though a bushing or bearing in the column is bad.
Look closely at the bottom of the steering column (where it penetrates the firewall) and notice a plastic bushing. This bushing is either missing or bad. Without this the end of the shaft will flop around, and the wheel can feel as though it is loose.

For obvious reason, please make sure that the wheel adapter is alright and the nut is tight.

ErwinRommel · 05-04-2009, 06:26 PM

750k, I am about to post some pictures of this steering. Just to let you know. Thanks.

ErwinRommel · 05-04-2009, 06:40 PM

Ok. Here they are:

I couldn't get the steering wheel off because I don't have the correct tool to remove it.

75K30 · 05-04-2009, 07:35 PM

OK. do you recall that I mentioned the white plastic piece at the end of the column?
Well in your pics, you can see that it has fallen out, and is just floating around there.
I also see an improperly sized bolt holding the universal joint right where the steering shaft and steering column meet. See that rusted out bolt that is too large and not really doing anything? This is a problem.
I see that the rag joint is not in great shape and appears to be saturated with oil and several years of gross abuse. Not a problem, since we will want to work from the top and work down.

Grab the steering wheel, and have a godd yank or two. have someone watch the end of the column, and look to see if the inner shaft moves.
It should not move at all. Wiggle the wheel left to right and up and down. If the upper end insideof the cab moves, then you have a bearing in the column going bad. If the lower end in the pic moves, then this plastic bushing is likely the culprit.
Once you have determined that both are satisfactory, then move closer to the steering box until everything is tight and functional.

I see these small problems and believe that you have some small issues in the column itself. That small plastic piece is a good place to start.
However, I might only start this once you have your brakes complete. Did you finish that project yet?

ErwinRommel · 05-04-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 75K30

OK. do you recall that I mentioned the white plastic piece at the end of the column?
Well in your pics, you can see that it has fallen out, and is just floating around there.
I also see an improperly sized bolt holding the universal joint right where the steering shaft and steering column meet. See that rusted out bolt that is too large and not really doing anything? This is a problem.
I see that the rag joint is not in great shape and appears to be saturated with oil and several years of gross abuse. Not a problem, since we will want to work from the top and work down.

Grab the steering wheel, and have a godd yank or two. have someone watch the end of the column, and look to see if the inner shaft moves.
It should not move at all. Wiggle the wheel left to right and up and down. If the upper end insideof the cab moves, then you have a bearing in the column going bad. If the lower end in the pic moves, then this plastic bushing is likely the culprit.
Once you have determined that both are satisfactory, then move closer to the steering box until everything is tight and functional.

I see these small problems and believe that you have some small issues in the column itself. That small plastic piece is a good place to start.
However, I might only start this once you have your brakes complete. Did you finish that project yet?

Thanks for helping me. I had to send the shaft to NAPA to get the new bearing put on. It's going to cost me $24 to do it. Once I get the axle shaft back and put it all back on, and put the brakes back together and bleed the lines. I should be ready then.

How to fix the plastic peice in the steering column? The bolt is not tighten all up too I think.

75K30 · 05-04-2009, 07:54 PM

It would appear that the bolt is just too long, and it will require a new one. You might want to remove the entire assembly and clean the rust of of it. May also want oto verify that the universal joint itself is still good. Treat ot with care, these OEM units are no longer available, and very expensive. In other words you probably paid slightly more for the whole truck than it would cost to replace that little joint..
Relax, if it is bad, there are several replacement joints that will work.

As for the plastic piece, it can be replaced with an aftermarket unit from LMC, or something like that. Last time I checked a couple of dealerships had them in stock. You can see a square hole in the end of the column that the plastic piece snaps into. This is a very inexpensive part, and not all that difficult to replace.

ErwinRommel · 05-04-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 75K30

It would appear that the bolt is just too long, and it will require a new one. You might want to remove the entire assembly and clean the rust of of it. May also want oto verify that the universal joint itself is still good. Treat ot with care, these OEM units are no longer available, and very expensive. In other words you probably paid slightly more for the whole truck than it would cost to replace that little joint..
Relax, if it is bad, there are several replacement joints that will work.

As for the plastic piece, it can be replaced with an aftermarket unit from LMC, or something like that. Last time I checked a couple of dealerships had them in stock. You can see a square hole in the end of the column that the plastic piece snaps into. This is a very inexpensive part, and not all that difficult to replace.

\

What's the little plastic peice called?

75K30 · 05-04-2009, 08:57 PM

I dont have a clue. Two things you can do though.
1: remove it and look for a number on it. It should start with a DTZ number. Then reference the number to a ford catalog, and run with that.
2: Reference that exploded view in the manual that you have laying around. You do have a book right?

Get a nice manual. It will pay for itself the forst time you use it.

ErwinRommel · 05-06-2009, 08:39 PM

Had my brother's woman move the steering wheel up and down while I looked at the shaft. It moved a little bit but it could just be cause of the loose bolt but the top shaft moved a little though.

The steering wheel, you can basically move in a whole circle.

05-03-2009, 11:27 AM	#1
ErwinRommel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern Georgia Posts: 563	1979 Ford F150 4x4 steering Well I have made another thread for my truck but with a different issue. THE STEERING IS WACKED! You can move the steering wheel up and down. Feels like it could come off any time. When yer trying to turn right (left-vis versa), you have to keep turning the steering wheel around and round until you finally turn that way. The power steering seems like it is ok. I don't really know if it could be the gear box. I looked to see in the column under the hood was tighten up right, the bolt seems a little loose (you can tighten it up way more if you want) but I tried to see if it was bad but it seem like it wasn't. I looked at the steering stabilizer and it looks like the bushings are wore out. I have some pictures here (I have to get more):

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05-03-2009, 01:25 PM	#2
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,992	If the steering wheel pr column is loose, and yo are looking at a damper under the vehicle, your are not quite looking in the right areas. While you do have some worn bushings, and a saturated rag joint, but this will not tighten up your condition. It would appear that you have some issues with the internals of the coulumn itself. Remove the steering wheel and see if this movement is in the shaft itself. To me it sounds as though a bushing or bearing in the column is bad. Look closely at the bottom of the steering column (where it penetrates the firewall) and notice a plastic bushing. This bushing is either missing or bad. Without this the end of the shaft will flop around, and the wheel can feel as though it is loose. For obvious reason, please make sure that the wheel adapter is alright and the nut is tight.

05-04-2009, 06:26 PM	#3
ErwinRommel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern Georgia Posts: 563	750k, I am about to post some pictures of this steering. Just to let you know. Thanks.

05-04-2009, 06:40 PM	#4
ErwinRommel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern Georgia Posts: 563	Ok. Here they are: I couldn't get the steering wheel off because I don't have the correct tool to remove it.

05-04-2009, 07:35 PM	#5
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,992	OK. do you recall that I mentioned the white plastic piece at the end of the column? Well in your pics, you can see that it has fallen out, and is just floating around there. I also see an improperly sized bolt holding the universal joint right where the steering shaft and steering column meet. See that rusted out bolt that is too large and not really doing anything? This is a problem. I see that the rag joint is not in great shape and appears to be saturated with oil and several years of gross abuse. Not a problem, since we will want to work from the top and work down. Grab the steering wheel, and have a godd yank or two. have someone watch the end of the column, and look to see if the inner shaft moves. It should not move at all. Wiggle the wheel left to right and up and down. If the upper end insideof the cab moves, then you have a bearing in the column going bad. If the lower end in the pic moves, then this plastic bushing is likely the culprit. Once you have determined that both are satisfactory, then move closer to the steering box until everything is tight and functional. I see these small problems and believe that you have some small issues in the column itself. That small plastic piece is a good place to start. However, I might only start this once you have your brakes complete. Did you finish that project yet?

05-04-2009, 07:54 PM	#7
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,992	It would appear that the bolt is just too long, and it will require a new one. You might want to remove the entire assembly and clean the rust of of it. May also want oto verify that the universal joint itself is still good. Treat ot with care, these OEM units are no longer available, and very expensive. In other words you probably paid slightly more for the whole truck than it would cost to replace that little joint.. Relax, if it is bad, there are several replacement joints that will work. As for the plastic piece, it can be replaced with an aftermarket unit from LMC, or something like that. Last time I checked a couple of dealerships had them in stock. You can see a square hole in the end of the column that the plastic piece snaps into. This is a very inexpensive part, and not all that difficult to replace.

05-04-2009, 08:57 PM	#9
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,992	I dont have a clue. Two things you can do though. 1: remove it and look for a number on it. It should start with a DTZ number. Then reference the number to a ford catalog, and run with that. 2: Reference that exploded view in the manual that you have laying around. You do have a book right? Get a nice manual. It will pay for itself the forst time you use it.

05-06-2009, 08:39 PM	#10
ErwinRommel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern Georgia Posts: 563	Had my brother's woman move the steering wheel up and down while I looked at the shaft. It moved a little bit but it could just be cause of the loose bolt but the top shaft moved a little though. The steering wheel, you can basically move in a whole circle.