"M" The War Departments F-150
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 3:22 pm
Well Last Saturday I was informed By M that her F150 wouldn't turn properly so It needs attention. "RIGHT NOW"!!!!!
So I go to pull the truck into the shop and found something binding in the steering column. A closer look showed the steering wheel would flop around about an inch up down left and right. This truck is a Lariat with Tilt wheel.
I tore the column apart and found where the bearings were supposed to be but both of the bearings were gone. There some small scraps of the race but for all intents no bearings at all. So I do a little online research and discover this is common on ford columns tilt or not. I guess ford wanted to recoup costs by making you have to replacing them.
I went to Ford today to get new bearings and as I said 97 Ford F-150 steering column....... The parts man smiled and said I know exactly what your talking about so without so much as having to look at his terminal he walks over to the parts bin, reached on a shelf and walked back to the counter. There he laid down the two bearings on to the counter, correct P/N and everything! Funny thing, the parts man on the other end of the counter looks over sees the bearings, looks over at me and says "Tilt column repair huh"? I smiled and shook my head affirmative. He smiles back and says it is one of their top selling parts... Amazing thing though he says thy have a dozen sets on order. I got the last one in stock. All in all not bad it cost me 22 dollars and change.
***Note here from Ford Parts and Service man, If the failure is ignored you run the real possibly of trashing the upper steering shaft. Not a cheap thing to replace. I was told over a hundred bucks.
So I should be out in the shop right now putting the thing back together But I just ran out of energy! She can drive her mustang a couple of more days! I think I am going to set back watch the sunshine one minute then turn into a windstorm the next, and then rain like a fire hose the next.. Crazy damn Northwest weather.
Just a side note about this repair. If you have a tilt column and the steering wheel wobbles don't put it off, get it fixed right away. If ignored it could possibly jam the wheel! If enough debris and sloppiness exist when the bearing fails you stand the chance of the U joint in the top of the column jamming.
So I go to pull the truck into the shop and found something binding in the steering column. A closer look showed the steering wheel would flop around about an inch up down left and right. This truck is a Lariat with Tilt wheel.
I tore the column apart and found where the bearings were supposed to be but both of the bearings were gone. There some small scraps of the race but for all intents no bearings at all. So I do a little online research and discover this is common on ford columns tilt or not. I guess ford wanted to recoup costs by making you have to replacing them.
I went to Ford today to get new bearings and as I said 97 Ford F-150 steering column....... The parts man smiled and said I know exactly what your talking about so without so much as having to look at his terminal he walks over to the parts bin, reached on a shelf and walked back to the counter. There he laid down the two bearings on to the counter, correct P/N and everything! Funny thing, the parts man on the other end of the counter looks over sees the bearings, looks over at me and says "Tilt column repair huh"? I smiled and shook my head affirmative. He smiles back and says it is one of their top selling parts... Amazing thing though he says thy have a dozen sets on order. I got the last one in stock. All in all not bad it cost me 22 dollars and change.
***Note here from Ford Parts and Service man, If the failure is ignored you run the real possibly of trashing the upper steering shaft. Not a cheap thing to replace. I was told over a hundred bucks.
So I should be out in the shop right now putting the thing back together But I just ran out of energy! She can drive her mustang a couple of more days! I think I am going to set back watch the sunshine one minute then turn into a windstorm the next, and then rain like a fire hose the next.. Crazy damn Northwest weather.
Just a side note about this repair. If you have a tilt column and the steering wheel wobbles don't put it off, get it fixed right away. If ignored it could possibly jam the wheel! If enough debris and sloppiness exist when the bearing fails you stand the chance of the U joint in the top of the column jamming.