Steering slop

[1992gen1_fan]

Hello, I found what I think is the last major contributing cause of the sloppy steering in my truck. The upper half of the steering shaft above the rag joint appears to go into 2 sections into the firewall. I assume its made to collapse in a head on collision or something. Its hard to see exactly how it works. But that is where the slop is coming from.

What are those parts called and how would i fix the sloppiness?

[RumbleFish]

Its almost always the coupler where it goes onto the steering box. Yes these columns are collapsable. I dk t know if you can replace parts in them or you have to swap it out completely. And what is a cannonball bed??

[1992gen1_fan]

Ok, I do have a Borgeson steering shaft. It seems good and tight at the coupler at the steering box. I also replaced the box and most of the other steering parts in the front end and all seems tight except the upper part of the shaft that goes through the firewall. Theres a u-joint at the steering wheel for tilt but it seems good and tight too.

Cannonball is a brand of flat bed. Has lift arms for round bales and also is a dump bed all in one.
http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa3 ... C00610.jpg

[PToombs]

If it is loose up in the column you need to replace it. I'm not sure if there are bushings in it, but I do know that the shaft you see is sleeved into the upper shaft and locked together with an injected plastic. It's designed to give in an accident. If the plastic breaks the spring you see pushes and the shaft can move and put pressure on the gearbox thrust washers. Or it's possible it can work enough to get loose like yours is. Mine had popped loose and I heated it and stuck it back together, not the recommended method with the spring pushing on it and how easy these columns are to find. I had to because I needed the truck to drive the next day and the junkyard was closed already.

[1992gen1_fan]

Ok I'll start looking for another column. That is what I need is the "column" correct? And are there other vehicles with the same part or just the trucks?

[PToombs]

The "column" is the whole piece from where the rag joint bolts on to the steering wheel. Most trucks should be the same, 1/2 ton on up to a 1 ton. I'm not sure what else might be the same.

[dazedandconfused]

You will have yo find a 92 or 93 for the column. 91.5 might be the same.

[1992gen1_fan]

Ok, thanks for the info. I found a couple on ebay but they seemed really high priced. I'll start calling the pick n pulls in the area.

[1992gen1_fan]

Picked up a steering column. Its out of a 1/2 ton auto 2wd, looks the same as the one on my truck but with the addition of the auto shifter.

[1992gen1_fan]

Getting ready to install the new column. Can it be installed in any position as long as its strait with the wheels? Seems like I read somewhere that if it gets turned too many revolutions it could damage the clock spring. Is that true?

[PToombs]

Yup! try to keep it locked. I noticed that mine won't lock straight ahead, but will lock 1/2 turn off. (upside down) I put it in and then turned it upright and then bolted up the rag joint.

[1992gen1_fan]

Ok, what I was thinking.

This column did the same thing, locked 1/2 turn off. Only problem is I can't remember which way I turned it to lock it. Any way to figure that out?

For future reference, looks like 2wd columns are shorter than 4wd's. This D150 column is about 3.5"-4" shorter than the on in my W350. Not a problem in my case I'm thinking I can extend the Borgeson shaft some, if not I'll just make an adapter.

[PToombs]

No way I know of, if you can't remember, it's all on you! 1 turn may not make a difference, but I won't guarantee that. I never knew the columns were different lengths, when I changed mine to get tilt I had a different problem. The bottom shaft is held in it's tube by plastic that is injected in there when hot, it's a safety thing in case of an accident. On the tilt column it had broken and the spring was pushing the shaft down against the gearbox. I had a bitch of a time getting the column installed and then had to pull it out to fix it.

[1992gen1_fan]

How did you fix it?

[PToombs]

I can't tell ya, it may make me responsible if you get killed in an accident.

I measured the length of the old one, pulled it in to where it belonged with a ratchet strap, and heated it up with a propane torch until the plastic started to ooze out. I just let it cool down and it has been ok. The bitch of this job was heating right where they injected the plastic into the hole. I had to measure from the end of the shaft to the groove filled with plastic, install the shaft and measure again. Then I drilled a 1/2 inch or so hole in the outer shell of the column to put the torch into.
The things we do to have tilt wheel, interval wipers and cruise.