steering wheel

[72bumbee]

is this normal ?

steeringcolumn.jpg

[fordman]

there are two bolts under the dash in the middle of the column. loosen those two botls and pull the column up toward the steering wheel. if it wont move there is a band on the bottom of the column inside the engine compartment. loosen that band. then try pulling up again. if that doesnt do it take the firewall bracket off and pull up. if that still doesnt work you can remove the botls fromt he lower inside the cab column seal bracket that may be rusted to the column and need to be loosened on the column in order for it to come up enough. aft all of that and it doesnt coem up enough to be real close to the wheel then the cab moutns may be rotted out and it might be stuck liek that until the cab is jacked up high enough to let the stuck parts unstick.

[kaptnkaos]

Hey 72bumbee,

No, it really shouldn't look like that... Is is warped? or round when you turn it ???
It looks like the center of the wheel hub is bent.
Have you pulled the center cover of the steering wheel of to see if it is tweeked?

KaptnKA S

[72bumbee]

wierd thing is, It looks bent. I notice I have to grab on it and pull myself into the cab. When I look all the way around it, the gap is equal all the way around, and I can see the turn signal switch all the way around. But like I said it looks warped to me too from the side. Optical illusion or ford design? I will try getting the shaft moved first there is a lot of rust on this behemoth, right after I get the intake manifold done.
Thanks again!
Steve

[fordman]

its not the inner shaft you will be movign it is the outer housing that will slide up the inner shaft. that should also make your horn work again.

[72bumbee]

How did you know the horn didn't work???

[fordman]

when the column and wheel are so far away from each other the horn brush wont touch the steering wheel. so the horn wont be able to complete its circut. because i couldnt here the horn from here. ha ha. speak up want was that you said?

[kaptnkaos]

72bumbee didn't you know that Fordman has a telepathic bump connection ???

[m-mman]

Did you recently change your steering box or 'rag joint'?
If the steering shaft/rag joint is NOT pressed (and tightened down) against the steering gear this will also happen.
Loosten up the "bolt that requires a 12 point socket" on the rag joint, push down on the steering wheel and tighten up the bolt.

[72bumbee]

Sorry I missed most of this conversation due to that intake manifold.
I haven't messed with the steering column or the box and rag joint. As I was going through all this, I ripped out the horn wires and the horn cover. What a dork I am. Broke the plastic and the horn cover. and the wires. I lost my patients. (translate: lost my marbles!) SO no original steering wheel for me. I need to buy one of those chain steering wheels!

[72bumbee]

72bumbee didn't you know that Fordman has a telepathic bump connection ???

I was wondering why my truck kept backfiring and oozing coolant!!!!!