Scary steering!

[Deebo]

I have a 1965 Ford F100. I keep wearing out the round rubber bushing doodad between the steering box and column. The steering wheel/column has in and out play. (sittin in the drivers seat, you can move the entire steering wheel and shaft towards and away from your body.) This play causes the rubber bushing to wear out. At the bottom of the shaft (under the hood) I notice something which has been dissentigrated by excessive use. What is this part and how do I find another so I can continue driving safely?

[fireguywtc]

it's the rag joint. It's made to flex and yes it does wear out.

You can get these by order at places like LMC truck, NPD, or dennis carpenter. You could probably get them at your local parts store.

[fireguywtc]

http://www.lmctruck.com/ICATALOG/FB/full.aspx?Page=98 Heres a link to the LMC one for reference

Heres a pic curtesy of Robroy!

[FORDification]

While it's true that it's probably the rag joint that has failed, even if it's completely gone you shouldn't be able to pull the steering wheel and shaft out of the column like that at all. Since you can, I'd suggest looking for the clamp (or lock collar) at the base of the column (in the engine compartment), which retains the shaft in the column housing. It's come loose and slid down the shaft. You need to loosen it and slide it back up to the base of the column and re-tighten.

Here's a view of the two styles used. The first pic is the early style clamp which your '65 probably has. The later setup uses a lockcollar with a set screw. (That's an Allen wrench sticking out of the collar in the second pic.)

[Deebo]

At the end of the shaft, it seems to have a bearing that has worn out. I cant get the part that attaches to the rag joint off of the end of the shaft, if it does remove. The shaft itself has space all the way around it inside the housing. I have tried to upload some pictures but I cant get it to work. I think if I had the part removed from the end of the shaft, I could then replace the bearing or get measurements for a new one.

[fordman]

the shaft comes out the bottom of the column. you have to take the shaft out in order to replace that bottom bearing. which means you have to pull the column out of the truck to rebuild it. there are several vendors who sell the bearings for these trucks. the column have two bearing one in top and one in bottom.

[cdherman]

If the bottom bearing of the column is shot, its possible the column itself is ruined, FYI.

Right now, ask yourself: Do I want power steering in the future or now. Because if you do, get looking for a shorter column etc. read up in the article section.

Beleive me, you may be just looking for steering, but it never pays to do things twice (spoken from personal experience).

Also check your cab mounts. If they are sagging from rust, then you will keep ruining the bearings and rag joints.

You have found the right place for your steering and drivetrain. Should you not already know, www.fordtruk.com is where the 61-66 crowd hangs out when they want to talk about the parts of their trucks that they don't have in common with these fine bumpsided fellas....

[fordman]

yes that right. i have seen some of the bumpside steering shafts get a groove worn in them from sagging cabs.the column shaft canbe welded and truned to repair it but now would be the right time to convert to power steering.

[Deebo]

First off, this website is great! Even though I dont have a '67 to '72, I'm gettin valuable info. I do wanna go with power steering, so I will do some research on what I need. Cost is the only obstacle now. My truck is by no means stock. It was drag raced by the previous owner. It has no rust or problems I can see at the cab mounts, but it has a stout 400 with a C6 and low geared 9'' rear. I currently have the column out, and I'm pullin my hair out tryin to figure out what to do. Thanks!