Having steering problems

[belair53]

Today my steering wheel turns but not my wheels. Looks like my steering shaft pop up and the rag joint is not connecting to the steering gear box. If I push down on my steering wheel I can turn my wheels but the steering wheel pops back up when I let it go. Looks like there is a spacer with set screws in it that can be adjusted. Is this the way to fix this problem? Also the set screws are hard to break lose, any suggestions. Thanks in advance for the help.

[basketcase0302]

belair53,

Looks like my steering shaft pop up and the rag joint is not connecting to the steering gear box. If I push down on my steering wheel I can turn my wheels but the steering wheel pops back up when I let it go.

It sounds to me like the rag joint has broken or the coupler on the steering box shaft has slipped or stripped.
Can you have someone else turn the steering wheel while you watch the rag joint area?

[fordman]

yes replace the rag joint. then you can adjust your steerign column bearing after that. to take the slack out of it.

[belair53]

I tried to post pics but can't get the them to download from the memery card. I think I do need to replace the rag joint. Does a bearing go in the sleeve around the steering shaft or is it just the piece with the set screws? Thanks again for the help. Also it looks like my rag joint was welded to the shaft. Is it suppose to be?

[basketcase0302]

Belair53,

This might help:
http://www.fordification.com/tech/image ... column.jpg

[fordman]

it sounds like you have a 70 and up column if you are talking about set screws for the bearing. the bottom of the steerign column has a flange that is swedged onto it. the rag joint bolts onto the flange of the column. unless it is a 4wd column. then the flange is part of the rag joint and not the column.

[belair53]

I finally got a nice day to work on my "bump". I removed the rag joint and it fell apart when I removed the bolts. Should the flange on the bottom of the steering shaft be welded on? Is there a trick to getting the new coupler between the bottom of the steering shaft and the steering gear box? Do I remove the set screws and try to slide the bushing down, then move the column up to make room between the shaft and gear box? I know its a lot of questions. Thanks in advance for the help.

[basketcase0302]

belair53,
Power or manual steering on your truck?
Does your steering box look like this:

I ask about the steering because there is a difference in the two types or years of rag joints.
But to replace it just unbolt the 2 bolts on the Rag Joint / loosen the 2 bolts that hold the steering column to the Dash / slide the Column into the truck about 1/2".

edited for picture link.

[fordman]

I finally got a nice day to work on my "bump". I removed the rag joint and it fell apart when I removed the bolts. Should the flange on the bottom of the steering shaft be welded on? 2wd or 4wd?Is there a trick to getting the new coupler between the bottom of the steering shaft and the steering gear box? Do I remove the set screws and try to slide the bushing down, then move the column up to make room between the shaft and gear box? I know its a lot of questions. Thanks in advance for the help.

loosen up the column bolts under the dash and the clamp on the outside of the firewall and slide the whole column up towards the seat. put the rag joint on . then slide the column back down into place and retighten the bolts.

[ximy]

I'm going to be replacing mine soon so this info is helpful

[dcbullet]

I found it very difficult to pull the column far enough into the truck to get the rag joint out and then back in. The auto trans "arm" would not let the column move very far.

Maybe I was doing it wrong. I did eventually get it but it involved a lot a twisting and hard work.

[basketcase0302]

The auto trans "arm" would not let the column move very far.

Easier to just unhook the linkage from the column by the firewall, then put it back in after you do the rag joint.
Be careful with the plastic shifter linkage bushing though...
They always seem to break on me.

[fordman]

I found it very difficult to pull the column far enough into the truck to get the rag joint out and then back in. The auto trans "arm" would not let the column move very far.

Maybe I was doing it wrong. I did eventually get it but it involved a lot a twisting and hard work.

i am guessign the center shaft may have been too close to get it in there. that is a little more work. but you could have loosened the center shaft retainer and slid the center shaft up into the housing too. i had a heck of a time when i did it. without moving the center shaft on my 67. but i also took the bottom dahs to column bolts all the way out and let the steering wheel rest on the seat so i could get the rag joint on the steering gear then raise the steering column back into place and slide it back down to the rag joint. i thought that was probably the easy way. but it may have not been the factory way to do it.

[belair53]

Replaced my steering coupler (rag joint) this weekend. It took about an hour. I got it from Advance Auto. The part # is 202 and $35.00. This corrected my problem and tighten up my steering also. Thanks to everyone for the great info on solving my problem and how to fix it. GREAT SITE.