steering column lower bearing.

[onetuford]

I'm in the middle of a P/S swap and have a donor column that seems to have a lower bearing out of it as evidenced by a lot of play in the shaft. LMC truck doesn't show a part for a lower bearing, just a plastic bushing that pushes in the end of the outer part of the column. Anybody have any experience with the 1973-77 steering columns? Specifically, has anyone replaced the lower bearing or bushing in '73-79 columns?

[fordman]

to replace the bearing you pull the center shaft out of the column. it is held in by a snap ring on top under the steering wheel. once the bearing is out you replace the bearign and put the shaft back in.

[onetuford]

I'm not sure there is a bearing down there. I've never seen a Ford dealer microfische but I found this exploded view claimed to be from a ford part cataloge, and I don't see a bearing. What I'm wondering is if anyone has rebuilt on of these columns before. I found a PDF file but can't upload it to this thread. It shows the 1973-1979 column. Anyone know how to upload a pdf file?

[fordman]

there is a bearign down there. all the columns that will work withour trucks were made with a lower bearing.

[onetuford]

So this means A: you have personally changed out a bearing in a column for 1973-79 Ford F100 2wd steering column, or B: you have a column on the shelf to refrence? If so it just confused me why the big couple of old Ford truck parts outfits don't list the part. If I need a bearing I will buy it. If I need a Plastic bushing I will buy it. I don't want to buy one or the other if I don't need to.

[FORDification]

It's a bearing:

http://www.fordification.com/partnos/st ... column.htm

It'll be basic part number 3517 in these diagrams from the Master Parts Catalog.

[fordman]

i have replaced those bearings before and i have about 7 or more steering columns in my extra bedroom. they range from 1969-1979.

[Hawkrod]

Yes, as everybody has noted it is a bearing. It is permanently mounted in the plastic piece at the bottom of the column. It is the rusty piece in the picture below. It is held in by a plate that is inserted over three plastic pins that are them melted to keep the plate in place. You can put some small screws and nuts through the plate and plastic to hold it in but it was a pain! I finally just bought several at Ford. Hawkrod

[onetuford]

Ok Thank you for the picture. That was what I needed to know.

[fordman]

so ford still has these availble? if so i need a few of them. i dont want to buy the other ones that have been made ot replace the plastic holder and bearing inside.

[onetuford]

The Ford part number is D9TZ-3C773-B. It is obsolete. Look at this part and tell me there is a bearing in this:
http://www.carolina-classics.com/Detail ... ategory=22
This is the same exact part the Ford dealer I found in WI that still had this obsolete part on the shelf (NOS now I guess). The parts guy I talked to looked at his 'Fische and said it didn't show a bearing, but couldn't beleive there wasn't one. I have a diagram from a Ford catalogue I would upload but it won't let me upload a PDF file. If anyone wants to see it I will email to you. There is NO lower bearing in those columns. Look at LMC, Dennis carpenter, Carolina Classics. The original Ford piece is nothing more that a plastic bushing. I have been researching this for three days now and this is the conclusion I have come to. I ordered the part from the Dealer 'cuz shipping was less and it comes in a neat box that says Ford on it. Maybe people were making thier own with a bearing in it.

[fordman]

like i was saying in the pm. that is the only part you can buy for those years of columns. and unless you have the metal plate you cant do as hawkrod suggeted and put a regular bearing in it and screw the metal plate back onto the plastic bushing in your picture. th only known replacemnt to me. is at jeffs broncograveyard. this piece here. http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-270 ... lower.html the last time i looked at this it was 35.00 each.

[Hawkrod]

The Ford part number is D9TZ-3C773-B. It is obsolete. Look at this part and tell me there is a bearing in this:
http://www.carolina-classics.com/Detail ... ategory=22
This is the same exact part the Ford dealer I found in WI that still had this obsolete part on the shelf (NOS now I guess). The parts guy I talked to looked at his 'Fische and said it didn't show a bearing, but couldn't beleive there wasn't one. I have a diagram from a Ford catalogue I would upload but it won't let me upload a PDF file. If anyone wants to see it I will email to you. There is NO lower bearing in those columns. Look at LMC, Dennis carpenter, Carolina Classics. The original Ford piece is nothing more that a plastic bushing. I have been researching this for three days now and this is the conclusion I have come to. I ordered the part from the Dealer 'cuz shipping was less and it comes in a neat box that says Ford on it. Maybe people were making thier own with a bearing in it.

If there is no lower bearing then what did I post a picture of? You may be convinced that there is no bearing but I already proved there is and posted a picture of it. This is not some made up part, it is the same as the new ones I bought from Ford. I would suggest that maybe you need a new parts guy. I am out of town for the holiday but when I get home I will post the number off of the Ford box. Hawkrod

[onetuford]

Whoaaaa big fella! I'm not being standoff-ish, sorry if it seems that way. I know the pic that you show seems to have some metal attached to it. Is that possibly from a tilt column? The part number I posted is listed as "fixed column." I'm just confused and couldn't seem to get it figured out. So, I appologize if my post seemed to be less than chipper, I certanly didn't mean it.

[Hawkrod]

Okay, here are the numbers and some enlightenment. The one I have is a D3TZ-3D681-A. It is the same part for a 4X4 or tilt as well and it also fits non-tilt as the shaft diameter is the same and the tube is the same for a 4X4 and a fixed 2WD. According to the Ford Master Parts Catalog, the 2WD columns originally used a C3DZ-3517-A for a 73 or a 75-79 lower bearing but the 78/9 can also use the D3TZ-3D681-A. 74 does not list one (maybe that year they did not have one?). But now here is the kicker... The Master Parts Catalog shows two different types of columns. It shows them with or without lower bearings from 75-79. The columns look the same but some don't have a bearing, they have a bushing. Now, I am not talking about tilts or 4X4's, I am only looking at 2WD column shift columns. The book does not say why there is a difference, it just has a diagram listing the parts and their basic numbers but when you look them up both bearings and bushings are listed for the same application in different areas. I have not seen one without bearings but obviously they do exist. Hawkrod