Loose steering

[HATMPITA]

Hey fellow Ford owners I was wondering if anyone would know where I could pick up a steering shaft flange for my 1970 F-100 with power steering. My steering is real sloppy and found that the flange was really worn. I found a whole steering shaft in LMC but I just need a flange. Thanks for any help!

Harry

[FORDification]

Are you sure it's the actual metal flange and not the rag joint it attaches to? Normally the rag joint goes first....but I HAVE seen a bad rag joint wear out a flange too, so I just wanted to make sure.

[HATMPITA]

It's called the flexible coupling in the maintenance manuals I have.

Harry

[fordman]

that sounds like the rag joint. the parts stores have them in the help section.

[FORDification]

Just to make sure we're talking about the same thing:



The yellow arrow is pointing to the metal flange welded onto the end of the steering column shaft. The red arrow is pointing to the steering coupler (a.ka. rag joint), which goes in-between the steering column shaft and the steering box input shaft. It's basically a flexible piece of rubber connecting the box and steering column.

[HATMPITA]

I believe that is what is bad! How can I tell if the collar above the rag joint is bad? I have about 1/4 inch of play in that joint/collar! Also you said to check the parts store are you talking about the part 4 sale area of this web site? I saw one on there but how can you tell if it is still available? It says the last time it was updated was 06/06/05! I want to thank you for all of you help and advice!

Harry

[jzjames]

Rebuilding the steering column was kind of a fun project for me a couple years back. My bearing at the bottom had all but fallen out and I actually had a groove worn into the steel shaft where it was rubbing against the column housing. (Made that scraping noise when turning the wheel). It wasnt hard - I filled the groove with JB weld and actually scavanged the bearing at the junkyard. If you have any machanical ability at all, you should be able to do it. I dont think the steering column was one of the F-100's strong points.

[fordman]

you can get the rag joint at your local auto parts store like auto zone. if your steering shaft coupler is bad you can look for a groove in it as alredy stated and see if the bolt holes on the flange are worn out. its probably your rag joint that is bad unless you have a bad drag link or tie rods that are wore out. or you can take a pic of the joint and we can see if we can tell if something else is bad.

[HATMPITA]

Thanks for the advice on the rag joint! I will see if the local parts store carries them. If I can find the time and the sun light I will take a picture and post it so that you can have a better idea of what I'm seeing!

Harry