Steering column play??

[AcIdBuRn02ZTS]

Hey alls...

So I thought my steering slop was coming from the intermediate shaft but after having an extra set of hands to track it down, I discovered that the play is in the column itself.

I can grab the shaft coming out of the bottom of the column (where the universal from the intermediate connects) and move it side-side over an inch.

What supports the shaft in the lower part of the column? I've been searching local pull a part yards but all the columns have been pulled... my junkyard luck.

Ideas?

 

[FORDF250HDXLT]

non tilt.

You must be registered for see images attach

tilt.

You must be registered for see images attach

source;
http://www.steeringcolumnservices.com/

 

[Scratcher]

Sounds like rag joint free play

 

[79jasper]

Normally yes, that would be first suspect. But he said he can grab the wheel and shaft where it comes out of the column and it has play.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[AcIdBuRn02ZTS]

Yup... Above the intermediate shaft. Rag joint is tight as is the slip... It's the shaft coming out of the column that has play. Apparently there are some bushings in the column that are done. Need to find a different column.

 

[Scratcher]

Normally yes, that would be first suspect. But he said he can grab the wheel and shaft where it comes out of the column and it has play.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

This is what he said

I can grab the shaft coming out of the bottom of the column (where the universal from the intermediate connects) and move it side-side over an inch.

 

[Scratcher]

I would check the rag joint anyway (assuming that this year has one) there is damping material between the mating surfaces . This is usually worn away so much that you almost have metal to metal. If the truck is veering significantly that you have to move the wheel significantly to correct it when you hit a bump or a rut, it is usually an indication that the joint is significantly worn to allow for the free play. There is a bearing in the column itself. Not saying that's not the problem but what you are describing sounds very similar to my own situation a few years back.

 

[AcIdBuRn02ZTS]

... The rag joint is tight. The play is on the opposite end of the intermediate shaft... Not on the steering box side.

If you look at the column as it passes through the firewall... Then the intermediate ujoint... Then the slip shaft... Then the rag joint. If you grab the top universal joint where it connects to the column... That's where the play is. The shaft coming out of the column itself can move side to side inside the column.

 

[OLDBULL8]

Quit playing with your shaft and tear the whole column out. Can't see where you would get a whole inch movement without moving the column itself.

 

[crash-harris]

Make sure the plastic "cap" is on the end of the metal part of the column. When 8 was messing with mine, I found that the piece of plastic as the end of the column wasn't bolted in, just sliding around loose. Upon further investigation, I found that it actually locates a bearing and the end of the column shaft so it doesn't flop around.