Steering Column

[adamsanders]

The steering column in my 91 F250 has seen better days. The metal tube is actually broke in several places (see pic below) causing it to have some pretty severe side to side and up and down play in it. Rather than try to weld on this one or fix it I'd like to just replace it with a good used one. However, I'm having a hard time finding one for a manual transmission truck but I see tons for autos. Is it possible to get rid of the column shifter on the auto column and use it in a manual truck?

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[IDIBRONCO]

Yes. At least on older ones like my 81 F150, there is a rolled pin that holds the shifter onto the column. You can just drive it out.

 

[79jasper]

Expensive, but did you try steering column services?

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[adamsanders]

No I haven't. I may eventually have to got that route but I'm gonna keep holding out for a local manual parts truck for a bit longer.

 

[chillman88]

No I haven't. I may eventually have to got that route but I'm gonna keep holding out for a local manual parts truck for a bit longer.

This is where I'm at too. I have another column to try too but it's an auto... the one I got from an 84 is in my 91 now. It's better than the old one but still pretty loose.

Yes. At least on older ones like my 81 F150, there is a rolled pin that holds the shifter onto the column. You can just drive it out.

What about the key release mechanism. Is that swappable without disassembling the whole column or do you just leave it in "park" and ignore it?

 

[adamsanders]

Good point, I'm not sure. I know you can swap the lock cylinders over easily but I don't if the locking mechanism is in the cylinder or on the column.

 

[chillman88]

I would GUESS it to be the same mechanism that stops you from removing the key when an auto is in gear but personally I don't know.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

What about the key release mechanism. Is that swappable without disassembling the whole column or do you just leave it in "park" and ignore it?

I'd just leave it in Park.

 

[adamsanders]

I wanted to bump this thread to get some help. I eventually found a used column for 75$ that felt really tight. Unfortunately it is a non-cruise (I'm glad it doesn't have tilt) column which I'm fine with but now my horn doesn't work. I read a post on another site about having to move some wires around from one harness to another but it wasn't very clear. Any ideas on this? Turn signals and hazards do work.

 

[79jasper]

If you're old one had cruise, why not just do some parts swapping to gain cruise back. Would likely take care of the horn issue as well.

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[adamsanders]

Well my cruise has never worked but do you know off hand what all would I have to swap?

 

[79jasper]

Looks like your truck is a brick, so you would need to swa the steering wheel, the clock spring, and the wiring that follows.

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[adamsanders]

Once the clock spring is out can I just pull the wiring out down the column?

 

[79jasper]

I cant say there.

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