Steering Column Rebuild

[aiyana7.3]

Hey all,
I have been rebuilding the steering column on my truck (replacing the bearings, bushings, springs, etc.) I finally got it finished and put the steering wheel back on, but there is something rubbing somewhere that makes it hard to turn. I used the instructions found here http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1175201-steering-column-wobble-repair.html for a guideline and everything seems to be in the right place. It is a tilt wheel, and it seems like the friction may be coming from that joint, but I can't be sure. Does anyone know what this might be or have ideas on where to start?
Thanks for the help!

 

[OLDBULL8]

One or more bearings may be to tight. If they went in a little cocked or way to tight.

 

[aiyana7.3]

I'm pretty sure that the bearings went in level, so if they are in there too tight, how would I fix that? Thanks again

 

[jim_22]

Did you solve this? Sounds to me like there could have been an old bearing shaving in there. I am asking because I will eventually be in need of the same job. May just decide to replace the whole column. They say a crown vic will work.

 

[mccall52]

I've heard the same thing about Panther platform steering columns, that they're identical to OBS. I have a spare Lincoln town car column, made too much sense for me to have one, I suppose.

 

[aiyana7.3]

What I ended up doing was putting the large compression spring that goes between the outer bearing and the snap ring into a vice, tightening it down, and heating it so it would lose a little bit of its tension. This way, it wouldn't be pulling the shaft so hard. I didn't really want to tamper with anything but after messing around with it for so long it seemed to be the only way to do it. I suggest trying to find a whole new column. I takes about 30 minutes to take one out and another 30 to put it in. It is far more easy. Good luck!