auto shift collar

[abyars111]

My gear shift leave want put the truck in park or drive or any gear. Truck will go into gear by using rod under hood or lever on side of C6 tranny. Does this automatically mean the shift collar is broken on the steering column? This is a power steering truck.

[sargentrs]

There's a slotted bracket on the back side of the shift collar and a tab on the end of the shifter sits inside it. There's a boss spot welded on the top of the shift tube that sits inside a groove in the center cylinder of the shift collar. When you pull/push on the shifter, the tab engages the bracket and the rotation of the shift collar rotates the shift tube which in turn rotates the the shift linkage lever on the bottom of the column. Sounds like either the bracket's come loose or the spot welded boss has broken loose from the shift tube. Either that or the center tube of your shift collar broke like mine did. http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... =5&t=72274

[abyars111]

Thanks! That's a great write up. I'll tear into it this weekend and see what I find.

[sargentrs]

The collars are available for around $30. Post in parts wanted before buying.

[abyars111]

I removed the steering wheel & turn signal assembly today and the shift collar is broken. It looks like the upper bearing is toast as well. I'm sure the lower bearing is no better so I think I'll pull the column and replace both. I removed the shift collar with the column still attached so I don't know what the lower bearing looks like. Thanks, sargentrs, for posting your column rebuild, it will be a great help. I don't know of anyone locally that rebuilds columns. I'm going to try and get this done by next weekend so I can take the truck to the transmission shop to have the transmission rebuilt.

broken collar






lower end of shift tube


bearing retainer

[sargentrs]

That bottom picture is not actually part of the upper bearing. It's the retainer that keeps the steering shaft centered in the bearing. You can see it in this picture. Same one at both top and bottom.

mms_img-481036002.jpg

The bearing looks like this.

mms_img-1960788733.jpg

[abyars111]

I see now. Thanks.

Well the retainer & bearing look good to me after a second look. Is there any hidden things that would make it bad? I'm thinking now I just replace the shift collar & isolator and be on my way. Of course I have the top apart maybe I should just replace the upper bearing while it's apart. I just wasn't looking forward to removing the column and that lower bearing. Of course I may be sorry later.

[abyars111]

I ordered parts from Carolina Classics.

[sargentrs]

Slide your steering shaft out, stick your finger inside the bearing, and rotate it around. If it feels good, run with it, if it feels like your running your finger around in a bucket of gravel, it's on it's last legs.

[abyars111]

Thanks. The bearing felt smooth.

[sargentrs]

Should be fine for a while then. Try to squeeze some more grease in there before you close it up.

[abyars111]

I wondered about grease. I ordered a bearing this morning just in case. I think I'll go ahead and replace the upper one since it's apart. Do these things need any grease on the new ones? I'll wait on the lower bearing until another day. I need to get the truck going again so I can take it to the tranny shop for a rebuild. Thanks for all your help.

[sargentrs]

The new bearing will be already packed with grease. Looks like white lithium grease. Good luck and let me know if you need anything I can help with.