Steering Restoration

[kmhenry]

I'm restoring my first truck at the grand old age 51. So it's a bit of an "adventure," to say the least. I'm so close to having the old girl on the road I can taste it. One of the final issues is the steering wheel. We got the wheel from LMC and it fits fine, it just has a little play from left to right when it should obviously be static. When I say play, I mean roughly 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch. I believe we are missing these parts that are greyed out on the LMC blowout. Honestly, I don't even know what they are called in order look for another source. Any help is appreciated.

[Russell J]

I might be wrong, but I believe those parts are the turn signal canceling cam and the inner horn brush plate.

Here is the canceling cam

http://dennis-carpenter.com/turn-signal ... Z-13318-A/

Here is the best pic I could find of the back of one of your steering wheels. In the pic, you will see the shiny round plate. The cam is smaller and nests in the center. If you turn over your own steering wheel, you may find that you already have these parts. They generally come affixed to the back of the steering wheel.

http://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ford-tr ... 63e1ad.jpg


You can also reference the Fordification sites exploded view diagram here:

http://www.fordification.com/tech/image ... column.jpg

Google any of the part numbers and it will usually get you started.

I must say, however, these parts may not be your culprit for the play in the wheel. My first guess would be the rag joint.

Good luck!

[66f250cs]

Frankly I think the drawing is a little confusing. Part number 15 should be attached to the steering wheel as well as the disc in the red highlighted area. Part 15 is the cancel cam. Part 17 slips onto the steering shaft and slips inside the bearing. The spring between this part and the steering wheel (when in place) provides the preload on the bearing. Assuming the splines on the steering column nest snugly into the splines in your new wheel, there is no other place you should any play except at the rag joint or beyond. As a side note, I replaced the steering wheel on my 66 and the splines meshed perfectly with the steering column - no play.

[66f250cs]

Sorry I made a mistake. Part 18 is the conical bearing insert. Part 16 is the preload spring. Ugh.

[kmhenry]

Thanks for the drawing reference. Being newer to Fordification, I forget to look there. This is not the cancel cam, thats listed on the drawing already. and yes, those pieces came with the steering wheel.

I might be wrong, but I believe those parts are the turn signal canceling cam and the inner horn brush plate.

Here is the canceling cam

http://dennis-carpenter.com/turn-signal ... Z-13318-A/

Here is the best pic I could find of the back of one of your steering wheels. In the pic, you will see the shiny round plate. The cam is smaller and nests in the center. If you turn over your own steering wheel, you may find that you already have these parts. They generally come affixed to the back of the steering wheel.

http://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ford-tr ... 63e1ad.jpg


You can also reference the Fordification sites exploded view diagram here:

http://www.fordification.com/tech/image ... column.jpg

Google any of the part numbers and it will usually get you started.

I must say, however, these parts may not be your culprit for the play in the wheel. My first guess would be the rag joint.

Good luck!

[kmhenry]

Yes, it's quite perplexing. I had the column rebuilt buy Steering Columns Galore in New York. They did a great job. Everything is new or "rebuilt to new". So, no issues with the column itself. Also, the wheel fits perfectly and is attached to the splines perfectly. It just moves a tiny bit, left to right. I'm very new at this and may drawing and deduction my mislead someone. bottom line it its all together with a little bit of play left to right as if the column shaft isn't stable. this is what leads me to believe there is some type of ??bushing missing?? The column guys didn't have those parts. and.. maybe thats not the issue.

Frankly I think the drawing is a little confusing. Part number 15 should be attached to the steering wheel as well as the disc in the red highlighted area. Part 15 is the cancel cam. Part 17 slips onto the steering shaft and slips inside the bearing. The spring between this part and the steering wheel (when in place) provides the preload on the bearing. Assuming the splines on the steering column nest snugly into the splines in your new wheel, there is no other place you should any play except at the rag joint or beyond. As a side note, I replaced the steering wheel on my 66 and the splines meshed perfectly with the steering column - no play.