I Would Appeciate Any Steering Column Help

[BoiseStroker96]

I am in the process of replacing my steering column in my 1996 F-250 4wd powerstroke. I am not 100% positive on what is wrong but from reading other threads it sounds like my bearings are shot. I have the drastic play in the steering wheel and with the wheel off my column moves all over the place.Soooo my question is how the heck do I go about replacing the column? I'm not what you would call mechanically gifted so I need all the help I can get. The biggest problem I ran in to so far is how to you remove the key tumbler to pull the top plastic column cover off? Thanks in advance!!

[pipelayerjdh]

To remove the tumbler, you have to put the key in and turn it to run. Then stick a small drill bit in the hole on the bottom of the tumbler and push up. Then pull the tumbler out.

Do you have a complete column to replace it with?

[BoiseStroker96]

Not Yet. I'm gonna strip er down before getting the parts just to see what I'm needing to replace. Thanks for the help too! That seems to be the trick. Appeciate It

[pipelayerjdh]

Originally Posted by BoiseStroker96

Not Yet. I'm gonna strip er down before getting the parts just to see what I'm needing to replace. Thanks for the help too! That seems to be the trick. Appeciate It

No problem, glad to help. I replaced my entire column with a salvage, so i'm not sure what would be involved in fixing one. Mine was so sloppy, the wires in the wheel were trashed. The rest of removal is pretty simple, remove the covers, disconnect the wires, drop the two bolts from under the dash, then remove the bolt from the universal and pull it out.

[BoiseStroker96]

Hey Thanks again! Looks like I'm gonna have to replace the whole thing as well. Steering wheel is shredded and I have wires torn as well. Should get interesting at least I know I'm not the first one this has happened to. I figured I would save a little money and do it myself so I can afford to keep driving her @4.15 a gallon.

[pipelayerjdh]

Originally Posted by BoiseStroker96

Hey Thanks again! Looks like I'm gonna have to replace the whole thing as well. Steering wheel is shredded and I have wires torn as well. Should get interesting at least I know I'm not the first one this has happened to. I figured I would save a little money and do it myself so I can afford to keep driving her @4.15 a gallon.

I deduced the problem with mine. The previous owner weighed probably 250+ and was every bit of 6' tall. He used the steering wheel to pull himself into the truck. I make sure I don't use the wheel when getting in, and have no play after 5 years.

[MacDougall]

Originally Posted by pipelayerjdh

I deduced the problem with mine. The previous owner weighed probably 250+ and was every bit of 6' tall. He used the steering wheel to pull himself into the truck. I make sure I don't use the wheel when getting in, and have no play after 5 years.

Well sounds like you just described me only im about 230 but im 6' and always use the steering wheel to pull my self in since it doesnt have any of the handles like the new ones. but now that i know what pulling my self in with the wheel will do i will stop doing that lol.

Sorry for sort of stealing your thread.