The bearings have gone out in my steering wheel I believe. I can get both the upper & lower bearings today. My question is, how do I acquire the bearing puller? Would auto zone have it? How would I go about pressing it on?
Steering wheel bearing
- Thread starter d7es3l
- Start date
kadeninabnitt
New member
they aren't press on at least mine weren't the only pita was pulling the steering wheel had to use a 2 jaw puller since there wasn't bolt holes for a regular steering wheel puller and the spring and c clip are a pain as well i had to use a big socket and a longer bolt to compress the spring back down changed the bearings once got a steering column the second time much easier
Gotcha. Well, I lucked out by not having to remove the air bag! It's already out. I can just pull the instrument part of the steering wheel & there is a single bolt in there. Is that all I have to remove to get to it? Does the c-clip go on the spring? Thanks for the info.
kadeninabnitt
New member
you have to completly remove the wheel its been a while but right behind the wheel is your connection for the horn cruise and bag on mine it is a copper circle that pins ont the wheel ride on for the connection remove that then remove your turn signal assembly its a couple torx screws i believe then comes the spring it is held in by the c clip remove clip remove spring then i think its acouple washers then bearings they sit in an aluminum housing on the column i believe you have to take the tilt mech apart to be able to remove both bearings its been about 3 years since i had mine apart so i may be off on a few things
Wow. Seems like a real pita... I will have to take a look at it soon. Thanks for the info!
superduty4x4
Member
A word of advice... I recently replaced the bearings in my column because they failed. I spent almost $100 for all the parts needed (since Ford only sells one of the parts in a kit that costs $60 or so) and I could have bought a used column from the wrecking yard for $20...
kadeninabnitt
New member
Price must have went up I don't think I spent more than 40 bucks on bearings
superduty4x4
Member
It wasn't the bearings that bit me in the azz, it was the stupid little conical piece of crap that gets chewed up when the upper bearing fails.
JCart
Member
The hardest thing for me was getting the tilt spring back in I finally compressed it in a vise and used stainless wire to keep it compressed once in snipped wire. I have a how to article in sig link, look in mechanical mod folder steering wheel R&R.
jrc
jrc
Right on! Will do, I am also going to take a trip to the junkyard this weekend & see what I can find.
JCart
Member
It's not that hard of job it just looks challenging. My concern with wrecking yard column you'll be faced with the same thing unless you can find a low mileage one. Then again any excuse to head to the wreckers is awesome.... Hahaaaa
jrc
jrc
That's right! Ha. I haven't been there in a while anyway. Might as well go see what I can scavenge!!
superduty4x4
Member
Agreed, that spring was a freakin' pain! I compressed it in a vice and used zip ties to keep it compressed until I wiggled it into place... similar to what you did just not as high class!
7.3psd97444
New member
Just a little information for the op and anyone else.
Ford rebuild kit
PN- F6AZ-3605-AA
-steel tolerance ring
-steel sleeve
-bearing prelaod spring
-upper bearing snapring
-NEW steering wheel attaching bolt(old can be reused if good)
-small upper bearing
-large upper bearing
-****ty instructions.
Cost me $98 from Ford and they will most likely have a hard time understanding what you asking for and getting it, as that part number comes up for a Ford freestar or something like that.
Took me about an hour and a half to do. Woulda been shorter if the steering wheel itself hadnt been such a pain to pop off. Other then that not to bad of a job. Not for a beginner though and you definately need to be at least mechanically inclined.
Ford rebuild kit
PN- F6AZ-3605-AA
-steel tolerance ring
-steel sleeve
-bearing prelaod spring
-upper bearing snapring
-NEW steering wheel attaching bolt(old can be reused if good)
-small upper bearing
-large upper bearing
-****ty instructions.
Cost me $98 from Ford and they will most likely have a hard time understanding what you asking for and getting it, as that part number comes up for a Ford freestar or something like that.
Took me about an hour and a half to do. Woulda been shorter if the steering wheel itself hadnt been such a pain to pop off. Other then that not to bad of a job. Not for a beginner though and you definately need to be at least mechanically inclined.
superduty4x4
Member
I feel your pain... it's dang near impossible to get any kind of a puller on there to get the wheel off.
7.3psd97444
New member
EXACLY. Went through 3 different pullers trying to get it off. All of which could get a bite, but it'd be to crooked and slip or something goofy. If you had a puller that simple just fit, it'd be ten times easier.
superduty4x4
Member
How I removed it the first time, easiest way I have found too...
Loosen steering wheel bolt so that just a few threads are engaged
remove column from truck
put a socket and extension on the steering wheel bolt
whack the end of the extension with a good size hammer while supporting the wheel on your work bench or other solid surface
JCart
Member
On mine I undid the steering wheel bolt a few turns so the nut was visibly loose. Next with the palm of my hand hit the steering wheel where the spokes meet the outer ring....smack on left side then alternate to right side, after a few hits it came loose. I know I tried to get a puller to fit, but couldn't find one and in a fit of disgust I tried the above and has worked on both my trucks. I also (prior to removal) repainted the small yellow dot on the steering shaft and wheel so re-alignment on install will match original set up and wheel will be straight.
jrc
jrc
7.3psd97444
New member
I wish mine woulda been that easy to take off. I debated hooking a chain to it and yanking it out with another truck LOL
...not really, but thats how frusterating it was
