I am new here, and am trying to clean up some slop in my steering. I have taken apart my 67 tilt column, and most of the play is coming from the U-joint at the tilt location. WCCC has talked about this being a problem in some of their videos, but I can’t find any solutions online to repair or replace this. Anybody have any info?
Not knowing how far you have taken apart your column, I will start with - the skin is off and are looking at the shaft and knuckles.
To take apart the knuckles I work with the upper pivot pins as it gives you the most room, if you need to drive the pivot pins out.
The pivot pins have an internal thread of 6/32. The ford tools to remove the pins are long gone. Snap on sells a tool but it is for 1970 and later.
The pin is going to be very difficult to get out. Be creative.
If you cannot remove them or the bolt breaks in them, grind the heads off and push the pin in far enough to move the upper part of the knuckle but do not drive all the way through. On the other side grind the head and push the pin far enough to remove the upper knuckle.
Now you have access to the u-joint.
The u-joint is a 7/16 bolt and nut. Use a ground down crows foot or screw driver blade to hold the head of the bolt in place as you use a 7/16 socket or wrench on the nut. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN. Turn a 1/16th of a turn or less until you get both yokes on the u-joint to tighten. Should move with little force. To over tighten, you will spring one of the yokes and your nightmare begins!
The factory shop manual has some good drawings of disassembly and reassembly of the tilt column. Take it apart, it’s not too bad compared to removing or replacing the turn signal switch. Of course the column needs to be out of the car for easiest repair. Again the shop manual is your friend.
Vey grateful for this information. Thank you so much. That is exactly the stage I’m at, and I’ll dive in to this pivot pin removal and go from there…
I’ll get my hands on a shop manual. Thanks!
Success!
Getting the pins back in seem to be my next challenge… I just tried tapping them in with a small hammer, and want to be gentle, but they are still sticking out 1/4" and don’t want to budge.
Any quick thoughts?
If you have not, ensure the bearings are in place in upper flange and on the shaft. cut off a 1 1/4 inch section of pvc or metal pipe. Put spring , section of pipe and nut on the shaft. This will hold the bearings in place as you work on your column. The shaft does not have a grove for a snap ring and the bearings will slip off the shaft. I know people think this is not needed but when you tear down the column to put the bearing back in place You will not like yourself.
The pins are press fit. The pin slides through the pot metal real easy because it is worn. The inner steel part of the knuckle is steel and does not wear.
You might consider checking the slop between the pin and the pot metal. If you have a lot of slop, peen at 90 degrees around the hole to tighten up.
Then use a C clamp or vise or press to force the pin in.