Steering column upside down?!?

[CrazyLikeAFox]

Hello y'all! Quick steering column question. Would it be possible for someone to have previously installed the steering column in my 97 XLT, upside down? Or could I have done something that would make ot appear that way? I'm working on a "slight" rebuild on the front end of it and after installing and centering the new pitman arm and center link, BAM! Upside down steering wheel. I turned the steering wheel on direction, counted turns in the return trip, and came back half way. Upside down! Hmmm? Did it again a few more times, same results! Aaagh! I've got quite a bit of wabble in the steering (about 1.5 to 2 inches ish) at the wheel, so I've been looking at the "coupler?" under the hood/just past the firewall. Seems slightly loose, but not enough (in my opinion) to explain all of the slop. So now with this upside down steering, I'm wondering if there may be a connection. As always, any thoughts or ideas are appreciated!

 

[shane96ranger]

If your steering column was upside down, your key would be on the left side, turn signal on the right, etc.

 

[Mark_88]

Aside from what Shane said, it is actually pretty hard to do that on a Ranger because the bolts only go in one way...as in they are imbedded in the column in such a way that it would be impossible to flip the column over without reworking a whole bunch of stuff...mostly metal stuff...that would take a very talented and purposeful individual...

There is a coupler on a swivel just inside the firewall...on the outside there is simply a joint...unless someone has fitted a different style or they change things dramatically from 96 to 97...either could be possibles...

Slop can be caused by the tie rods and other steering components...like if someone swaps in a manual steering box from power steering like I did and ended up with a bit more slop...not to mention the steering wheel is now about 1/4 turn off from where it should be...

 

[CrazyLikeAFox]

Well, I got her fingered out! That "coupler"… to my best guess is a extension for the intermediate shaft. And (right it down!) I was wrong. That little bit of slop in it, did indeed travel further at the wheel. Also, when I disconnected it and gave the steering wheel an old 180°, then reconnected it, BING, BANG, BOOM! Right side up steering wheel! Yay! Thanks for the comments!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I think the "coupler" you mention is the rag joint.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

 

[Mark_88]

I think the "coupler" you mention is the rag joint.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

On the third gens they have a swivel joint just inside the firewall and the rag joint is actually down by the steering box...

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x399/akwarian8/Pickering-20140512-00654_zpsa17ee9c0.jpg



Not sure if he was referring to this one inside (which seems to go only one way if I recall)...and there is a joint where the end of the shaft with that swivel goes into a sleeve like joint and bolts in...and then the rag joint near where the end of the shaft goes over steering box shaft...

It is quite a bit more complicated than first generations...although not, to me, as nice because of all the noise...

 

[CrazyLikeAFox]

Like you said it comes through the firewall, into the engine compartment, and has a sleevelike connection. One flat piece slides into the intermediate column, and a bolt goes through the both of them. But then, on mine, there is an additional adapter/extension as well. I'm assuming for the lift kit? The JA I had do my steering gearbox, didn't do a very good job. He didn't have the pitman arm on correctly, it was about 1/4 turn ish off, and the the bolt holding it on wasn't tight enough to crush the lock washer. And then the whole, upside down steering wheel thing. LMAO! I'm completely convinced now, that I didn't even need the gear box. But I digress. After wrestling my way down in there and correcting and then tightening all of the connections, in those sleevelike joints, the improvement is insane.

 

[shane96ranger]

Glad to see you got her fixed!