Loose steering wheel

[MarkV]

I have a 1995 Ranger Ext. Cab 4x4 automatic. Over the last several months my steering wheel has been loosening up to the point it feels like it may land in my lap. There is no significant play in the column itself. It's more concentrated in the steering wheel itself. I looked online for steering diagrams but I was unable to find anything that revealed anything that it may be.

My question is, are there a set of bearings located in or behind the steering wheel?

 

[adsm08]

Yes. The column passes through a bearing behind the dash. Can't think of where it is off the top of my head.

Pop the horn button off, be very careful if you have air bags, and make sure the nut is still tight. I'm not exactly sure about your truck, mine has a couple Philips-head screws holding it in. Your's may have 8 or 10 mm hex bolts, or even a torx.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Like he said, there should be a couple screws to remove the cover tehn there is one central nut that holds the wheel firmly in place, I have a hard time thinkin a steering wheel bearing might have gone bad but you never know.

 

[MarkV]

Thank you for the good information. I will be tackling this project this weekend. As soon as I am done I will post how it went.

Thanks again.

 

[v-8power]

If you unhook your battery for 10 minutes before you start, it will keep your airbag from going off.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Airbag shouldnt go off anyways, it requires a good jolt to the sensors, when he unscrews the cover there is a plug for the airbad that he can just unplugg. But the battery thing is not a bad idea anywyas.

 

[MarkV]

Airbag shouldnt go off anyways, it requires a good jolt to the sensors, when he unscrews the cover there is a plug for the airbad that he can just unplugg. But the battery thing is not a bad idea anywyas.

Thank you for the airbag tip. I would hate to go to work on Tuesday with two black eyes as a result of getting my face smashed in by an airbag.