Steering Column Bearings?

[harriw]

Hey folks,

'94 4x4, ext. cab with 4.0 and 5 spd. I've been fighting a steering problem for a while now. Steering gets very stiff, and squeaks/groans badly. Has been very intermittent. I initially thought I was losing power assist, as my power steering hoses were rusted through to the point they were seeping fluid. I replaced the lines and have bled the system many times, but still have the same problem. I also just greased the tie-rod ends, balljoints, etc, which didn't help. Both balljoints and tie-rod ends seem fine - no wiggle there at all. I did find that my wheel bearings are a tad loose (manual hubs - spindle nuts must have backed off. I have about 1/16" of play at the top of the wheel), but I don't think this would cause stiff steering - just poor control?

Anyway, the noise/resistance DEFINITELY sounds (and sort of feels) like it's coming from the steering column itself, inside the cab rather than from the front suspension. I can also hear it with everything off and parked while just jiggling the wheel back and forth a bit (or by grabbing and turning slightly the shaft from the engine bay). So I'm thinking the bearings on my steering column are shot, or at least need re-packing.

Has anyone seen this happen before? Could that really cause stiff steering? I would think that the power assist would easily overcome that? 171k miles FWIW. Removing the steering wheel and the upper and lower plastic covers is pretty straight forward, but how do I get the steering shaft out of it's "tube," and get at the bearings at each end? Are these bearings readily available? Or will I be forced to do what I can with the existing ones? My rag-joints in the engine bay have seen better days too - could warn rag joints (worn rubber disk) cause these symptoms, and would it sound like it's coming from inside the cab?

One other thing - after looking closely I think this must be by design, but I've noticed while bleeding that the steering wheel is not perfectly centered on the shaft - if you watch the top of the wheel as you spin it from lock to lock, the height of the wheel moves up and down roughly 1/2" or so. Can anyone confirm that this is normal?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

-Bill

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

your column may be bent because my 94 doesnt have an offset wheel. ive never torn down a steering column to get at the bearings but im sure once you get it out and strip it down you should be able to see what needs to be done. is yours a tilt wheel or a fixed column?

 

[harriw]

It's a fixed, not tilt. If it's bent that would certainly explain it... Maybe I"ll jack the front up and see if I can see the shaft moving along with the wheel.

Has anyone pulled the shaft out before? I'm not sure how to go about it once I've got the wheel off. I can't even find any diagrams or anything. The LMC catalog has a blow-up, but it doesn't show all the parts - just the half-dozen or so they stock.

Thanks!

-Bill H

 

[explodan]

i just swapped my non tilt column to a tilt column out of a 93 explorer. my truck is a 5spd the explorer is auto. to make both columns work when i was done i had to take them both completely apart an swap some of the parts around. fortunately, its not to bad once you get the column out of the truck. first undo the steering shaft under the hood, then remove then trim under the column, then remove the 5 10mm bolts that hold the plate at the base of the column at the firewall. you may have to move the insulator to get to them. after that all you have to do is remove the 2 15mm bolts the hold the column to the bottom of the dash. once you unplug all the connectors, just lift the whole asm out of the truck. once you get it out just look at it carefully, and it should be real simple to tear it down from there. if you need any more help let me know.

ps do not forget to put the white plastic washer back in or your horn will not shut off

good luck dan

 

[harriw]

sweet - that's just what I was looking for.

Where did you disconnect the steering shaft inside the engine bay? Looks like there's a pinch-bolt of sorts just above that first rag-joint - is that where you disconnected it?

Not sure when I'll get around to pulling it out - certainly not today (gonna be busy with the wife and kids doing halloweeny stuff), but I'll let you know how it goes!

Thanks again!

-Bill

 

[explodan]

i disconnected mine right at the bottom of the column. there is a pinch bolt there also.

ps no problem

 

[harriw]

Well, I pulled the covers off real quick and watched the shaft just underneath the wheel while turning the wheel. The shaft looks like it's staying in the same place while the wheel spins around it. Maybe my wheel is squished a bit so it's not perfectly round....

I'll definitely pull out the column though, and at minimum clean and re-pack those bearings.

Thanks.

-Bill