Tilt Steering Binding - Need some help

[1990RangerinSK]

OK, I took it for a ride thru the neighborhood and to get some gas. It's definitely not right, it literally feels "sticky". It will come back from a hard left or right but will not center. It's not free enough to do that.

What's odd is that loosening the four bolts does not to resolve the binding. And, if I turn the wheel in small amounts, the plastic shroud that surrounds the tilt mechanism also moves. I have no idea how to remove that shroud so I can't see the tilt mechanism to determine if that's the issue.

How does it move? does it move as though the steering column is bumping it from inside? We might have found the problem. Something (unknown, mysterious!) happened to the tilt joint. You might be able to test by tilting the wheel so that the column is perfectly straight. At that point, is the steering still abnormally stiff?

 

[Uncle Gump]

I would probably separate the intermediate shaft from the steering column to isolate it. Then see if there is any binding just in the column.

I'm not super familiar with Ford tilt columns... but if it was apart at some point and didn't get properly assembled it could cause issue.

While it is separated... put the front of truck on stands and grab a wheel/tire and go stop to stop to see if something in the steering is causing a bind.

 

[Bronco648]

How does it move? does it move as though the steering column is bumping it from inside? We might have found the problem. Something (unknown, mysterious!) happened to the tilt joint. You might be able to test by tilting the wheel so that the column is perfectly straight. At that point, is the steering still abnormally stiff?

That shroud moves just a little but, yes, it seems as if something in the tilt mechanism might be at fault here. That said, the more I drive it the better and better it feels.

I would probably separate the intermediate shaft from the steering column to isolate it. Then see if there is any binding just in the column.

I'm not super familiar with Ford tilt columns... but if it was apart at some point and didn't get properly assembled it could cause issue.

While it is separated... put the front of truck on stands and grab a wheel/tire and go stop to stop to see if something in the steering is causing a bind.

With the wheels/tires off the ground, it's easier to turn the steering wheel. So, some of it has to do with it being a manual steering box. But, yes, disconnecting the intermediate shaft and moving the tires lock-to-lock would isolate the problem.

I have not messed with the column other than to replace the ignition switch (which I did months ago) and to try and tighten the steering wheel bolts. I have a three day weekend coming up and can mess with it then.

 

[Bronco648]

a random guess from afar would be the need for shims????

Shims to go where?

 

[Bronco648]

I think I know what's going one here; there's an aluminum casting pressed onto the end of the steering shaft. Three small 12mm bolts go into this casting while the main bolt (15mm), threads into the steering shaft itself (and is torqued). When the hub for the steering wheel and the sheet metal shroud (to hide the aluminum casting) are torqued in-place, the aluminum casting is pushed down the steering shaft and into the tilt mechanism which then binds that joint. I need something like a split lock-washer (without the split) to fit inside the hub but allow the 15mm bolt threads to pass thru (and into the steering shaft). It needs to be the same thickness as the hub. That way when the hub is torqued down, the main bolt doesn't force the aluminum casting down the steering shaft and into the tilt joint. I'm wiling to bet that the steering wheel came with this spacer and it was lost in the transition/move.