56 ford fairlane Removing the steering column?
- Thread starter mikhett
- Start date
by rag joint if you mean where it seperates from the steering box it doesn't.the shaft is part of the box and doesn't come out.the column slides of the shaft.first take of the wheel and unhook whatever you need to.its been awile since I took one out someone will come on with whatever I missed.
rick55
Senior Member
Be careful when removing the wheel that you dont push on the horn wire when using a puller. it is best to back the nut off a few turns and use a puller which allows you to put the pressure on the nut. you can do this by winding the nut out til it a thread or so proud of the centre and slip a 1/4" plate on top and tighten the puller down onto this.
Once you remove the steering wheel, there is a bolt on a clamp on the bottom of the column which you need to loosen. You will need to disconnect the gear linkages and neutral starter switch if it is auto. Disconnect the wiring to the indicators and remove the c clips holding the covers for the wiring coming up the column, remove the plate on the dash which surrounds the column being careful if it is auto. Then lastly, remove the two bolts which go through from the bottom of the column which support and locate the column to the dash. These can be a pita if the the nuts are loose on the too as you will need to hold a spanner on them.
Once you have the column out it is easy to disassemble it for painting.
I think that is all the steps involved.
Once you remove the steering wheel, there is a bolt on a clamp on the bottom of the column which you need to loosen. You will need to disconnect the gear linkages and neutral starter switch if it is auto. Disconnect the wiring to the indicators and remove the c clips holding the covers for the wiring coming up the column, remove the plate on the dash which surrounds the column being careful if it is auto. Then lastly, remove the two bolts which go through from the bottom of the column which support and locate the column to the dash. These can be a pita if the the nuts are loose on the too as you will need to hold a spanner on them.
Once you have the column out it is easy to disassemble it for painting.
I think that is all the steps involved.
Daves55Sedan
Well-known member
Unhook all turn signal wires at the junction block under the dash
Disconnect the horn wire at the base of the steering gearbox
Loosen collar bolt & nut at base of steering column where it meets with the gearbox. Detach the gear select lever from the mechanism at the base of the steering column.
Disconnect all wires at the starter neutral switch at base of the column.
Remove all the little sheet metal screws at the panels surrounding the column on the firewall. Half the screws are removed from under the dash, the other half removed from under the hood.
Push down and turn counterclockwise on the horn button and release to remove horn ring.
Loosen the nut that holds the steering wheel down. Back the nut off a couple turns but leave it engaged enough for the threads to have some meat to push against. Remove the wheel with a steering wheel puller. I always place a peice of 1/4" bar stock between the top of the wheel nut and the puller bolt so that the wheel nut does not become damaged by the puller bolt. After turning the wheel bolt in the puller, the wheel will pop off the shaft but be retained by the large nut that was loosened. Now just remove your puller and then remove the large nut by hand to remove the steering wheel.
Remove the Ford-o-matic indicator from the clamp at the bottom of the dashboard. Remove the two phillips head screws thru the clamp that hold the column to the bottom of the dashboard.
Now you are ready to pull the column up thru from inside the car. After pulling upwards when the column becomes dis-engaged from the gearbox, turn the column ninety degrees counterclockwise so that the starter neutral switch bracket will clear the hole in the firewall without hitting it. After directing the end of the column thru the whole, carefully rotate the column till it is upside down while pulling out so that the neutral switch bracket doesn't get hung up on the bottom of the dashboard. After that clears, you can pull it all the way out of the shaft.
Disconnect the horn wire at the base of the steering gearbox
Loosen collar bolt & nut at base of steering column where it meets with the gearbox. Detach the gear select lever from the mechanism at the base of the steering column.
Disconnect all wires at the starter neutral switch at base of the column.
Remove all the little sheet metal screws at the panels surrounding the column on the firewall. Half the screws are removed from under the dash, the other half removed from under the hood.
Push down and turn counterclockwise on the horn button and release to remove horn ring.
Loosen the nut that holds the steering wheel down. Back the nut off a couple turns but leave it engaged enough for the threads to have some meat to push against. Remove the wheel with a steering wheel puller. I always place a peice of 1/4" bar stock between the top of the wheel nut and the puller bolt so that the wheel nut does not become damaged by the puller bolt. After turning the wheel bolt in the puller, the wheel will pop off the shaft but be retained by the large nut that was loosened. Now just remove your puller and then remove the large nut by hand to remove the steering wheel.
Remove the Ford-o-matic indicator from the clamp at the bottom of the dashboard. Remove the two phillips head screws thru the clamp that hold the column to the bottom of the dashboard.
Now you are ready to pull the column up thru from inside the car. After pulling upwards when the column becomes dis-engaged from the gearbox, turn the column ninety degrees counterclockwise so that the starter neutral switch bracket will clear the hole in the firewall without hitting it. After directing the end of the column thru the whole, carefully rotate the column till it is upside down while pulling out so that the neutral switch bracket doesn't get hung up on the bottom of the dashboard. After that clears, you can pull it all the way out of the shaft.