Steering column bushing

Cool Hand Lurker

Cool Hand Lurker

Well-known member
I have a 1959 Ford F100 and want to put in a 60's Fairlane steering column. The bottom end of the column has no bushing or seal on it now and the shaft can flop around within the surrounding tube. I don't know exactly what should be in the gap between the steering shaft and the surrounding tube. Bushing, needle bearing, spacer, seal, cap, etc. so I need some ideas. The photo shows the area that needs help.
 

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  • Fairlane column bushing.jpg
    Fairlane column bushing.jpg
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take the rag joint off and measure the shaft O.D. and tube I.D. and go to a hardware store. I've matched bearings ( flange on one side) that way. It may be a common size . worth a try. On our '41, I shortened the shaft because of a different steering box and made a bushing from moly impregnated nylon 6/6. it lasted 25 yrs. got nylon stock from McMaster-Carr supply.
 
fordor41 said:
take the rag joint off and measure the shaft O.D. and tube I.D. and go to a hardware store. I've matched bearings ( flange on one side) that way. It may be a common size . worth a try. On our '41, I shortened the shaft because of a different steering box and made a bushing from moly impregnated nylon 6/6. it lasted 25 yrs. got nylon stock from McMaster-Carr supply.
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Good idea. I looked at the drawings online and there were a lot of variations like bushing/bearing/needle bearing/dust cover depending on the year and model but I don't know for sure what year it is. I do have a bunch of misc bearings in a box somewhere so maybe I can find one, flanged and sealed if I am lucky!
 
Cool Hand Lurker said:
I believe it is 1967.
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Are you going to keep the shift tube?

Below is an ILL of both M/S and P/S. Yours has a coupling so it is out of an AUTO PS car. The bushing was discontinued but the chart shows you how to make a replacement.
 

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  • STEER SHAFT CPLG - 1966-67 FL - MPC ILL.jpg
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  • STEER SHAFT BUSH (3B631) MPC TXT.jpg
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I have found that I cannot use the 60's Fairlane column that I have. It must be out of an older vehicle because the gear position indicator on the column only has "Drive" and "1" positions. My engine is a 302V8 with a C6 three-speed transmission out of a later model pickup. I will have to look for a later model column that can be used on a three-speed.
What is in the truck now is a Chevy column from a floor-shift pickup and a Pinto shifter. That will be 'leaving the building' shortly.
Thanks for all the help.
 
Since I can't use the Fairlane steering column does anybody know if the the horn contact assembly in the Fairlane interchange with the contact assembly in the Chevy column? I do want to still keep the Ford Fairlane steering wheel if possible.


Or do I just keep looking for a Ford column that works?
 
5851a said:
Do you have a picture of the wheel and column?
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Thanks for your reply, but I have found a Ford column with P R N D 2 1 that hopefully will drop right in. Sometimes I do realize that paying the price is wiser than going through all the work to modify something cheaper to fit. :rolleyes:
 
I shortened the column on my 55 sedan. I measured the shaft diameter, then bought two collars and a bushing from McMasters. I bought the brass bushing the OD of the column, drilled and tapped in two places to hold it, then greased it well and tightened the collars to .006 clearance. It worked great.
 
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