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Jim's Lower Steering Shaft Q&A

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Gary Lewis

Re: Jim's Lower Steering Shaft Q&A

Administrator

I anticipated some confusion. So maybe I need to make bold what the MPC says and underline what I said?

"3524 is Shaft assy, (steering column), meaning the lower shaft in the steering column."

Does that help?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

ArdWrknTrk

Re: Jim's Lower Steering Shaft Q&A

Administrator

To me the lower shaft of the steering column is what we're talking about.

If it's the NOT hinged part -above the double D joint- that penetrates the firewall I think it's not worth mentioning. (but thanks for clarifying)

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

Gary Lewis

Re: Jim's Lower Steering Shaft Q&A

Administrator

I think you are right. I'm not sure where I came up with "lower shaft in the steering column". There are actually two shafts in the tilt columns, but they are both part of 3524 and don't appear to be available separately.

Given that I've changed the wording to '3524 is "Shaft assy, (steering column)", meaning the upper shaft, the one in the steering column.' Does that work? Is it still messy? Suggestions?

And, I've updated the page a bunch of different ways, so please take a look. I'd like to get this nailed down and move on.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: Jim's Lower Steering Shaft Q&A

Administrator

One OTHER problem that causes steering slop is what Cory mentioned.
The metal leaf springs (shims) in the telescoping section can break and rattle around.

Otherwise, I think you're good!

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

Gary Lewis

Re: Jim's Lower Steering Shaft Q&A

Administrator

Good catch. I'll add something about that and use this pic:

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Gary Lewis

Re: Jim's Lower Steering Shaft Q&A

Administrator

Ok, unless someone finds something else I think I'm done. I've added the bit about the spring as well as included it on the parts number page.

And, speaking of part numbers, I added the entries for the Broncos. What do you see here?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Ifitaintbroke

Re: Jim's Lower Steering Shaft Q&A

One point of clarification, maybe it's there and I missed it, but the shaft Jim used: is it from an F250/350? Pretty sure the F150's of that vintage would be different.

Bradley
86 f250 supercab longbed, 4x4, 460 bored to 472 cubes, ported heads, ARP rod bolts, EFI pistons, 5.08/5.41 lift 114° lobe separation flat tappet cam, notched lifters, Smith Brothers pushrods, stock rockers, Eddy Performer intake, Holley 1850 or 3310 depending on mood, custom curved points dizzy, MSD analog 6al triggered by Pertronix module, zf5 swap, 3g alternator, custom instrument cluster, dual tanks with 38 Gal rear for 57 Gal of fuel capacity, far too much more to mention.

98 Ranger standard cab, rwd, 5-speed, 2.5L, glass pack muffler, dual plugs wired to fire at the same time, coming up on 300,000 miles before too long.

Averaging 26-27 mpg.

South Georgia.

ArdWrknTrk

Re: Jim's Lower Steering Shaft Q&A

Administrator

It's a 2009-14 F-150.

I posted a page and Gary put up a bunch of numbers from Dorman ect...

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

Gary Lewis

Re: Jim's Lower Steering Shaft Q&A

Administrator

In reply to this post by Ifitaintbroke

Rock Auto says this one fits a 2009 F150. That's the year & model he said he bought for, and those are the part numbers I'm giving on that page.

It looks to me like the one that Jim used, but I'll let him respond to that.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

taskswap

Re: Jim's Lower Steering Shaft Q&A

If anybody wants a guinea pig to try something from a vendor/eBay source/etc for fit, I'm about to rebuild my '81's steering. Main goal is a steering box rebuild but I figured I'd replace the shaft while I had it apart. I don't mind buying something that doesn't work out / can't be confirmed if it helps the cause to confirm that.

--
1981 F-250 Custom. 6.6L V8, 4 barrel Holley carb, ARA aftermarket A/C.

ArdWrknTrk

Re: Jim's Lower Steering Shaft Q&A

Administrator

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

This shaft does look like the one I used.

I know it worked for me.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

Gary Lewis

Re: Jim's Lower Steering Shaft Q&A

Administrator

In reply to this post by taskswap

Please take lots of pics and post them. Like where you cut parts off, where you weld them on, how you get the phasing right, etc. We can add to the page.

Good luck!

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Gary Lewis

Re: Jim's Lower Steering Shaft Q&A

Administrator

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Gary Lewis wrote

And, speaking of part numbers, I added the entries for the Broncos. What do you see here?

Ok, y'all missed it. The catalog told us that the later E8TZ 3B676-A shaft would fit our trucks. We just didn't look at where they hid it - in the Bronco section.

But they don't say it'll work for the 80 and 81 trucks, although I can't see why not. The steering box is the same and I put an '81 column in Big Blue and it hooked up to the Borgeson shaft just fine, so...

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

BigBrother-84

Re: Jim's Lower Steering Shaft Q&A

Gary Lewis wrote

The catalog told us that the later E8TZ 3B676-A shaft would fit our trucks.

Gary, when I replaced Big Bro's lower shaft, the NOS part came in its original box.

On the picts:
• The original joints zoomed
• The original and replacement shafts
• The Ford box with the part number of the NOS:

Jeff / 1984 F350 Crew Cab 4x4/5.8L w351 4V/ T18/ D50 4.10 front/ 8' bed.
Restored 2019-2022.
Nicknamed «Big Brother 1984», due to its soooo-looong shape & nod to George Orwell's 1984 famous novel.

Gary Lewis

Re: Jim's Lower Steering Shaft Q&A

Administrator

Yep, that's exactly what I expected. The boot is split on the original one and I'll bet the rag joint was loose.

And the box for the new one says "E8TZ 3B676-A", which is the Bricknose one and is what I recommend we use - unless you have deep pockets and want to buy a Borgeson, or want to create your own like Jim did.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile