Steering Shaft Separation

[Machspeed]

Anyone know how to separate a steering shaft on an 86 F150? I have a 91 model shaft and it just slides apart, not this guy. It slides but just won't pull apart. I want to salvage the plastic shield that covers the rag joint. Or, would that shield still be available???

[Gary Lewis]

This shield?




It came off like this.  Yours if you'll come and get it.  

[Machspeed]

That appears to be a bit different than mine, Gary.  I fear that if I try to open it up to clear either end, I'll break it. Surely the shaft can be separated.  

[Gary Lewis]

Mine has what looks to be a tab that retains it.  But I've not been able to get it apart even trying to depress the tab.

[Machspeed]

Yes, I tried to depress that tab too and it did nothing. The only thing I did not do was try and push the tab inside the tube further. I'd be out there doing that now but heading out to Stillwater for family stuff. Thanks for trying, Gary!  

[Gary Lewis]

Have a safe trip.  

[Rembrant]

I remember this job very well since it was one of those times where I turned a thumbnail black lol. If you know how painful that is, then you know why I remember the exact job I was doing when it happened.

If you remove the rag joint, you can get down in there with a long drift or a long punch, and hammer it out. It's still a bear to remove if it's rusted and seized in place, but it will come out.

[Gary Lewis]

Knowing John is galavanting for the evening I'll ask - hammer what out?  That thing in my pic?  Which way do you hammer it?

[grumpin]

I believe Cory means through or inside the shaft with a long punch etc.

[Gary Lewis]

I thought so, but wasn’t sure. Thanks, Dane.

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

Knowing John is galavanting for the evening I'll ask - hammer what out?  That thing in my pic?  Which way do you hammer it?

Ya, I meant hammering the two steering shaft sections apart. They get seized together something awful. There's a flat metal spring in there that breaks, and causes the shaft sections to become sloppy. I've tried making new pieces for the spring material, but never did have great luck with them. On my '84, I ended up welding a couple nuts on the steering shaft tube and then used a couple set screws to keep them tight. It worked like a charm.

I've taken several of those steering shafts apart, and I found two of them with that spring metal in about 3-4 pieces inside, completely busted up.

[Gary Lewis]

Thanks, Cory.  Mine sure isn't busted up.  That spring is keeping things very tight.  Initially it didn't even want to slide but I lubed it and got it to slide, hoping that I could slide it fast enough for it to come apart.  No dice.

So, does that spring lock it in?  Or is it maybe possible to use an impact hammer to jerk it apart?  I learned on the D44 for Dad's truck to put it on a tire dolly, chain one side to the lift, and roll it rapidly across the floor.  When the slack came out it came apart.

[mat in tn]

 I believe there is also a thin plastic bushing between the two shafts. it may be wedging in against the spring. I know the later ones had this.

[Machspeed]

Mine slides easily but comes to a positive stop at the end. I can move it in and out but just cannot get it apart. There is something keeping it from coming out. The 91 shaft comes apart without issue. Always something to slow down progress.

[mat in tn]

in the picture close up it kind of looks to be crimped at the end of the tube