is there anwhere I can get a column rebuild kit?

[wicked93gs]

I am looking to completely rebuild my steering column and want new bearings, seals, etc etc...blinker cam as well, I am trying to prep this column to connect to my steering rack and am having trouble finding all the pieces on the breakdown view my catalogs show....so I'm just wondering if anyone just sells a complete kit...as it is I will have to fabricate some kind of lower bearing support(since I am not using the steering box)

 

[2+2GT]

The 66 steering column had a rubber plug at the bottom, and a spring-loaded ball bearing at the top. The turn signal switch is widely available. However, if you are using a rack-and-pinion steering, this may be irrelevant.

 

[wicked93gs]

yes, using a mustang II/fox body rack, as it sits now the shaft is loose at the bottom of the column(after removing the box) however the breakdown diagram shows about 10 different parts

 

[2+2GT]

yes, using a mustang II/fox body rack, as it sits now the shaft is loose at the bottom of the column(after removing the box) however the breakdown diagram shows about 10 different parts

Well, the original shaft was part of the box, so I don't know what shaft you have now. The lower end of the column had a heavy rubber bushing centering the tube on the bearing end of the gearbox. With the gearbox gone, this won't work.

 

[wicked93gs]

I know, I have to fab up some type of bracket or brace to hold a bearing which will center the shaft(and you can remove the shaft from the box...its just a royal PITA) I'm more worried about all the little clips and springs and bearings and what not up top....

 

[2+2GT]

The shaft will go up the tube if not anchored at the gearbox end, even if you have a bearing at the bottom end.

 

[wicked93gs]

simple enough, weld a washer onto the shaft to retain it and possibly use ball bearings between the washer and a column tube "cap" to prevent metal on metal contact

edit: I was thinking when you said "up" you meant down...the shaft wont travel up at all, I already had it test fit together, its held by something on the upper end and wont travel past a certain point...I can see it going down though...which is what the washer/bearing/cap idea is for...although even thats not needed since by that point it would be retained by the steering wheel at the upper end

 

[wicked93gs]

I'm planning on using something like this for the lower bearing I'll need I guess

McMaster-Carr

and above that on the shaft I could weld a washer...and riding on that washer I could use this

http://www.mcmaster.com/#6655k19/=2lugmn


on the end of the tube I would weld a flange to attach the flanged bearing in the first link

 

[2+2GT]

What shaft are you using?

 

[wicked93gs]

the stock shaft

 

[2+2GT]

the stock shaft

Did you saw off the ball gear and bearing race at the bottom end?

 

[wicked93gs]

I will be, on a glance it looks like both the tube and the shaft will need to be cut a good 5 or 6 inches, possibly more, after cutting(and doing all the lower bearing stuff I plan on buying a couple 3/4" steering u-joints of of Ebay or somewhere to weld onto the shaft on one end and bolt to the rack at the other...then all I would need is a straight piece of 3/4" steel...if it will angle the way I want...I might possibly have to add a 3rd U-joint and stabilizing rod end in there somewhere, so the lower bearings I will be using, u-joints, shaft, rod ends, etc will all cost me roughly $200 if I do it this way, and I was wondering why Heidts charged $250 for the kit...its probably better for me to buy the kit and let them take care of all that...but I enjoy fabrication(and besides I'm not going to pay that for a kit that I cant see a picture of what all it contains)

no..the upper part of the column m exploded view says it contains...steering column wheel spring,sleeve, column tube bearing(which i may actually have) but thats all it lists, even though it shows other parts

 

[truck90278]

You may want to check with Randal's Rack. His kit comes wiyh a machined piece which goes into the lower end of the tube to support and center the stock steering shaft when cut off to use his R&P. seems to me I have seen an article regarding this modification in one of the magazines or possibly in Mustag Pluss's catalogue

 

[wicked93gs]

the problem is I really cant use a conventional rack and pinion kit because they are all rear steer....the MII kit is front steer, so if I got a rear steer kit, the intermediate shaft might not be long enough

 

[truck90278]

you can get whatever intermediate shaft you want as far as length goes. the main item needed is a support for the shaft at the bottom of the steering tube. Assuming from you earlier comments, that you are using your original shaft. You need to supporot yhe shafr in lthe column tube with some type of busing. Randal has a piece that does that is what I was referring to. You probably neef to mill (or file carefully) a DD end on the original shaft, then you can use a u-joint with a DD on one side with a spline on the other, then simply measure the length you need and cut to length the intermediate shaft. the intermediate shaft is splined on both ends, so with a splined u-joint on th R&P unit, you are all set. Check out Borgenson's web site they have all kinds of ujoints and intermediate shafts, including ujoints that have a vibration dampener built in.

 

[wicked93gs]

I can buy a smooth 3/4" ID u-joint that I can weld to the stock shaft....as for the column tube support thats what the flanged bearing from mcmaster carr would be used for...better than just a support(I assume that column support doesnt have a bearing built in...but its just an assumption since I havent seen any pictures)

 

[jswelborn]

I finished most of my steering this weekend, very easy, I will post pics tomorrow. Total cost $85.00 thanks Ebay!

 

[wicked93gs]

out of curiosity, did you use any of my ideas...let me know your setup from the column support to the rack

 

[jswelborn]

Sorry had to work late today... I will get pics up tomorrow. I did use some of the same ideas you had, email me and I will give you links to the parts I got.

 

[jswelborn]

I finished welding the steering components together today. The steering is very tight absolutely no slop at all. I had to weld the lower u-joint right to the 9/16 -26 coupler to get my angles right. Cant wait to drive it...