[Holyglockamoly]

What’s up everyone? I’ve got an 89w150 that I love and am going through the motions to restore the body and mechanical functions of the interior and doors.
Right now I’ve got

•steering column slips up and down

• passenger door stuck shut. Has opened 3 times by chance. Idk. I’ve locked it shut.

•passenger window needs re wired at switch

I’ve got a botched Cummins 4bt nv4500 project that I’m considering putting in there so I’m not doing anything to the motor just yet. Brand new transfer Case and trans. Motor runs great. It’s my most reliable rig by far

I really want the steering to be tits because I can’t let anyone else drive it until then. And it pops out of gear in a bad way.

today I got all the way down to the tilt knuckle and realized that the bolts don’t seem to be loose. I seem to be missing a spacer or bearing of some sort. To space the shaft from the column behind the ptfe round tilt u joint. Hopefully the pictures help.

 

[volaredon]

Common issue with the steering column. There's 4 screws in there that like to loosen up over the years, used to fix a lot of those. No parts need replaced just pull it apart and put a drop or 2 of loctite blue on each one. You'll need a couple of special tools, auto zone or o'wrongleys should have them in their loan a tool programs. The only thing you probably will have to buy is an external torx socket to fit those screws that are so notorious for loosening.

 

[Holyglockamoly]

Common issue with the steering column. There's 4 screws in there that like to loosen up over the years, used to fix a lot of those. No parts need replaced just pull it apart and put a drop or 2 of loctite blue on each one. You'll need a couple of special tools, auto zone or o'wrongleys should have them in their loan a tool programs. The only thing you probably will have to buy is an external torx socket to fit those screws that are so notorious for loosening.

You know, I got all the way down there and realized that it wasn’t the common loose bolts problem. There’s prices missing. I’m guessing there was some sort of spacer that goes around the shaft. I pulled the bolts and tightened them but they weren’t loose. Same slop still exists but now I get nothing from the key. Put it back together and got absolutely nothing. I placed the little copper commutator right but idk. I’m so at a loss. I’ve got $10 to my name and need to sell this truck in order to eat and save all my bills from going to collections.

 

[Holyglockamoly]

the two copper prices there are placed back the same as I took them out. Idk. I’m fkd.

 

[Canadian country boy]

I don't know if this is legible or not but maybe this can help until DODGEBOYS reads this. He can give you a diagram.

 

[Holyglockamoly]

I don't know if this is legible or not but maybe this can help until DODGEBOYS reads this. He can give you a diagram. View attachment 637448

Thank you! I think I’m missing 19. When I got all the way to the bolts at the tilt elbow and tightened them the shaft was still loose and slapping around. Some sort of bushing or spacer sleeve is missing from the assembly. Now I’m just looking for a new column. I may send mine to steeringcolumnservices.com we’ll see. Checking junk yards too. I need to fix it because I have to sell the thing or continue starving.

 

[DODGEBOYS]

Thank you! I think I’m missing 19.

yup # 19 is the upper and lower bearings that hold the top shaft solid

 

[Holyglockamoly]

yup # 19 is the upper and lower bearings that hold the top shaft solid

I found it! I tore down the whole column and and all the way down past the knuckle the top of the column housing was sheered off. That part is where the plate that the 4 bolts at the base of the column tilt assembly screw into. A local guy helped tear it down and weld it. I reinstalled it today. Everything works but I don’t need my key anymore.

 

[Holyglockamoly]

Common issue with the steering column. There's 4 screws in there that like to loosen up over the years, used to fix a lot of those. No parts need replaced just pull it apart and put a drop or 2 of loctite blue on each one. You'll need a couple of special tools, auto zone or o'wrongleys should have them in their loan a tool programs. The only thing you probably will have to buy is an external torx socket to fit those screws that are so notorious for loosening.

The issue turned out to be the column below those 4 bolts. The place on the column where those bolts register into a plate was sheered off clean. Welded it back together and she’s tight as new. Fucked up the reinstall a bit but it’s all more or less good.

 

[volaredon]

Huh never seen that //
but back in the late 80s/early 90s, when I worked at the dodge dealer, I lost count how many of those columns I had to dismantle just to loctite those 4 bolts and reassemble. Think they charged like 3.5 hours per (no parts) and the job took about 1/2 of that or a little less.

 

[Holyglockamoly]

Got’r did