OT Warning to 88-91 fullsize Ford pickup owners

[kustomizer]

This may be the wrong place to put this but I think it is important

A friend had a pig valve put in his heart and was not released to drive his truck/camper on a big family trip, I drove him, and he had a release to drive home in 10 days. About 50 miles from home, in a gas station the steering quit working,( steering wheel would spin but the truck wouldn't turn ),this happened at about 1 mph thankfully. There is a hard plastic "ball" about 4 inches below steering wheel that allows the wheel to tilt, it is the "U"joint, and it broke. Ford had no recall, they don't have a replacement part or even a complete column, the parts guy suggested a wrecking yard. This is not to hammer on Ford, it is an old truck, although low milage ( under 100,000 ), it is in very good shape. I just wanted to warn some folks that have them do something about it before it fails, we made a bronze one. There was no warning, it was perfect, then it broke and had NO steering.

[Sundance]

Yikes! Glad he wasn't hurt and thanks for the tip.
You should make a few up and pop them on ebay?

[alpha6]

Found On Road Dead. :doh:

[kustomizer]

I think I would spend more time on the phone telling people how to put them in that they could be worth, and I would imagine the liability would be a big issue, I think I am out of the Ford steering parts business.

[MapMan]

Found On Road Dead. :doh:

And, I thought it was First On Race Day... ;) No, I don't own a Ford... nor recommend them.

MM

[Scrapfe]

And, I thought it was First On Race Day... ;) No, I don't own a Ford... nor recommend them.
MM

This is not a new phenomena on Ford cars and trucks. Look up Rag joints, or excessive steering slop. This has been part of the Henry brand for over 40 years. Not always to this degree. There is a possible solution. There was a recall on Ford F series steering columns 88-91 for a fire danger. You may be eligible for a New column if this was not addresses on you friends truck before.

Thanks, I always though it meant Fix Or Repair Daily.
Buy a Ford
It’s the best
Drive one mile
And push the rest

[kustomizer]

I think it is only on the "tilt" version and newer ones like my wifes expedition has a driveline looking ujoint way down by the floor and tilts from there.
I imagine Saginaw or somebody made these and they could be in a lot more trucks than I think. If you see one of these "hard plastic balls" you will really wonder what they were thinking.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee73/kustomizer1/11111.jpg

stock on the left, if I had one of these trucks it wouldn't move until it was fixed.

[NewBee2007]

:gh:

Well... We love our FORD's (currently an F350-dually and a Ranger) ... plus ....they are the only big 3 company not asking for a bailout at the moment! They must be doing something right, eh? :)

Also, vehicles are mechanical items and as they age more and more things will fail due to age and wear and tear... thank goodness nobody was hurt :thumbsup:

[NewBee2007]

I think it is only on the "tilt" version and newer ones like my wifes expedition has a driveline looking ujoint way down by the floor and tilts from there.
I imagine Saginaw or somebody made these and they could be in a lot more trucks than I think. If you see one of these "hard plastic balls" you will really wonder what they were thinking.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee73/kustomizer1/11111.jpg

stock on the left, if I had one of these trucks it wouldn't move until it was fixed.

I missed your picture and response before I sent my prior post... wow... what a difference between the two... no comparison... I'm sure it was most likely due to some cost analysis that showed a savings by using the plastic ball versus using something like what you compared it to.... again, something to be aware of!

[kustomizer]

I am not hammering on ford,( my bride drives an expedition ), someone like Saginaw ( they build stuff like this for lots of cars and trucks ) likely built this. I just think it was a huge mistake and in the wreck it would be hard to say if the plastic part broke in the wreck or caused it.
I only wish to have folks fix theirs before ther is a wreck.
I made on for my friend who will be using his truck for a ranch truck now and is getting a new truck to haul his trailer, brand yet to be determined.

[Ruben]

GM and many other akso used the same set up in the 80's and 90's. I have never seen one break how ever sometimes they will cause a clicking noise and need to be replaced. As with any plastic it becomes brittle over time when heat is applied so I am not shocked one would break.

[kustomizer]

Just an update, I gave one of those bronze balls to the son of the guy whose failed as he also has a 1991 f250, he changed his this weekend and his old one was made of a very tough, durable, nylon type of plastic, he had a hell of a time getting the old one cut out, you can smack it with a hammer and it won't break unlike the bakelite type of material found in the first one. So perhaps there were only a few of the brittle ones?