1969 FORD MUSTANG steering

SPRING-3D655

RELEASE-3D544
BRACKET-3678

UPPER CLAMP-3506

WIRE RETAINING CLIP-13377

SPRING-3520 COVER-3D505

TURN SIGNAL SWITCH-13341

TURN SIGNAL AND TILT

CONTROL LEVER-13305

FLEX COUPLING-3A525

BEARING-7347

INSULATOR-7C102

SEAL-3E629

BEARING-3576

G1539-A

flG.
14—Steering
Column Installation—Thwderibird cmd Corrttnettfd Markprocarmanuals.com

STEERING WHEEL-3600

STEERING SHAFT-3525

LOWER CLAMP

3668

CENTERING WASHER-3C708

G1542-A

:/G.
15—Steering Column (Fixed)—Disassembled—Lincoln Continentalprocarmanuals.com

03-05-14
Steering Columns And Linkage

03-05-14

8. Connect the turn signal and

emergency flasher switch wires at the

multiple connectors. Connect the wires

to the neutral start switch. Adjust-

ments for the neutral start switch are

detailed in Group 7 of this manual.

9. Connect the tilt-column control

cable to the release cable retainer and

vacuum motor (if so equipped). To re-

move cable slack, loosen the bracket

attaching screw and pull it slightly

toward the column, then tighten the

screw. If difficulty in adjusting this

control is experienced, the retainer

slot may be filed to gain additional

travel.

10.
Install the instrument panel

steering column plate and cover and

the instrument panel lower outer fin-

ish panel.

11.
Connect the negative cable to

the battery.

12.
Start the engine and check the

operation of the steering column and

switches.

LINCOLN CONTINENTAL

Removal

1.
Disconnect the battery.

2.
Disconnect the rod from the
lever at the lower end of the selector

tube.

Loosen the clamp bolt that locks

the flexible coupling to the steering

shaft.

3.
Working from the underside of

the steering wheel spoke, remove the

two screws that secure the crash pad.

Remove the pad. Do not use a ham-

mer or knock-off type wheel puller.

Striking the puller or shaft may cause

damage to the bearings and/or col-

lapsible column. Remove the steering

wheel as shown in Fig. 15.

4.
Remove the instrument panel

steering column finish plate.

5.
Remove the four screws that at-

tach the lower retainer to the dash

panel.

6. Disconnect the turn signal switch

and emergency flasher wires at the

connectors. Disconnect the wires from

the neutral start switch.

7.
While supporting the steering

column, remove the bolts that attach

the lower clamp to the upper bracket

(Fig. 15). Lift the column from the ve-

hicle.

Installation

1.
Position the column in the vehi-
cle,
making sure that the steering

shaft engages the flex coupling.

2.
Install the column retainer-

to-dash panel attaching screws, but do

not tighten them.

3.
Install the lower clamp and the

attaching nuts. Tighten the nuts fing-

ertight.

4.
Move the lower flange as re-

quired to center the steering shaft in

the tube. Aligning procedures are de-

tailed in Part 3-1. Tighten the lower

flange attaching nuts when the shaft is

centered.

5.
Connect the shift rod to the shift

lever at the lower end of the column.

6. Install and tighten the flex cou-

pling attaching bolt.

7.
Tighten the instrument panel-

to-clamp attaching nuts.

8. Connect the turn signal and

emergency flasher switch wirss at the

multiple connectors. Connect the wires

to the neutral start switch. Adjust-

ments for the neutral start switch are

detailed in Group 7 of this manual.

9. Install the instrument panel

steering column finish plate.

10.
Install the steering wheel and

crash pad.

MAJOR REPAIR OPERATIONS

STEERING COLUMN

SHIFT TUBE REPLACEMENT

STATIONARY COLUMN

WITH STANDARD

TRANSMISSION

Removal

1.
Working from the underside of

the steering wheel spoke, remove the

two screws that secure the crash pad.

Remove the pad. (On Continental

Mark III models, pry out the crash

pad insert and remove the two screws

that secure the crash pad. Remove the

crash pad. On models equipped with

steering wheel mounted speed con-

trols,
refer to Group 16 for removal

instructions).

2.
Remove the steering wheel from

the steering shaft with tool T67L-

3600-A (Fig. 1). Then, remove the

tool from the steering wheel. Do not

use a knock-off type steering Wheel

puller or strike the end of the steering

shaft with a hammer. Striking the

puller or shaft will damage the bear-
ing or the collapsible column.

3.
Remove the steering column

from the vehicle.

4.
Remove the selector lever from

the hub (Fig. 16).

5.
Remove the bearing upper snap

ring. It may be necessary to pull the

turn signal switch out to remove the

snap ring.

6. Remove the screws that attach

the shift tube bearing, shift arms, and

shift tube to the lower end of the

steering column.

7.
Slip the shift tube and steering

shaft from the lower end of the steer-

ing column tube. The upper bearing

has a slight press fit on the steering

shaft.

8. Remove the C-washer from the

upper end of the steering shaft, and

pull the shift tube from the steering

shaft.

9. Remove the shift tube bearing

from the lower end of the tube

Installation

1.
Position the shift tube bearing
(Fig. 16) on the tube and insert the

steering shaft in the shift tube.

2.
Install the C-washer on the

upper end of the steering shaft.

3.
Insert the shift tube and steering

shaft into the steerint column tube

and install the three attaching screws

at the lower end of the steering col-

umn tube.

4.
Position the bearing and insula-

tor on the shaft if it was disturbed

during removal. Work it down onto

the shaft as far as possible, then place

a piece of 3/4 ID x 2 1/8 inch pipe

over the end of shaft and install the

steering wheel attaching nut (Fig. 2).

5.
Tighten the nut until the bearing

is seated in the flange, then remove

the nut and pipe from the shaft.

6. Position the turn signal switch

on the flange and install the three at-

taching screws. Install the upper snap

ring.

7.
Install the selector lever and the

turn signal lever in the column.

8. Adjust and install the neutral

start switch as detailed in Group 7.

9. Install the steering column in the

vehicle.procarmanuals.com

03-05-15
Steering Columns And Linkage

03-05-15

SHIFT

TUBE
STEERING

COLUMN
TUBE
SELECTOR

I
LEVER
HUB

\
CENTERING

I
WASHER
QUADRANT

BEARING

UPPER

SNAP RING

TURN SIGNAL AND

EMERGENCY FLASHER

SWITCH

PLASTIC

CONDUIT

STEERING

SHAFT

CONNECTOR

FIG. 16—Typical Stationary Steering Column Disassembled—Standard Transmission
G 1494-A

SNAP RING
STEERING WHEEL-3600

SEAL - 7C102

BEARING -3517

SNAP RING

FLANGE -3511

SELECTOR BEZEL-

LEVER- 7210 ZtL

GEAR SHIFT LEVER

(FIRST
&

REVERSE)
/
7303
/ 9

WASHER - 7242

BUSHING - 733

- 7347

UPPER CLAMP-01698
GEARSHIFT LEVER

(SECOND & THIRD) - 7302

SEAL-

LOWER CLAMP - 01699
^^r**——
FLEX JOINT - 3A525

FIG. 17—Typical Stationary Steering Column Disassembled—Automatic Transmission
G1501-Aprocarmanuals.com

03-05-20
Steering Columns And Linkage

03-05-20

placed if it becomes worn or damaged

(Figs.
18 through 21). Do not attempt

to straighten the sleeve if damaged.

1.
Remove the spindle connecting

rod end assemblies as described in the

previous sub-section.

2.
Screw the spindle rod end assem-

blies into the new sleeve the same

number of turns as the ends that were

removed. Do not tighten the clamp

bolts at this time.

3.
Position the sleeve and end as-

sembly on the center link and the

spindle arm. Install the attaching nut,

torque it to specification, and install

the cotter pin.

4.
Check and, if necessary, adjust

toe-in (Part 3-1). After toe-in is

checked and adjusted, oil the sleeve

clamp bolts then torque them to speci-

fication. The sleeve clamp must be in-

stalled as shown in Figs. 18 through

21.

CENTER LINK

REPLACEMENT

The center link connecting the Pit-

man arm and the idler arm is non-

adjustable and is provided with ta-

pered holes to accommodate the ball

studs (Figs. 18 through 21). The link

should be replaced when damaged or

when worn at the ball studs. On Lin-

coln Continental models, the link

should be replaced if excessive loose-

ness is noticed in either ball stud sock-

et.

REMOVAL

1.
Raise the vehicle on a hoist and

position safety stands.

2.
Remove the cotter pins and nuts

that attach both inner connecting rod

ends to the center link (Figs. 18

through 21).

3.
Disconnect the inner connecting

rod ends from the center link using

Tool 3290-C (Fig. 22).

4.
Remove the cotter pin and nut

attaching the idler arm to the center

link. Disconnect the idler arm from

the center link using Tool 3290-C for

Lincoln Continental models only.

5.
Remove the cotter pin and nut

attaching the Pitman arm to the cen-

ter link. Disconnect the Pitman arm

from the center link (use Tool 3290-C)

and remove the center link. On ve-

hicles equipped with the non-integral

power steering system, remove the

center link from the control valve as

detailed in Part 3-7.

INSTALLATION

1.
Replace the rubber seals on the
spindle connecting rod ends, if re-

quired.

2.
Position the center link to the

Pitman arm and idler arm and install

the attaching nuts loosely. On all ve-

hicles except Lincoln Continental

models, place the idler arm and the

front wheels in the straight ahead po-

sition to insure keeping the steering

wheel aligned and to prevent bushing

damage after the attaching nuts have

been torqued. On Lincoln Continental

models, insure that the seal is properly

installed on the center link. Torque

the nuts to the low end of the specifi-

cation. Continue to tighten each nut

until the slots in the nut align with the

hole in the stud. Then install a new

cotter pin.

3.
Position the spindle connecting

rod ends to the center link and install

the attaching nuts. Torque the nuts to

the low end of the specification. Con-

tinue to tighten each nut until the

slots in the nut align with the hole in

the stud. Then, install a new cotter

pin.

4.
Remove the safety stands, lower

the vehicle, check and adjust toe-in to

specification (Part 3-1).

STEERING IDLER ARM

AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY

REPLACEMENT

REMOVAL

If the idler arm bushings are worn

the complete idler arm assembly must

be replaced. In Lincoln Continental

models, if the socket at the idler

bracket is excessively loose, replace

the complet assembly.

1.
Remove the cotter pin and nut

attaching the steering center link at

the idler arm (Figs. 18 through 21).

2.
Disconnect the center link from

the idler arm (on Lincoln Continental

models, use Tool 3290-C).

3.
Remove the two bolts that attach

the idler arm and bracket assembly to

the frame.

INSTALLATION

1.
Secure the new idler arm and

bracket assembly to the frame with

the two attaching bolts (nuts and flat

washers as shown in Figs. 18, 19 and

21).

2.
On all vehicles except Lincoln

Continental models, place the idler

arm and the front wheels in the

straight ahead position to insure keep-

ing the steering wheel aligned and to
prevent bushing damage after the at-

taching nut has been torqued. Insert

the center link stud through the hole

in the end of the idler arm and install

the nut and washer.

On Lincoln Continental models, in-

sert the center link stud through the

hole in the end of the idler arm insur-

ing that the seal is properly installed

on the center link.

3.
Torque the idler arm rod nut to

specification and install a new cotter

pin.

PITMAN ARM

REPLACEMENT

REMOVAL

1.
Remove the cotter pin from the

castellated nut that attaches the steer-

ing center link to the Pitman arm.

Remove the castellated nut.

2.
Disconnect the steering center

link from the Pitman arm with tool

3290-C.

3.
Remove the Pitman arm attaching

nut and lock washer.

4.
Position the front wheels in the

straight ahead position. Remove the

Pitman arm with tool T64P-3590-F

(Fig. 23).

INSTALLATION

1.
With the front wheels in the

straight ahead position, place the Pit-

man arm on the sector shaft making

sure it is pointing forward.

2.
Install the nut and lock washer.

Torque the nut to specification.

G1663-A

FIG. 23— Removing Pitman

Arm—Typicalprocarmanuals.com

03-05-21 Steering Columns And Linkage 03-05-21

3.
Secure
the
steering center link
to
insure that
the
seal
is
properly
in-
tighten
the nut to the
next castellation

the Pitman
arm
with
the
castellated stalled. Torque
the nut to
specification
if
necessary
to
install
the
cotter
pin.

nut.
On
Lincoln Continental models,
and
install
the
cotter
pin.
Alwaysprocarmanuals.com

03-06-01
Manual Steering

03 06-01

PART
3-6
Manual Steering

COMPONENT INDEX

STEERING GEAR

Cleaning
and
Inspection

(See Part 03-01)

Description

Disassembly
and
Overhaul

Removal
and
Installation

STEERING WORM
AND
SECTOR

Adjustment
and
Repair
MODEL APPLICATION
All
Models
Ford

06-01

06-03

06-02

06-02
Mercury
06-01

06-03

06-02

06-02
Meteor
06-01

06-03

06-02

06-02
Cougar
06-01

06-03

06-02

06-02
Fairlane
06-01

06-03

06-02

06-02
Falcon
06-01

06-03

06-02

06-02
Montego
06-01

06-03

06-02

06-02
Mustang
06-01

06-03

06-02

06-02
Lincoln-
Continental
N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
Thunderbird
N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
Continental-
Mark
III
N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

A page number indicates that the item
is for
the vehicle listed
at
the head
of
the column.

N/A indicates that the item
is not
applicable
to
the vehicle listed.

DESCRIPTION

STEERING GEAR

The steering gear
(Fig.
1) is of the

worm
and
recirculating ball type.
The

sector shaft
is
straddle mounted
hav-

INPUT SHAFT
ing
a
bushing located
in the
cover

above
the
gear
and a
roller bearing
in

the housing below
the
gear.

SECTOR SHAFT ADJUSTMENT SCREW

LOCK
NUT

IDENTIFICATION
TAG

SECTOR SHAFT COVER
The worm bearing preload
is con-

trolled
by the
large adjusting
nut

which
is
threaded into
the
housing.

The sector shaft mesh load
is con-

trolled
by an
adjusting screw located

in
the
housing cover.

The steering linkage consists
of the

Pitman
arm,
steering-arm-to-idler
arm

rod, idler
arm and the
spindle
con-

necting rods
(tie
rods).

A steering gear identification
tag is

provided under
one of the
cover
at-

taching bolts
(Fig.
2).

STEERING GEAR

MODEL
SERVICE IDENTIFICATION

CODE NUMBER

FIG.
1—Manual
Steering Gear
SERIAL NUMBER
OR
DATE CODE

G 1625-A
G
1626-A

FIG. 2—Steering Gear Identification
procarmanuals.com

03-06-02
Manual Steering

03-06-02

IN-VEHICLE ADJUSTMENTS AND REPAIRS

STEERING WORM AND

SECTOR

GEAR ADJUSTMENTS

The ball nut assembly and the sec-

tor gear must be adjusted properly to

maintain minimum steering shaft end

play (a factor of preload adjustment)

and minimum backlash between sector

gear and ball nut. There are only two

possible adjustments within the recir-

culating ball-type steering gear, and

these should be made in the following

order to avoid damage or gear failure.

1.
Disconnect the Pitman arm from

the steering Pitman-to-idler arm rod.

2.
Loosen the nut which locks the

sector adjusting screw (Fig. 3), and

turn the adjusting screw counterclock-

wise.
(On models equipped with the

Cobra Jet engine, it may be necessary

to use a suitable holding tool with an

extension and a long screwdriver to

make the gear adjustment).

3.
Measure the worm bearing pre-

load by attaching an in-lb torque

wrench to the steering wheel nut (Fig.

4).
With the steering wheel off center,

read the pull required to rotate the

input shaft approximately 1 1/2 turns

either side of center. If the torque or

preload is not within specification

(Part 3-1), adjust as explained in the

next step.
.•ADJUSTER
LOCK
NUT

SECTOR
SHAFT

ADJUSTING
SCREW
G
1627-A

FIG. 3—Steering Gear

Adjustments—Typical

4.
Loosen the steering shaft bearing

adjuster lock nut, and tighten or back

off the bearing adjuster (Fig. 1) to

bring the preload within the specified

limits.

5.
Tighten the steering shaft bear-

ing adjuster lock nut, and recheck the

preload.

6. Turn the steering wheel slowly to

either stop. Turn gently against the

stop to avoid possible damage to the

ball return guides. Then rotate the

wheel 2-3/4 turns to center the ball

nut.
7.
Turn the sector adjusting screw

clockwise until the specified torque

(Part 3-13) is necessary to rotate the

worm past its center (high spot) (Fig.

1).

8. While holding the sector adjust-

ing screw, tighten the sector adjusting

screw locknut to specification, and re-

check the backlash adjustment.

9. Connect the Pitman arm to the

steering arm-to-idler arm rod.

G-1495-A

FIG. 4—Checking Steering Gear

Preload—Typical

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

STEERING GEAR

REMOVAL

1.
Remove the bolt(s) that retains

the flex coupling to the steering shaft.

2.
Remove the nut and lock washer

that secures the Pitman arm to the

sector shaft using Tool T64P-3590-F

(Fig. 5).

3.
To obtain clearance on some

models equipped with standard trans-

mission, it may be necessary to dis-

connect the clutch linkage. On some

8-cylinder models, it may be necessary

to lower the exhaust system.

4.
Remove the steering gear-to-side

rail bolts and remove the gear.
Too /-MB
STEERING
GEAR
HOUSING

T64P-3590.F

(PITMAN
"APU'^M
-
.-. •
-"
•.:,.17''i.a—
r.iMI.
A

F'G.
5—Removing Pitman Arm
INSTALLATION

1.
Position the steering gear and

flex coupling in place; then, install

and torque the steering gear-to-side

rail bolts to specification (Part 3-13).

2.
If the clutch linkage has been

disconnected, reposition, install and

adjust it. If the exhaust system has

been lowered, reinstall it to its proper

position.

3.
Position the Pitman arm and the

sector shaft and install the attaching

nut and lock washer. Torque the nut

to specification.

4.
Install and connect the flex cou-

pling attaching nut(s) and torque it to

specification (Part 3-13).procarmanuals.com