03-05-02
Steering Columns
And
Linkage
03-05-02
which also will shear away during
im-
pact.
TILT STEERING COLUMNS
The steering column
is of the col-
lapsible type
to
lessen
the
possibility
of injury
to the
driver
of the
vehicle
should
he
become involved
in an
acci-
dent.
The
lower
end of the
steering
column tube
at the
bellows area will
collapse approximately
six
inches
upon
a
hard impact.
The shift tube
and the
steering shaft
are provided with plastic dowels
and
will shear
and
allow them
to
collapse
in proportion
to the
outer tube upon
impact.
Once
the
steering column
has
been
collapsed,
a
complete
new
column
must
be
installed.
The tilt column features nine driv-
ing positions (four
up and
four down
from
a
center position).
The
.column
also features
a
turn signal switch with
a lane-changer position turn indicating
position
and
emergency warning flash-
er control.
TILT-AWAY STEERING COLUMNS
The tilt-away steering column
fea-
tures nine driving positions (four
up
and four down from
a
center position)
and
a
tilt-away position that
is
auto-
matically accomplished
on
Mustang
and Cougar models when
the
ignition
key
is
turned
to the
OFF
position
and
the left door
is
opened.
On
Thunder-
bird models,
the
tilt-away occurs when
the shift lever
is
placed
in
PARK
and
the driverns door
is
opened.
The steering column
is of the col-
lapsible type
to
lessen
the
possibility
of injury
to the
driver
of the
vehicle
should
he
become involved
in an
acci-
dent.
The
lower
end of the
steering
column tube
at the
bellows area will
collapse approximately
six
inches
upon
a
hard impact.
The shift tube
and the
steering shaft
are provided with plastic dowels
and
will shear
and
allow them
to
collapse
in proportion
to the
outer tube upon
impact.
Once
the
steering column
has
been
collapsed,
a
complete
new
column
must
be
installed along with mounting
brackets which will also shear away
during impact.
IN-VEHICLE ADJUSTMENTS
AND
REPAIRS
STEERING WHEEL SPOKE
POSITION ADJUSTMENT
When
the
steering gear
is on the
high point,
the
front wheels should
be
in
the
straight-ahead position
and the
steering wheel spokes should
be in
their normal position with
the
Pitman
arm pointing directly forward.
If the
spokes
are not in
their normal posi-
tion, they
can be
adjusted without
dis-
turbing
the
toe-in adjustment (Part
3-1).
STEERING WHEEL
REPLACEMENT
1.
Disconnect
the
negative cable
from
the
battery.
2.
Working from
the
underside
of
the steering wheel spoke, remove
the
crash
pad
attaching screws. Lift
the
crash
pad
from
the
wheel.
(On
Conti-
nental Mark
III
models,
pry out the
crash
pad
insert
and
remove
the two
screws that secure
the
crash
pad. Re-
move
the
crash
pad. On
models
equipped with steering wheel mounted
speed controls, refer
to
Group
16 for
removal instructions). Remove
the
horn ring
(if so
equipped)
by
turning
it counterclockwise.
3.
Remove
the
steering wheel
nut,
and then remove
the
steering wheel
with tool T67L-3600-A
(Fig. 1). 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
bearing
or the
collapsible column.
4.
Transfer
all
serviceable parts
to
the
new
steering wheel.
5.
Position
the
steering wheel
on
the shaft
so
that
the
alignment mark
on
the hub of the
wheel
is
adjacent
to
the
one on the
shaft. Install
a new
locknut
and
torque
it to
specifications.
6. Install
the
horn ring
(if so
equipped)
and
crash
pad.
STEERING COLUMN UPPER
BEARING REPLACEMENT
STATIONARY COLUMNS
Removal
1. Disconnect
the
horn wire
and the
turn indicator wires
at the
connector.
2.
Working from
the
underside
of
the steering wheel spoke, remove
the
two crash
pad
attaching screws. Lift
the crash
pad
from
the
wheel.
(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 controls, refer
to
Group
16 for
7oo/-T67L-3600-A
removal instructions). Remove
the
horn ring
(if so
equipped)
by
turning
it counterclockwise.
3.
Remove
the
steering wheel
at-
taching
nut.
Remove
the
steering
wheel using tool T67L-3600-A
(Fig.
1).
Do not use a
knock-off type steer-
ing wheel puller
or
strike
the end of
the steering shaft with
a
hammer.
Striking
the
puller
or
shaft will
dam-
age
the
bearing
or the
collapsible
col-
umn.
4.
Remove
the
turn indicator lever.
5.
Remove
the
turn signal switch
attaching screws. Lift
the
switch over
the
end of the
steering shaft
and
place
it
to one
side.
6. Remove
the
snap ring from
the
top
of the
steering shaft.
7.
Loosen
the two
flange-to-steering
column tube attaching bolts
to
disen-
gage them from
the
tube.
8. Raise
the
flange upward while
BEARING
AND
INSULATOR
Spacer
G 1502 -B
FIG.
1—Removing
Steering Wheel
G 1497-A
FIG. 2—Installing Upper Bearingprocarmanuals.com
