Adjusting my shaft

[Woody6799]

So while doing my 03 interior swap I had to swap my steering wheel of course. I took the steering wheel puller and the new wheel, still attached to the whole column, set it up and promptly ripped the threads right out of the steering wheel. So I set it up on the wheel in the car, made some adjustments, made sure everything was correct and ripped those threads out as well. So next, I placed the puller bolt where the steering wheel nut went and whacked it with a hammer a few times, allowing it to compress and the wheel to come off. I mounted the new wheel and off I went...

Here is the issue. The steering shaft now sits lower and lays in the firewall where it passes through. How can I tell if I damaged the shaft? How do I adjust the shaft? Does anyone want to help fix my shaft? Is there a medication I should take for this?

Also, I cant seem to attach the airbag and make the horn work properly... can anyone shed light on this??


There is only a few more weeks of nice weather and my stang is down and out, please help... My shaft and I thank you...

 

[MustangChris]

we'll need pics. i took off my 1996 wheel and it just popped right off (with a lot of love) i didnt even bother using a puller.

keep in mind your FoMoCo service manual specifies to use a new steering wheel bolt when re-assembly. This probably wont matter for you because you pulled the threads out...

anyways, post up pics. i dont understand why your shaft was involved at all.... the only reason to remove the shaft would be to change out the steering column.

The only reason to change out the column is to change out your computer system or to replace the steering wheel without pulling it off the column.

I suggest:
removing your OEM column.
drill and tap your threads. Helicoil/timersert if needed. Use a drill press if needed to achieve a straight drill.
remove the cover from your 99+ column and place it on your OEM column (if you are changing colors or something.)
place back into the car. finger-tighten the column's mounting bolts.
bolt up the steering shaft. You may need to pull it into the interior of the car some. It is a telescoping shaft, and extending it take a little work sometimes.
if you have aftermarket headers, double check the clearance.
if there is no header contact, bolt the column in to TQ.
push on new steering wheel as far as possible by hand.
TQ down steering wheel bolt to OEM specs. be careful not to eff up your new threads.
place OEM airbags on.

airbags are year specific.
94/95, 96-98, 99-04, 05....

if you are using the new column (99+) for some reason, you will have to replace your airbag to match the wiring harness (99+).


edit:

there is a sticker on your 1996 column where the steering wheel sits. it outlines the process to re-center the steeringwheel to ensure you are not binding up the internals of the steering column. It says something along the lines of: "turn steering wheel to the left until it becomes firm. from this point, turn it to the right three times. lock the ignition, it is now considered 'center.'"
there are center marks on the steering column (triangle shapes) for you to know where "top" is.

once the steering wheel is centered, make sure the ignition is locked.

 

[Woody6799]

we'll need pics. i took off my 1996 wheel and it just popped right off (with a lot of love) i didnt even bother using a puller.

keep in mind your FoMoCo service manual specifies to use a new steering wheel bolt when re-assembly. This probably wont matter for you because you pulled the threads out...

anyways, post up pics. i dont understand why your shaft was involved at all.... the only reason to remove the shaft would be to change out the steering column.

The only reason to change out the column is to change out your computer system or to replace the steering wheel without pulling it off the column.

I suggest:
removing your OEM column.
drill and tap your threads. Helicoil/timersert if needed. Use a drill press if needed to achieve a straight drill.
remove the cover from your 99+ column and place it on your OEM column (if you are changing colors or something.)
place back into the car. finger-tighten the column's mounting bolts.
bolt up the steering shaft. You may need to pull it into the interior of the car some. It is a telescoping shaft, and extending it take a little work sometimes.
if you have aftermarket headers, double check the clearance.
if there is no header contact, bolt the column in to TQ.
push on new steering wheel as far as possible by hand.
TQ down steering wheel bolt to OEM specs. be careful not to eff up your new threads.
place OEM airbags on.

I used the 94 column not the 99 column, could that be a problem right there? Different mounting points? So being that it is a telescoping shaft would it be possible to drop the column again, compress the shaft and remount or is there a better way to compress it before I try to recenter it like you state at the end of this?

airbags are year specific.
94/95, 96-98, 99-04, 05....

if you are using the new column (99+) for some reason, you will have to replace your airbag to match the wiring harness (99+).

fixed this already, switched harness plugs and all. I had a full dash with harness from the 03 so I was able to swap what I needed to get the bags to plug and the fog/defrost/TC switches to be functional. I am still using the original 94 harness but I had to drop it to swap the dash. I came to the conclusion that the shaft either moved during the drop or during the changing of the wheel. I red on here a post about Onyx I believe (may be wrong) bending his shaft doing exactly what I did. However, it could have telescoped out when I dropped it to pull the dash...


edit:

there is a sticker on your 1996 column where the steering wheel sits. it outlines the process to re-center the steeringwheel to ensure you are not binding up the internals of the steering column. It says something along the lines of: "turn steering wheel to the left until it becomes firm. from this point, turn it to the right three times. lock the ignition, it is now considered 'center.'"
there are center marks on the steering column (triangle shapes) for you to know where "top" is.

once the steering wheel is centered, make sure the ignition is locked.

Thats great info, I will look into it more, idk if my 94 has it but I am almost positive those triangles are there... I know I am not binding on anything but the firewall, I checked that a few times.

 

[MustangChris]

so, its good you used your OEM column (when i say column, i mean the heavy bulky unit with the plastic covering that vertically when you pull the adjustment lever.)

the steering shaft bolts to the column on the bottom. THe column has a U-joint that the shaft slides into.

theres no need to remove the shaft from the car to change the steering wheel.

my 1996 and my 2004 columns have the same mounting locations (4 studs are mounted to the inside of the dash. the column has 4 holes. the 4 studs go through the 4 holes and then you put a nut on the stud.)

a 94/95 column **should** have the same mounting process, but ive honestly never seen a 94/95 column out of the car.

So, if i were you. i would re-drop the column. push teh steering shaft in (1 to 2") re-mount the column, then re-telescope the shaft into the bottom Ujoin on the bottom of the coulmn.

re-center the steering wheel while the shaft is not attached. make sure your wheels (on the front of the car) are pointed straight before you start, that way the shaft and the u-joint line up properly.

pix would really help.

im guessing if you pulled the column, you put lateral stress on the bearing on the inside of the firewall (its plastic POS) and thats what's binding you up. when you drop the column it has to drop straight down to clear the studs, and that can put stress on the firewall. then you have to pull it straight out, which might have telescoped the shaft out too far and thats why its not lining up for you.

keep in mind, if you are using an 03 harness, youll need the matching airbag module inside the dash, youll have to by-pass the relay inside the dash for the 94 defrost button to work, and your fusebox will be completely different.


I'm pretty baffled on what you're trying to accomplish with your car. lol.

 

[Woody6799]

Any specific requests?

 

[Woody6799]

so, its good you used your OEM column (when i say column, i mean the heavy bulky unit with the plastic covering that vertically when you pull the adjustment lever.)

the steering shaft bolts to the column on the bottom. THe column has a U-joint that the shaft slides into.

theres no need to remove the shaft from the car to change the steering wheel.

my 1996 and my 2004 columns have the same mounting locations (4 studs are mounted to the inside of the dash. the column has 4 holes. the 4 studs go through the 4 holes and then you put a nut on the stud.)

a 94/95 column **should** have the same mounting process, but ive honestly never seen a 94/95 column out of the car.

So, if i were you. i would re-drop the column. push teh steering shaft in (1 to 2") re-mount the column, then re-telescope the shaft into the bottom Ujoin on the bottom of the coulmn.

re-center the steering wheel while the shaft is not attached. make sure your wheels (on the front of the car) are pointed straight before you start, that way the shaft and the u-joint line up properly.

pix would really help.

im guessing if you pulled the column, you put lateral stress on the bearing on the inside of the firewall (its plastic POS) and thats what's binding you up. when you drop the column it has to drop straight down to clear the studs, and that can put stress on the firewall. then you have to pull it straight out, which might have telescoped the shaft out too far and thats why its not lining up for you.

keep in mind, if you are using an 03 harness, youll need the matching airbag module inside the dash, youll have to by-pass the relay inside the dash for the 94 defrost button to work, and your fusebox will be completely different.


I'm pretty baffled on what you're trying to accomplish with your car. lol.

Yea I got all that and thats exactly how the 94 drops and remounts as well, I suppose my question was that if the 4 studs were the same measurement from the 03 and the 94, they appear to be but I figured I would throw it out there. And that was my exact thought with dropping the column again and pushing it in. Dont mind the crappy wiring in the pics the swap is still half finished.

 

[MustangChris]

yup. pix of this guy bolted to the steering rack. has it been removed from the steering rack?

i can clearly see the problem now.

you shouldnt need to drop the shaft/column, except to re-install the firewall bearing thats not installed in these pix. double check the mounting position of the column in the dash, they have 1/2" play (the holes are oblong oval shapes) and you may have mounted your column extreme to the left, or right.

make sure the column is in it's "lowest" position (adjustment lever) when mounting it.

make sure its not rubbing on your headers/exhaust.

edit:
also go under the front of your car with your wheels in the air, grab your steering rack and jerk it back and forth. your OEM rubber rack bushings may have rotted out. if it doesnt move, we can rule that out; if it does, we might have a reason why that guy isnt lining up properly.

 

[MustangChris]

looks like in picture #2 the 94/95 mounting technique is the same as 96-04.

 

[Woody6799]

I have never removed it from the steering rack but i cant speak for the previous owner. I think I saw the firewall bearing, its a large rubber boot type that appears to have slipped into the engine bay, I cant get the car into the air right now, I am not exactly set up to do any real work here yet. I took a few more pics that I hope can help so I can get her patched up.

 

[Woody6799]

 

[MustangChris]

yup, thats your bearing. you can probably safely drive the car, it will simply be noisy until that guy get put into place.

looks like you have clearance between the headers. so, no worries there.

I'd look into the column's mounting location and the steering rack bushings. other than that, it seems good to go.

 

[MustangChris]

i have a feeling putting teh bearing back into place, you should be fine... it will telescope the shaft if needed, and maintina the proper angle of the shaft.

 

[Woody6799]

Tomorrow before work I am going to check the mount holes like you said and try to put the bearing back. Thanks for the help Chris... no wonder everyone on here is gay for you...

 

[MustangChris]

Tomorrow before work I am going to check the mount holes like you said and try to put the bearing back. Thanks for the help Chris... no wonder everyone on here is gay for you...

i litterally laughed out loud in class

 

[Woody6799]

yesssss!! I made you THAT guy!

 

[MustangChris]

yea... it was funny because one of the other kids was reading his work outloud and then i laughed.... . .. .. . . yeaaaaaa. lol.

anyways, thanks for posting pics (and fast, too) nothings more frustrating than people saying "my car wont start and it makes a sound like an acorn falling onto a rubber pad. whats wrong with it" ... WTF is it doing? WTF does an acon falling onto a rubber pad sound like? WTF kind of car is it? WhereTF are the pictures and videos?

 

[Woody6799]

hahaha yea I didnt take pics first bc I didnt know what needed to be seen. I will patch it up tomorrow hopefully and be able to drive her again.

 

[MustangChris]

keep us (me) posted!

 

[Woody6799]

FAIL... I could not get the bearing back through the firewall. It doesnt seem that the bearing slides/adjusts at all on the shaft and the shaft didn't seem to telescope out far enough to allow it to come through. I even dropped the column to attempt to have complete range of motion... I am stumped

 

[MustangChris]

drop the column and remove teh shaft ffrom the u joint. huge PITA, but it sounds like youre running out of options. lol.