Steering Column - Automatic Transmission: Disassembly

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Ford Pickup, 2003 Ford F550 Super Duty, 2003 Ford F450 Super Duty, 2003 Ford Excursion, and 2003 Ford Cab & Chassis. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

All vehicles

WARNING: To reduce the risk of serious personal injury, read and follow all warnings, cautions, notes and instructions in the steering column removal and installation procedure.

Remove the steering column. Refer to Steering Column .

CAUTION: Carefully note the position of the steering column lock gear, bearing and retainer prior to removal.

Fig 1: Removing Bearing Retainer

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Remove the bearing retainer.
Rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise and remove the steering column lock housing bearing.

Fig 2: Removing Steering Column Lock Housing Bearing
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Note the position of the keyhole and remove the steering column lock gear.

Fig 3: Removing Steering Column Lock Gear
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Vehicles with tilt column
Remove the sensor ring.
1. Remove the steering column lower bearing spring.
2. Remove the sensor ring.
  
  Fig 4: Removing Sensor Ring
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  
  Vehicles with fixed column
Remove the snap ring from the bottom of the steering column shaft.

Fig 5: Removing Snap Ring From Bottom Of Steering Column Shaft
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

All vehicles
Remove the steering column bearing tolerance ring from the steering column shaft.

Fig 6: Removing Steering Column Bearing Tolerance Ring From Steering Column Shaft
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the two lock cylinder housing pivot screws.

Fig 7: Removing Lock Cylinder Housing Pivot Screws
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

WARNING: The steering column position spring is under tension and can come out with great force.

Remove the steering column lock cylinder housing and the steering column shaft from the steering actuator housing.
1. Pry up on the steering column locking levers using a shop fabricated tool.
2. On tilt steering columns, remove the steering column position spring.
  
  Fig 8: Removing Steering Column Position Spring
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the turn signal cancel cam.

Fig 9: Removing Turn Signal Cancel Cam
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the snap ring.

Fig 10: Removing Snap Ring
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the steering column upper bearing spring.

Fig 11: Removing Steering Column Upper Bearing Spring
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the steering column bearing sleeve.

Fig 12: Removing Steering Column Bearing Sleeve
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the steering column bearing tolerance ring.
1. Slide the steering column shaft in toward the steering column lock cylinder housing.
2. Slide the steering column bearing tolerance ring off the steering column shaft and remove the shaft.
  
  Fig 13: Removing Steering Column Bearing Tolerance Ring
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Using a suitable punch, remove the steering column bearing from the steering column lock cylinder housing.

Fig 14: Removing Steering Column Bearing From Steering Column Lock Cylinder Housing
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Vehicles with tilt column
Using a suitable punch, remove the steering column bearing from the steering column lock cylinder housing.

Fig 15: Removing Steering Column Bearing From Steering Column Lock Cylinder Housing
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

All vehicles

CAUTION: If installing a new transmission shift selector position insert, make sure that the correct part is being installed.

Remove the brake shift interlock solenoid.
1. Remove the three bolts.
2. Remove the brake shift interlock solenoid and shift selector position insert.
  
  Fig 16: Removing Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the shift tube.
1. Remove the four bolts.
2. Remove the two shift tube clamps.
3. Remove the shift tube.
  
  Fig 17: Removing Shift Tube
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the transmission selector lever arm and support.
1. Remove the two bolts.
2. Remove the transmission selector lever arm and support.
  
  Fig 18: Removing Transmission Selector Lever Arm
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  
  Fig 19: Removing Transmission Selector Lever Support
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the spring.

Fig 20: Removing Spring
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Drive out the transmission shift selector lever pin from the shift tube.

Fig 21: Removing Transmission Shift Selector Lever Pin From Shift Tube
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the transmission shift selector lever.

Fig 22: Removing Transmission Shift Selector Lever
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the column shift selector lever plunger.
- If it is bent, install a new column shift selector lever plunger.
  
  Fig 23: Removing Column Shift Selector Lever Plunger
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the two gearshift lever socket bushings and the transmission control selector lever spring clip.

Fig 24: Removing Gearshift Lever Socket Bushings And Transmission Control Selector Lever Spring Clip
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the steering column lock pawl.
1. Drive out the steering column lock lever pin.
2. Remove the steering column lock pawl.
  
  Fig 25: Removing Steering Column Lock Pawl
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the ignition switch.
1. Remove the screws.
2. Remove the ignition switch.
  
  Fig 26: Removing Ignition Switch
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the lower steering column bearing and sleeve.

Fig 27: Removing Lower Steering Column Bearing And Sleeve
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the steering column lower bearing retainer.
1. Remove the three bolts.
2. Remove the steering column lower bearing retainer.
  
  Fig 28: Removing Steering Column Lower Bearing Retainer
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the upper steering column lock actuator and the lower steering column lock actuator.

Fig 29: Removing Upper Steering Column Lock Actuator And Lower Steering Column Lock Actuator
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.