The Ford Barn

Hot Rod Reverend · 01-25-2016, 10:11 PM

1956 Ford Fairlane Steering Column... replacing a 55 column and wheel, so all parts outsourced.

Look at the photo above. This column has a bearing on the ID of the tube. When the tube slides over the steering shaft, it does not even come close to contacting the OD of the shaft. The tube and the shaft are both 1956 Ford original parts. I have nothing but A. a turn signal switch and B. a steering wheel, that goes into the "cup area" of this steering column tube.

Question: what keeps the shaft from "wobbling" in the tube near that bearing after the wheel is tightened down? I see nothing in my parts diagrams that leads me to believe there are any more parts but I am thinking that I am missing some type of heavy duty spring or something that goes between the steering wheel and rests on that bearing. Am I right?

scrapiron · 01-26-2016, 07:37 AM

I think,, there should be a split conical ring under the wheel hub that meets the bearing when the wheel is in place.

LOWRIDER · 01-26-2016, 07:37 AM

I believe there's a cone shaped spacer that just slips over the shaft and rests on that upper bearing. Some of the older cars and trucks use that set up.

Hot Rod Reverend · 01-26-2016, 08:17 AM

thanks fellas.... that cone shaped spacer is something I don't see in my diagrams, but who knows - odd things happen when it is all laid out. I have found other mistakes in the diagrams from Ford also.

LOWRIDER · 01-26-2016, 09:06 AM

B1AZ-3518-A in the Macs catalog.

Hot Rod Reverend · 01-26-2016, 09:50 AM

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thank you... no wonder I missed that.

the part number is obviously from 1951, but Mac's does not list it to be used with anything before 1960. What is the deal with that I wonder?

Ole Don · 01-26-2016, 10:00 AM

Ford likes to confuse people. I worked there for thirty years, that's why I'm the way I am. I may never recover!

justold · 01-26-2016, 10:13 AM

Don't forget the spring under the stearing wheel , to keep pressure on the spacer .

LOWRIDER · 01-26-2016, 11:44 AM

It's listed to fit 50-59 Fords & 56 Mercs. Yes, don't forget the spring also as mentioned.

Daves55Sedan · 01-27-2016, 05:30 PM

Install the cone shaped split spacer with the small end of the spacer down into the bearing, then put the spring on top of the spacer. When the steering wheel is installed, the spring forces the cone shaped spacer down into the bearing keeping the steering shaft centered in the tube.
BTW, make sure you adjust the height of the steering column tube so that there is a very small gap between the bottom of the steering wheel and top of the steering tube hub so that they don't rub together. Tighten the clamp at the base of the steering tube very tight, because the spring pressure is great enough to push the steering tube downward if the clamp isn't tight enough.

01-25-2016, 10:11 PM	#1
Hot Rod Reverend Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 947	1956 Ford steering wheel question 1956 Ford Fairlane Steering Column... replacing a 55 column and wheel, so all parts outsourced. Look at the photo above. This column has a bearing on the ID of the tube. When the tube slides over the steering shaft, it does not even come close to contacting the OD of the shaft. The tube and the shaft are both 1956 Ford original parts. I have nothing but A. a turn signal switch and B. a steering wheel, that goes into the "cup area" of this steering column tube. Question: what keeps the shaft from "wobbling" in the tube near that bearing after the wheel is tightened down? I see nothing in my parts diagrams that leads me to believe there are any more parts but I am thinking that I am missing some type of heavy duty spring or something that goes between the steering wheel and rests on that bearing. Am I right? __________________ Lancaster, California Visit hotrodreverend.com to view hundreds of pictures and videos of the build of the 1955 Ford Club Sedan!

01-26-2016, 07:37 AM	#2
scrapiron Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Independence, VA Posts: 423	Re: 1956 Ford steering wheel question I think,, there should be a split conical ring under the wheel hub that meets the bearing when the wheel is in place.

01-26-2016, 07:37 AM	#3
LOWRIDER Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kingman Az. 86409 Posts: 423	Re: 1956 Ford steering wheel question I believe there's a cone shaped spacer that just slips over the shaft and rests on that upper bearing. Some of the older cars and trucks use that set up. __________________ Dan Kingman Az. 86409

01-26-2016, 08:17 AM	#4
Hot Rod Reverend Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 947	Re: 1956 Ford steering wheel question thanks fellas.... that cone shaped spacer is something I don't see in my diagrams, but who knows - odd things happen when it is all laid out. I have found other mistakes in the diagrams from Ford also. __________________ Lancaster, California Visit hotrodreverend.com to view hundreds of pictures and videos of the build of the 1955 Ford Club Sedan!

01-26-2016, 09:06 AM	#5
LOWRIDER Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kingman Az. 86409 Posts: 423	Re: 1956 Ford steering wheel question B1AZ-3518-A in the Macs catalog. __________________ Dan Kingman Az. 86409

01-26-2016, 09:50 AM	#6
Hot Rod Reverend Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 947	Re: 1956 Ford steering wheel question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) thank you... no wonder I missed that. the part number is obviously from 1951, but Mac's does not list it to be used with anything before 1960. What is the deal with that I wonder? __________________ Lancaster, California Visit hotrodreverend.com to view hundreds of pictures and videos of the build of the 1955 Ford Club Sedan!

01-26-2016, 10:00 AM	#7
Ole Don Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: St. Michael, Minnesota Posts: 1,713	Re: 1956 Ford steering wheel question Ford likes to confuse people. I worked there for thirty years, that's why I'm the way I am. I may never recover!

01-26-2016, 10:13 AM	#8
justold Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 58	Re: 1956 Ford steering wheel question Don't forget the spring under the stearing wheel , to keep pressure on the spacer .

01-26-2016, 11:44 AM	#9
LOWRIDER Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kingman Az. 86409 Posts: 423	Re: 1956 Ford steering wheel question It's listed to fit 50-59 Fords & 56 Mercs. Yes, don't forget the spring also as mentioned. __________________ Dan Kingman Az. 86409

01-27-2016, 05:30 PM	#10
Daves55Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granite City, Illinois Posts: 3,008	Re: 1956 Ford steering wheel question Install the cone shaped split spacer with the small end of the spacer down into the bearing, then put the spring on top of the spacer. When the steering wheel is installed, the spring forces the cone shaped spacer down into the bearing keeping the steering shaft centered in the tube. BTW, make sure you adjust the height of the steering column tube so that there is a very small gap between the bottom of the steering wheel and top of the steering tube hub so that they don't rub together. Tighten the clamp at the base of the steering tube very tight, because the spring pressure is great enough to push the steering tube downward if the clamp isn't tight enough.