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About Douglas Gan
Expertise
My specialties are stolen vehicles, steering column and ignition locks repair, airbag service and installation and diagnosis. My work includes both domestic (USA) vehicles and foreign designs.

Experience
30 years owning a company that specializes in steering columns, ignition & airbag related problems

Education/Credentials
GM certified, ASE certified, 4 yrs college, Mech Tech degree
I own multiple auto repair companies and can help you professionally through any of our websites at:
www.stolenandrecovered.com ---- we stock many older steering column parts and can rebuild your column if you ship it to us
www.airbagsolutions.com --- we sell airbag replacement information (no parts)
www.autoinformationservices.com -- we perform investigations for many types of vehicle claims
Please feel free to contact us through any of our websites for more information or help

You are here: Experts > Home/Garden > Auto Repair > Steering Column Repair > Steering Column Lock Actuator

Steering Column Repair - Steering Column Lock Actuator

Expert: Douglas Gan - 11/2/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have an 87 ford f150 non tilt steering column with the automatic trans shift on the column. The steering column lock actuator is broken. I have removed the steering wheel and turn signal etc but cannot figure out what to do next to get the old actuator out and replace it. Any help?

ANSWER: Hi Robert:

Here are the instructions for replacing that piece.
1) remove the horn pad
2) remove the steering wheel
3) remove the 3 screws for the turn signal switch
4) under the dash and column disconnect the turn signal wire connector (large gray connector)
5) pull the turn signal switch up about 3 inches to give you room...you do not need to remove it
6) remove the 3 screws for the steering column outer housing
7) remove the lock cylinder (turn to on and depress the release pin under the lock
8) remove the housing
9) remove the snap ring from the center of the column shaft
10) remove the tile spring (it's hard to do so be VERY CAREFUL)
11) remove the two pivot pins on the side of the tilt housing
12) remove the tilt housing (catching the gear mechanism that drops)
13) part of the broken rack is still in the shift tube (on top)...it’s the part that is locking the shifter. With a right angle pick, slide the long piece up and remove it from the tube
14) remove the roll pin holding the rack actuator to the rod... DON'T LOSE THIS PIECE
15) reassemble
16) putting the lock cylinder back in sync is the hard part. You will need to remove the snap ring and bearing from inside the housing and reset all of that to the correct timing or you will not have all the positions ACC, OFF, ON, START

We stock this part and can ship it out as early as today. Enclosed is a photo of the part to confirm your request.
Visit our website at www.stolenandrecovered.com

The price for your order would be $16.63 for the parts, plus $8.50 (S & H) totaling $25.13.

If you would like to proceed, please let us know how you would like to make payment. We accept Paypal (through another email address), Mastercard, Visa & Discover (by phone or by email). We would also need to know the shipping address to send the part to. Once we have this information, an email confirmation of your order will be sent along with a copy of your invoice.

We look forward to hearing back from you.
Doug

IMAGE: ford rack actuator

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I do not have a tilt housing. Are the instructions much different?

Answer
Robert:

I'm sorry. This seems to be a common problem posted here for the tilt style & I didn't read your question carefully. Can you post or send me a picture of your column? From the picture I can tell you what to do or if it's the same. I don't remember both designs 20 years ago.
My email is dgan@stolenandrecovered.com
Thanks

Doug

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