Hey y'all,

So after not having my truck for around 3 months, I got it back today.

On the drive home from the dealership, I noticed a lot of play in the steering that I don't remember being there before.

When I got home, I popped the hood just to see if there was anything obviously wrong with the steering shaft, and I saw this:



Is this bolt supposed to be tightened all the way? Is there some process for setting its position?

The truck was in the shop for a misfire and had a cylinder head replaced, so I wouldn't think the shop would have touched the steering components.

Any ideas why there would be more play than usual? (Or maybe I'm just not used to driving a truck after 3 months of driving cars)

 

I go into a Ford dealership usually at least once a day on deliveries, not hugely uncommon to see a
F150 or 250 with cab up on lift and chassis on floor for some types of engine work. That is a pinch bolt
that pinches the yoke to the upper steering shaft, tightening it will remove that play.

Not saying your's was taken off, but if they'll pull a cab .... they'll move a steering column for room. It
looks like they at the least loosened it and slid the yoke and lower shaft off the upper shaft. My '07's upper
shaft extends maybe 3/8" past into open area. Notice the blue lock tight stuff.

 

I went ahead and tightened that bolt to the recommended torque value in the service manual, and from the 3 minutes of driving I've done today, the play seems to have disappeared. I'll post back if it's not resolved.

 

What was the recommended torque for that bolt? I wonder, which cylinder head did they replace?

 

Passenger side head was replaced.

Torque was 35ftlb, if I remember correctly.