Wanted Lower steering shaft

[bile]

PLEASE!! I need help. I need to locate a Lower Steering Shaft for a 1995 Ford Explorer XLT. 4 door auto. The original Ford part number is (F77Z3B676EA). It is no longer made and the ones I'm getting from junk yards are lasting less than 6 months. Does anyone on this site possibly have one lying around their garage, in a box in the attic, friends storage unit. The only thing wrong with my truck is this part. It only has 75,000 miles on it. I want this truck to last me another 5-10 years. I don't want to have to get rid of it just because of this part headache. PLEASE HELP!!

 

[koda2000]

PLEASE!! I need help. I need to locate a Lower Steering Shaft for a 1995 Ford Explorer XLT. 4 door auto. The original Ford part number is (F77Z3B676EA). It is no longer made and the ones I'm getting from junk yards are lasting less than 6 months. Does anyone on this site possibly have one lying around their garage, in a box in the attic, friends storage unit. The only thing wrong with my truck is this part. It only has 75,000 miles on it. I want this truck to last me another 5-10 years. I don't want to have to get rid of it just because of this part headache. PLEASE HELP!!

if all else fails, there's a company called Borgenson (I think that's how it's spelled). they make aftermarket steering related parts to connect pretty much anything to anything (shafts, joints, supports, isolators). I've used their stuff for 20 years on modified installations (eg: '80 trans am column in a '37 Ford with IFS and rack & pinion steering). their prices aren't bad for plain steel stuff and quality is excellent.

 

[blueka]

I'm pretty sure I've got one

Si

 

[bile]

Thank you Koda,.I sent them an email. Let's see what they say. Blueka,.you may possibly have one? Please double check and let me know. I even have a picture of it for comparison.

 

[delexploder]

How are you breaking them?

 

[bile]

They are not breaking. The knuckle area is binding and knocking.

 

[1996BLKBauer]

They are not breaking. The knuckle area is binding and knocking.

Mine does the same thing, you can get various aftermarket company's to make you one for around $120-$150.... I know somebody recently got one made for a '98 I believe from Flaming River Products, give them a call, or an email, with dimensions, and what not, and you should be able to get an exact fit replacement. This is the next thing for my truck, after I fix all the Electrical issues I just found.

 

[bile]

Yes. I sent Flaming River and Borgeson emails yesterday. Crossed my fingers and am praying someone can help. Thank you.

 

[albi1cnobi1]

I replaced my 99's with parts from Flaming river. The u-joint they list for Fords is for a Mustang rack and won't fit. The part # you need is FR1789P. Here is the link to my replacement thread.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=379997
You will see in the pics that the u-joint has a different part # than the one I listed. That's because I originally bought the one listed for Ford racks and found that the truck racks have a larger input shaft. After talking to Flaming Rivers' tech support(they are outstanding by the way) we went with the joint that fits their rack and it was a perfect fit.

 

[koda2000]

I replaced my 99's with parts from Flaming river. The u-joint they list for Fords is for a Mustang rack and won't fit. The part # you need is FR1789P. Here is the link to my replacement thread.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=379997
You will see in the pics that the u-joint has a different part # than the one I listed. That's because I originally bought the one listed for Ford racks and found that the truck racks have a larger input shaft. After talking to Flaming Rivers' tech support(they are outstanding by the way) we went with the joint that fits their rack and it was a perfect fit.

I agree. Flaming Fiver is another good source for steering related parts.

 

[albi1cnobi1]

Steering is as smooth as a baby's bum. Steers like it did when it was new.

 

[bile]

So I heard back from both companies. Borgeson said to send my part to them and they will try to duplicate it. Flaming River told me to take all these measurements of stuff that I don't know what they mean. Think I'm going with Borgeson. I'm a 95 Ford. 99 parts wont fit it,.I think.

 

[koda2000]

So I heard back from both companies. Borgeson said to send my part to them and they will try to duplicate it. Flaming River told me to take all these measurements of stuff that I don't know what they mean. Think I'm going with Borgeson. I'm a 95 Ford. 99 parts wont fit it,.I think.

the first time I dealt with Borgeson (over 20 years ago) I was a "noobe" and had no idea how to accomplish what I was trying to do. I found them to be super helpful in explaining to me how to determine what I needed and how to measure. they sent me the correct parts the first time and everything fit and worked perfectly. one thing I'll advise you to do is to use red Loctite on the set screws that attach the u-joints to the rod (or weld them together once you have everything lined up where you want). I've never personally dealt with Flaming River, but I know they sell a quality product (although I find they tend to be rather expensive).

 

[albi1cnobi1]

The lower shafts are interchangeable from 95 to 01. I already went through all of the measuring and the parts that I listed are what we came up with. They fit perfectly.

 

[sport97]

The lower shafts are interchangeable from 95 to 01. I already went through all of the measuring and the parts that I listed are what we came up with. They fit perfectly.

I do not believe this is true. I have not measured myself but I was looking into a replacement as well and came across threads mentioning that they switched the design of the shaft somewhere along the road.

Regardless I am following this thread as something is starting to get a bit sloppy in my steering. Pretty sure its the knuckle on the shaft. Then again the explorer will probably be out of my life in a few months...

 

[albi1cnobi1]

Yes, they did change the design but the upper and lower ends are the same.

 

[bile]

Ok,.so I just got my truck back from the dealership. Same symptoms as last year. So I was assuming it was the same issue(since the replacement part was from a yard). This time Ford said they didnt feel and play in the shaft when they touched it. I had them replace it anyway. Welp..it's worse. It's time to get rid of this because I'm too tired of Ford!!

 

[sport97]

Have someone move the steering wheel while you watch where the slop is. If the shaft is tight watch the output shaft on the steering box. If the steering shaft moves and the output from the box doesn't its the box. Just keep following the movement, check the tierods etc. Something will have slop somewhere...

 

[bile]

Everything you just said there was Chinese to me. I don't do my own stuff on it. That's Fords deal. I'm just going to get rid of it. It won't make noise unless the truck is on and it's moving.

 

[sport97]

Oh i see now, i was thinking you had the opposite issue, with the steering being loose. By getting rid of it you mean you are going to sell the explorer over this issue? Why not try a mechanic that isn't the dealer. The deal guys mostly work on newer cars and maybe haven't had this issue. A smaller garage that works on peoples older cars may have seen this issue before.