Lower Steering Shaft

[Paul Fithian]

I've found quite a bit of play in steering on my 2001 Sport Trac, and traced it to the lower steering shaft.

I thought I had found a replacement in a junkyard, from a 3rd generation Explorer/Mountaineer. But closer inspection shows the parts are different. See picture comparing the two. Although this part will physically fit both ends and connect, the extra space between the lower connection and the U-Joint causes it to collide with the tubing support block on the driver's side.

The Ford catalog shows this as part no. 8l5z3b676b, referred to as only 3B676 on the attached.

Any other suggestions for a good, used source for this part?

 

[Paul Fithian]

The yard that I got the other shaft from found a Ranger with a matching shaft. It was tight, no play, but the boot was ruptured.

A few wraps of electrical tape made it look a whole lot better. Installed easily and really tightened up the steering.

 

[429CJ-3X2]

There's thread somewhere in the 2nd Gen Explorer section, I think, that says the rubber sleeve inside the steering shaft is what wears out / rots out. The early shafts, ('96 and earlier ?) had metal inner sleeves that don't get sloppy like the later ones with the rubber inner sleeves. They are a direct swap, and all you have to change is the lower section, or whichever section the other slides into. Should be the same as our Sport Tracs. This info stuck in my mind because I think that's where the slop in my '01's steering is. Wish I would have bookmarked that thread somehow!

 

[Paul Fithian]

I did see that thread when searching about steering play. But those older Explorers are hard to find, most of them have been crushed.

I was lucky that the 2007 Ranger that my new shaft came out of was low mileage.

 

[obie]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/index.php?threads/2nd-gen-steering-upgrade.379997/

Is this the one you were looking at?

 

[429CJ-3X2]

No, that's not it.

 

[Paul Fithian]

Still had some play in the steering, so I replaced it with a new shaft that I found on e-Bay for a good deal. Made in Liechtenstein!

Now the steering is finally tight. Part No. 8L5Z-3B676-B

 

[Kamz100]

I've found quite a bit of play in steering on my 2001 Sport Trac, and traced it to the lower steering shaft.

I thought I had found a replacement in a junkyard, from a 3rd generation Explorer/Mountaineer. But closer inspection shows the parts are different. See picture comparing the two. Although this part will physically fit both ends and connect, the extra space between the lower connection and the U-Joint causes it to collide with the tubing support block on the driver's side.

The Ford catalog shows this as part no. 8l5z3b676b, referred to as only 3B676 on the attached.

Any other suggestions for a good, used source for this part?View attachment 95520 View attachment 95521

I need a hard to find steering shaft for a 2005 for d explorer 4.0 do you think the 2001 explorer sport track steering shaft will work

 

[verydryice]

On a related issue, how do you reconnect the lower u joint to the pinion? I am replacing the rack and pinion and have a hard time to slide the u joint to the pinion.

 

[410Fortune]

It’s keyed it will only fit in one position
once you line it up it will
Slide right over the pinion and then you can install the pinch bolt

 

[verydryice]

It’s keyed it will only fit in one position
once you line it up it will
Slide right over the pinion and then you can install the pinch bolt

So it should slide right on to the new pinion without much effort? My U joint required me to use a flat screw driver and a hammer to knock it off the old pinion. The u joint is a bit rusty on the outside but I don't think that should matter. As for the positioning, I am aligning the pinch bolt holes with the horizontal notch on the pinion. Please let me know if I am aligning it incorrectly. Thanks for the help.

 

[410Fortune]

Little pb
Blaster and wiggle, should slide right on

Make sure you have lots of light so you can see

If you get the angle correct and the alignment correct it should go.