QuestionQUESTION: HI,
I have a '95 Ford thunderbird that I need to replace the ignition rack actuator. I'm familiar with most of the job from disassembling GM columns but I can't figure out how to disconnect the tilt mechanism from the rear part of the column, so i can slide the front piece over the shaft and remove the bad rack actuator from the rear of that piece. There is a pin at the very back of the two arms of the tilt mechanism just below the springs, but it doesn't look like it's made to come out.
Thanks.
ford tilt housing in h
ANSWER: Hi Eric:
You're almost there...
Don't remove any pins from the housing, it's not necessary. Make sure you have the heavy tilt spring out before the next steps!
1) Remove the snap ring and upper bearing retainers from the shaft
2) Remove the 2 T30 torx bolts from the sides of the housing
3) Using the tilt lever, release the tilt arms from the housing. The arms stay on the lower housing while the pivot pin and housing come off as an assembly (see photo)
Assembly
1) Find the missing steel pin that fell out of the old rack gear. You don't want that in there loose.
2) You will need to grind a little edge off the new rack to allow it to rotate into the lower actuator without further dis-assembly. You will see what I'm talking about when you try to assemble it.
Aside from that, putting the housing back in place requires seating the shaft on the lower (inner) bearing with a long flat-bladed screwdriver from the bottom or the bearing will never sit right. Once you seat that lower bearing and shaft, it should assemble fine. Putting the tilt spring in place challenges some people also. Lastly, don't force the T-30's or you run the risk of breaking the ear off the lower housing. If it's all seated correctly, the pins will gently thread back into place.
Good luck
Doug
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Great! It came off easier than I thought! One more question...I don't see an obvious way to remove the old actuator from the housing. I'm thinking the geared piece must be removed through the part of the housing where the lock goes in order to release the bad actuator but I don't want to go prying something that isn't meant to come apart. There's a green plastic disc in the area where the lock goes that has a bit of play in it. Does this need to be removed to get the bad actuator out and how is the best way to remove it?
Answer
Ford housing & gear
Hi Eric:
Yes, the inner gears of the lock cylinder need to come out to assemble it. The green plastic retainer simply snaps off, the next piece is called a thrust washer and rotates 90 degrees and then comes out. The last piece is the important piece; the gear. It will just fall out after the thrust washer is out of the way, but it needs to go back in, in only 1 position, otherwise you will jam the lock cylinder and never get it apart again.
When you assemble the housing, put these in after the bearings are seated & the snap ring is on the shaft. Push the yellow ignition rack actuator so the ignition is in the "on" position (lights come on, but not started). Insert the gear EXACTLY as the picture shows with the notch of the gear aligned parallel with the slots in the housing. Then insert the thrust washer, and rotate it 90 degrees to lock the gear in place. The two inner slots should then look perfectly aligned in place. Lastly snap on the green retainer.
Once all of that is in place, you can then insert the lock to make sure you have all the positions and then remove it again to finish the job.
