Space between steering wheel and column cover after column swap

boostfrk · Jan 6, 2012

I swapped a non-tilt column into my '90 LX (back to how it originally came). The column came from an '85 and everything bolted up perfectly, but now when I put the non-tilt column covers on there is a large space (1.5" - 2")between the back of the steering wheel and the column cover. It's as if the shaft which the steering wheel bolts to is too long.

What am I missing here to make this work and close this gap?

ID89GT · Jan 6, 2012

Pictures would help

boostfrk · Jan 7, 2012

ID89GT said:
Pictures would help

Pictures below...

wythors · Jan 7, 2012

If you're not using an airbag wheel, that would account for it.

boostfrk · Jan 8, 2012

wythors said:
If you're not using an airbag wheel, that would account for it.

It's an airbag wheel

Mustang5L5 · Jan 9, 2012

Unfortunately, you used the wrong column. You need a 90-92 column. 1993 might work too, but i think some of the eletrical hookups changed.

As you've noticed, where the wheel is located changed from the non-airbag years to when ford put the airbag in starting in 1990. The non-airbag years had smaller thinner profile wheels, so the columns were longer to put the wheel closer to the driver. The aurbag wheels are bigger, so they hold the steering wheel farther away.

Unfortunately only fix is a custom job, or get the correct year column

boostfrk · Jan 9, 2012

Mustang5L5 said:
Unfortunately, you used the wrong column. You need a 90-92 column. 1993 might work too, but i think some of the eletrical hookups changed.

As you've noticed, where the wheel is located changed from the non-airbag years to when ford put the airbag in starting in 1990. The non-airbag years had smaller thinner profile wheels, so the columns were longer to put the wheel closer to the driver. The aurbag wheels are bigger, so they hold the steering wheel farther away.

Unfortunately only fix is a custom job, or get the correct year column

I was afraid of this. By "custom" are you referring to shortening of the column where the wheel attaches to the shaft? Is there where I would want to shorten the column? I'm guessing I would have to re-thread the hole in the center as well for mounting the steering wheel?

Mustang5L5 · Jan 9, 2012

Custom meaning anything you do will be pretty much uncharted territory. Or, a custom column shroud if you can live with the steering wheel distance.

Unfortunately short of changing out the column, that's your only option

boostfrk · Jan 11, 2012

Mustang5L5 said:
Custom meaning anything you do will be pretty much uncharted territory. Or, a custom column shroud if you can live with the steering wheel distance.

Unfortunately short of changing out the column, that's your only option

I found a column from a '92 and swapped it in. Works perfect and no more wobble.

Space between steering wheel and column cover after column swap

boostfrk

ID89GT

boostfrk

wythors

Get off my lawn!!!

boostfrk

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

boostfrk

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

boostfrk

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Space between steering wheel and column cover after column swap

Get off my lawn!!!

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

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