My steering column has been incredibly loose for a while, and i never really bothered to look into it. And when my dad got in to move it a little bit ago without the key (engine is out), he turned pretty much the whole steering column with the steering lock on and basically ruined it. The little ignition rod snapped, and the column feels seriously loose now. Where can i get new steering column parts? There are no trucks in the nearby junk yard for me, so thats out. Any other ideas?

 

You could tear it down and see if you can find the problem, and maybe find a redneck fix for it. Other then that I would put a want ad in the classified section, as well as on your local craigslist or other on-line sites.

You have a 90, so they should be similar column used on all rams, ramchargers from 90,89,88...and maybe back a few years earlier? Gasser column will work too.

 

Alright ill try that, thank you. Have any idea if the ignition parts from a gasser would work?

 

Gasser columns are the same part, wheel to coupler, '88-1990.
You can even use a Dakota column of similar years to rebuild parts of yours, as well.

Hint: Don't have it, but want tilt and/or cruise control?
Use the Dakota upper end and your original lower jacket and shaft.

Mark.

 

Ill look into it, thank you. I do have tilt and cruise. That whole **** assembly is super loose though.

By the way, i dont know why my sig only shows up on one post, kind of annoying

 

I did not know that...Thanks Mark!

 

Your signature only shows up on your first post because that is the way DTR was set up.

Jim

 

We just had a Saginaw column for a Steiger tractor rebuilt by an outfit called Columns Galore this winter. It was wallered out pretty bad down by the tilting hinge and new parts from Case would have run somewhere around $1400 plus reassembly.
columnsgalore

 

Ah! I didn't know if it was my computer or what. Thanks for clearing that up!

I sent a request for pricing just now, we'll see how it turns out. Thanks for the link.

 

I rebuilt mine. Wouldn't go as far as to call it redneck, it will probably last longer than the first one did. The lower bearing was shot. It's 2"OD and 1" ID, so I got a 1-piece, flanged ball bearing online. The old bearing wore the shaft down some too, so I built it up with a the welder, and took it back down with the lathe. The upper bearing is a really goofy size, and I couldn't find one, so I made a bushing out of teflon on the lathe. The rivets were kindof loose on the mesh part, and I didn't want to make it too strong, in case of an accident, so I put a heavy duty hose clamp around it. I gave everything a sand blast and shot of paint and put it back together.