1989 Ford F-250 Steering Wheel Removal

The Ford F-250 is the longest running pickup sold in America, alongside its big brother, the F-350. This heavy-duty pickup dates back to the 1948 release of the F-2 pickup. In the 1953 model year, Ford changed the F-2s name to the F-250 along with giving the full-size pickup a sleeker appearance. The 1989 F-250 came standard with a 150-horsepower, 4.9-liter six-cylinder engine and power steering. Replacing the steering wheel in the 1989 F-250 requires using a special tool to disengage the wheel from the steering column shaft.

Instructions

Removal

1

Turn the steering wheel so the wheels are facing straight.

2

Remove the screw, using a Phillips screwdriver, on the rear of the steering wheel that secures the steering wheel pad to the steering wheel.

3

Pull the steering wheel pad from the steering wheel, and find the ground wire on the left side of the steering wheel. If equipped with cruise control, trace the ground wire toward the steering wheel until you reach its wiring harness. Squeeze the release button on the wiring harness and pull it away from its receptacle. If the F-250 does not have cruise control, pull the two wires coming from the pad from the terminals on the steering wheel.

4

Match mark the steering wheel to the steering column shaft with white marking paint. Remove the steering-wheel retaining nut with a ratchet and socket.

5

Remove the steering wheel using a steering wheel puller. This process varies depending on the style of puller used, so refer to the pullers instructions for specific direction.

Installation

6

Set the old steering wheel next to the new steering wheel, if you are replacing the steering wheel, and paint a match mark line in approximately the same area as is on the original steering wheel. You will likely not get the line perfect, but you can correct this later.

7

Install the steering wheel on the steering column shaft, lining up the match mark on the steering wheel with that on the steering column shaft. Press the steering wheel onto the steering column until it seats on the part of the shaft with splines.

8

Hand-tighten a new steering wheel retaining nut onto the steering column shaft. Tighten the steering column nut from 30 to 42 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and a socket, while holding the steering wheel in place.

9

Plug the steering wheel pads harness into its receptacle in the steering wheel, if the F-250 has cruise control. On F-250s without cruise control, press the connectors on the end of each wire on the steering wheel pad onto the terminals on the steering wheel you can plug either wire into either terminal.

10

Set the steering wheel pad back onto the steering wheel and tighten its retaining screw with a Phillips screwdriver.

11

Take the truck to a automotive repair facility to have an alignment performed, if you replaced the steering wheel with a new or used one. This compensates for any small imperfections when transferring the match mark line to the replacement wheel.