Manual Column Shift linkage (lever) bushing flaring

[FoMoCoBronCo]

Hi, I recently purchased a NOS 1971 Ford Bronco "BUSHING & INSULATOR KIT" Part # C5TZ-7343-A. I have a manual transmission with column shifter and the 1st gear & reverse gear linkage bushing was shot.

I removed all the old parts and saved the washer and wavy clip. After getting the rubber bushing and brass sleeve installed, I realized that the metal part of the bushing needs to be flared flat at the end to keep the washer and rubber bushing all compressed together as one piece, and also to make room for the groove again for the wavy clip to sit in.

The old brass bushing had that flared end that I had to crush with a pair of lineman pliers to get everything out.

I'm wondering if there is a special flaring tool that Ford used to make this specific flare and, if so, where could I find it? Or is there a flaring tool that most mechanics use to accomplish this? I don't think my brake line flaring tool will work because it doesn't leave a 90-degree bend at the tip- it would be angled instead

 

[Oldtimer]

You may want to look at tool for setting grommets in tarps?

 

[FoMoCoBronCo]

You may want to look at tool for setting grommets in tarps?

Have you had luck with those before? I checked out a couple and they were all cheap/flimsy …really doubt they would flare this bushing.

I’m sure Ford technicians had some sort of tool or workaround when facing the need to pull these bushings. I’m wondering if they maybe went back with a different style after pulling the factory ones?

 

[Oldtimer]

Never tried it on Ford bushing.
The bushing looked like a tarp grommet, and I thought of it.
Nothing flimsy with the one I have. It is a couple of pieces of cast steel.

 

[prouddadofthree]

Hi, I recently purchased a NOS 1971 Ford Bronco "BUSHING & INSULATOR KIT" Part # C5TZ-7343-A. I have a manual transmission with column shifter and the 1st gear & reverse gear linkage bushing was shot.

I removed all the old parts and saved the washer and wavy clip. After getting the rubber bushing and brass sleeve installed, I realized that the metal part of the bushing needs to be flared flat at the end to keep the washer and rubber bushing all compressed together as one piece, and also to make room for the groove again for the wavy clip to sit in.

The old brass bushing had that flared end that I had to crush with a pair of lineman pliers to get everything out.

I'm wondering if there is a special flaring tool that Ford used to make this specific flare and, if so, where could I find it? Or is there a flaring tool that most mechanics use to accomplish this? I don't think my brake line flaring tool will work because it doesn't leave a 90-degree bend at the tip- it would be angled instead

Did you get this fixed and how so? I’m currently replacing mine and just ran into the same problem.

 

[FoMoCoBronCo]

Did you get this fixed and how so? I’m currently replacing mine and just ran into the same problem.

Unfortunately, there is no tool to do it in place. Here are the options I found:

1. If you want to keep that same style of bushing, you have to pull the steering column. You then have two options. First, nearly all the vendors, sell replacement shift lever arms with the insulator and bushing already pressed on. Just Google search your year and the key words “Bronco shift lever arm.” Second, you can keep your shift lever arms and purchase a “bushing and insulator replacement kit.” Then you will have to use a rounded tool like a ball peen hammer to flare the bushing out, then finish with a flat faced hammer to flatten it out. There is a really good YouTube video on doing this by Tom’s Off-road.

2. Use the 73 & up style linkage arms that take the “snap-in” style bushings and use those. I’m not certain that this would not require some fabrication or modification to those linkage arms.

3. Fabricate some sort of bushing yourself.

I decided to pull my steering column and fix some other things and flare the bushings myself. It turned out just fine. If that is the only issue with your steering column, it might be worth exploring option two or three to save yourself the labor hours of pulling the column. It’s a PITA by yourself.