So I finally was able to tear apart the steering column to change the upper bearing for the steering column. Ensure the wheel is straight forward.
1) Disconnect the battery and make sure that the system does not have any left over voltage. I generally depress the brake pedal.
2) On the back of the steering wheel are two round plugs that cover the Airbag bolts. Use a small screwdriver to remove the covers.
3) I believe that the two bolts that hold the airbag to the steering wheel were 7mm.
4) The airbag just lifts off the steering wheel. Now disconnect the wiring harness for the airbag. (mine was a yellow covered set of wires.)
5) Place the airbag someplace that it will not get disturbed.
6) Remove the lower shield below the steering column.
7) Remove the key switch by turning to run position and depressing the pin that is accessible through the lower plastic trim. Pull out the key switch assembly.
8) Remove the plastic trim around the steering column. Three Phillips on the bottom and one at the very back right hand lower side.
9) Now you can see the clock spring. You will notice that the wires were broken off the clock spring.
10) Disconnect the other harness for the steering wheel controls.
11) The center bolt for the steering wheel is a torx. I cannot remember the size. I used a small impact drill to loosen the center bolt.12) Use your favorite puller to remove the steering wheel. The bolt holes in the steering wheel are 5/16-20 and I had some 3" bolts around.
12) The manual says to discard the bolt, but I reused the bolt with a little blue locktite.
13) when removing the steering wheel, guide the wires though the cutout in the steering wheel.
14) Place tape over the clock spring to prevent movement.
15) Disconnect the airbag and steering wheel wires running along the right side of the steering column. The wires hanging in the photo above was after I disconnected those from the car harness.
16) Remove the three torx bolts that hold the clock spring to the steering column.
For my particular case I needed to repair the wiring to my clock spring. The wires from the clock spring to the airbag and steering wheel controls were complete disconnected.
Look at those short little nubs. I used a Dremel to shave down the plastic to have enough wire to reattach the wires.
A few minutes with a soldering iron and some heat shrink I was able to successfully reattach the wires.
Now to continue with the way to the bearing.
17) Remove the turn signal switch assembly. I think I remember two screws and set aside. I was able to leave the assembly connected to the wiring.
18) Remove the whitish piece that is the turn signal cancel cam. This part just pulls off the steering shaft.
19) That exposes a snap ring that is a bugger to remove unless you have a large pair of external snap ring pliers. I purchased a set from Harbor Freight(
https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-external-straight-precision-snap-ring-pliers-57800.html)
20) Remove the spring and now you have access to the upper bearing.
My upper bearing was so damaged that I was able to use a screwdriver an pry out of the column.
21) clean the steering shaft to ready the new bearing.
22) Install the new bearing using a small punch and a hammer. Just go around easily as to not damage the bearing. The bearing went in fairly easy.
23) Add grease to the front of the bearing and both sides of the spring.
24) use a piece of 3/4" pvc pipe that is 2 /12" long to press on the new snapring back into position. I used the center bolt and a few washers to compress the sping and set into place the snap ring.
ford.oempartsonline.com
Part #4 in the diagram.
