Why would a steering column on a '96 Thunderbird need to be replaced?

Question

I was curious about why the steering column on a 1996 Thunderbird that I was thinking of buying for $1,200 was recently replaced. I didn't ask the man offering it to me for $1200 why he'd replaced it. The man sold the car to someone else the next day before I could get back with the money.

Answer 1

   On those columns if the turn signal switch or the wiper switch break its easier to replace the column than remove the column disassemble it and replace the individual switches. Also I had a customer come in with one that somehow he managed to turn the ignition 180 out (upside down) when I finally got the key assembly out it had stripped the column and needed to be replaced. I get them from automotive recyclers (junk yards that disassemble the cars themselves) rebuilt for the same price I pay for the 2 switches from the parts house.

Answer 2

your better off. probably cause it had a bad bearing and had slack in it.  

Answer 3

it could of ben the shaft in side of the column.

Answer 4

maybe the knuckle for the tilt went bad.

Answer 5

The car could have been in an accident and the steering column was collapsed.

The bearings in the column could have been faulty.