Steering Column - Removal and Installation

BUICK REAR WHEEL DRIVE MODELS & 1982---85 RIVIERA
Removal
1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Remove clamp bolt from coupling at lower end of column shift.
3. Disconnect shift linkage from shift tube lever at lower end of steering column.
4. Remove steering wheel.
5. Remove cover and toe pan screws then the trim cap or lower trim panel.
6. If equipped with column shift automatic transmission, remove shift indicator cable clip from shift housing bowl.
7. Remove two nuts holding column to bracket and lower column assembly.
8. Disconnect all wiring connectors from column and remove column from vehicle.
9. If intermediate shaft removal is necessary, remove shaft attaching nut and bolt from shaft clamp and pull steering gear shaft. If spacers are used on bracket bolts, retain them for use during installation.

Fig. 1 Steering column installation (Typical). Buick Rear Wheel Drive & 1982---85 Riviera; Oldsmobile Rear Wheel Drive & 1982---85 Toronado & 1982---84 Pontiac Intermediate exc. front wheel drive:

Installation
1. If intermediate shaft was removed, install intermediate shaft on steering gear shaft and torque nut to 30 lb ft
2. Carefully position column from inside of vehicle through cowl opening.
3. Connect all wiring to column.
4. Raise column and loosely install nuts A and B, Fig. 1. If spacers were removed, install equal thickness on each side.
5. Install intermediate shaft onto steering column shaft. Install clamp bolt and nut and torque to 50 lb ft
6. Check flex coupling for alignment. If coupling is not properly aligned, it will be necessary to move column assembly. Flex coupling must be straight within 1/16 inch without bottoming intermediate shaft coupling.
7. Install and torque toe pan screws in sequence shown in Fig. 1 to 48 lb in
8. Torque steering column bracket nuts (A and B) to 20 lb ft
9. If equipped with column shift automatic transmission, install shift indicator needle.
10. Check flex coupling and intermediate shaft for bottoming. If either is bottoming, it will be necessary to loosen pan bolts and steering column bracket nuts (A and B), then lift upward and rearward on column assembly. Torque toe pan bolts to 48 lb in and steering column bracket nuts (A and B) to 20 lb ft
11. Install cover over toe pan and lower trim panel on instrument panel.
12. Install steering wheel if removed.
13. Install flex coupling shield, then connect battery ground cable.
14. Adjust neutral safety switch and/or back-up light switch, if necessary.