Steering Column: Testing and Inspection

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT





The steering column intermediate shaft and its universal joint couplers must be inspected whenever any of the following conditions exist:
- After the vehicle has been involved in a collision which deploys the airbag, regardless of the extent of damage done to the vehicle.
- After the vehicle has been involved in an undercarriage impact which results in any type of damage to the front suspension crossmember.
- Under any conditions which result in the steering column assembly or steering column shaft receiving a force great enough to move the steering column or shaft forward of rearward in a vehicle.
Inspect the intermediate shaft and its universal joint couplers for any of the following conditions:
- seized or binding bearings
- loose bearing stakes
- bearings not fully seated in the coupler yoke
- bent intermediate shaft
Presence of any of the above faulty conditions call for replacement of the entire steering column intermediate shaft.