Steering Column - Disassemble

Fig. 13 Tilt steering column and components. Automatic transmission,exc. Astro Van, S/T 10-15 & Safari:

Fig. 14 Tilt steering column and components. Manual transmission, exc. Astro Van, S/T 10-15 & Safari:

1. Remove steering column mounting bracket from steering column.
2. Using tool J-23074 or equivalent, mount steering column assembly onto a suitable vise.
3. On Caballero and El Camino models, remove steering wheel nut retainer, nut and steering wheel.
4. On C, G and K models, remove turn signal switch, lock cylinder and ignition switch. Remove tilt release lever, Figs. 13 and 14.
5. On Caballero and El Camino models, pry cover from column housing. Depress lock plate and pry snap ring from groove. Remove lock plate canceling cam and upper bearing spring.
6. On C, G and K models, remove turn signal housing attaching screws, then the housing. Install tilt release lever, and position steering column into full up (tilt) position. Remove tilt lever spring retainer, spring and guide. Remove pot joint-to-steering shaft clamp bolt, then the intermediate shaft and pot joint assembly. Push on upper steering shaft, then pry off lower bearing retainer clip, bearing reinforcement, bearing and bearing adapter assembly from lower end of column jacket.



7. On Caballero and El Camino models, remove tilt release lever, hazard warning knob and upper shift lever from shift bowl. Remove turn signal switch actuator attaching screw, then the arm. Remove turn signal switch mounting screws. Remove turn signal switch wire protector and electrical connector from bracket. Position shift bowl into ``low'' shift position and remove switch. Remove lock cylinder, buzzer and dimmer switch actuator rod.
8. On Caballero and El Camino models, install tilt release lever and place column in full up (Tilt) position. Remove tilt spring retainer, spring and guide. Remove dimmer switch attaching screws, then disconnect and remove dimmer switch from actuating rod.
9. Remove upper bearing housing pivot pins.
10. Disengage lock shoes, then remove bearing housing.
11. Remove steering shaft from upper end of steering column.
12. Remove upper bearing and inner race.
13. Remove steering shaft centering spheres and anti-lash spring.
14. On Caballero and El Camino models, remove support bolts, then the support and dimmer switch actuator rod.
15. On C, G and K models, remove steering shaft housing support to gearshift housing attaching bolts, then the housing support. Remove ignition switch actuator rod.
16. Remove shift tube retaining ring and thrust washer.
17. On C, G and K models, install tool J-23072 into lock plate. Turning tool center screw clockwise, force shift tube from housing. Remove shift tube (transmission control lock tube on floor shift models) from lower end of steering column jacket.
18. On Caballero and El Camino models, install tool J-23072 into lock plate. Insert bushing end of tool into shift tube, then force tube out of shift bowl. Lower shift lever must be aligned with ``T'' slot to remove shift tube.
19. Remove lock plate and wave washer.
20. On C, G and K models, remove shift lever housing from column jacket. Remove shift lever spring.
21. On Caballero and El Camino models, remove shift lever spring from shift bowl.
22. To disassemble bearing housing, proceed as follows:
a. Remove tilt lever opening shield.
b. Remove lock bolt spring.
c. Remove snap ring from sector drive shaft.
d. Remove drive shaft, sector and lock bolt.
e. Remove rack and rack spring.
f. Remove lock shoe retaining pin, lock shoes and springs.
g. Remove bearings from housing. Remove bearings from bearing housing only if bearings require replacement.