Removal and Installation

When servicing collapsible steering columns, care should be exercised since they are extremely susceptible to damage. Dropping of or leaning on column or striking sharp blows on end of steering shaft or shift levers could loosen or shear plastic fasteners which maintain column rigidity. It is important that only the specified screws, bolts and nuts be used during the mandatory reassembly sequence and torqued to specifications to insure proper breakaway action of column under impact. Avoid using excessively long bolts as they may prevent a portion of the steering column from collapsing under impact. When removing or installing, steering wheel, ignition switch or lock, turn signal switch, adjusting transmission linkage, or installing and adjusting neutral-start or back-up light switch, refer to appropriate car chapter. If a shift tube shows a sheared plastic injection, a new shift tube must be installed. If a steering shaft shows a sheared plastic, or if the steering column has been collapsed a complete new column must be installed. On some models, the attaching brackets will shear under impact and must also be replaced.

Fig. 15 Exploded View Of Steering Column:

Removal

1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Raise and support vehicle.
3. Loosen steering shaft U-joint clamp bolt, then lower the vehicle.
4. Remove screws retaining upper and lower steering column trim covers, then the covers.
5. Remove screw retaining hood release bracket.
6. Working from below the instrument panel, remove screws retaining sound deadening panel, then the panel.
7. Remove screws retaining cowl side trim panel. Carefully pull trim panel outward, disconnect courtesy lamp, then place panel aside.
8. Remove screws retaining left lower instrument panel, then carefully lower panel, disconnect speaker wires and place panel aside.
9. Remove steering column mounting bracket nuts and washers.
10. Disconnect turn signal, headlight, wiper/washer, horn, ignition switch gang and ignition switch bullet electrical connectors.
11. Pull outward on the steering wheel to disengage steering shaft from universal joint clamp.
12. Remove steering column from vehicle.

Installation

1. Position steering column in vehicle.
2. Raise and support vehicle.
3. Install steering column. While centering the steering wheel have an assistant align U-joint clamp with the steering shaft.
4. Lower the vehicle.
5. Reconnect turn signal, headlight, wiper/washer, horn, ignition switch gang and ignition switch bullet electrical connectors.
6. Install mounting bracket with retaining washers and nuts. Torque nuts to 13-16 ft. lbs.
7. Reconnect cowl side trim panel courtesy lamp, then install the trim panel.
8. Reconnect left lower instrument panel speaker wires, then install the instrument panel.
9. Install sound deadening panel and hood release bracket.
10. Install steering column lower and upper trim covers.
11. Raise and support vehicle, then torque steering shaft universal joint clamp bolt to 14-19 ft. lbs.
12. Lower vehicle and reconnect battery ground cable.