Steering Column: Service and Repair

Steering Column

Removal

Caution: Do not remove the steering columns, steering wheel and driver side air bag module as an assembly from the vehicle unless the steering column us locked to prevent rotation, or lower end of steering shaft is wired in such a way to prevent steering wheel from being rotated.

Note: All steering column components are assembled with fasteners. They are designed with a thread locking system to prevent loosening due to vibrations associated with normal vehicle operation.

1. Make sure that vehicle's front wheels are in the straight-ahead position. Disconnect battery ground cable and air bag backup power supply.
2. Remove steering wheel.
3. Remove RH and LH lower mouldings from instrument panel by pulling up and snapping out of retainers.
4. Remove instrument panel steering column cover.
5. Remove air bag sliding contact.
6. Remove tilt wheel handle and shank by unscrewing it from steering column.
7. Rotate ignition switch lock cylinder to RUN position. Using a 1/8-inch drift, depress ignition switch retaining pins through access hole and remove ignition switch lock cylinder.






8. Remove four retaining screws from lower steering column shroud and remove lower steering column shroud and upper steering column shroud.
9. Remove two instrument panel reinforcement brace bolts. Remove reinforcement.






10. Remove steering column to parking brake control shake brace.






11. Disconnect shift cable and bracket from steering actuator housing by removing one screw.






12. Remove two multi-function switch retaining screws and set multi-function switch aside.
13. Remove pinch bolt from steering column lower yoke to lower steering column shaft. Compress lower steering column shaft toward engine and separate it from steering column lower yoke.
14. Disconnect shift cable and bracket from transmission column shift selector tube lever pivot.
15. Remove shift cable and bracket from lower column mounting.
16. Remove harness for shift lock actuator solenoid. While supporting steering column, remove four steering column tube retaining nuts. Lower steering column and disconnect vacuum hoses at parking brake release switch or remove vacuum release assembly.






17. Remove steering column from vehicle.

Installation

1. Align the steering column lower yoke to lower steering column shaft. Install one bolt and tighten to 25 - 35 Nm ( 18 - 25 ft lbs ).
2. Connect parking brake release switch vacuum hoses.
3. Support the steering column to steering column support bracket. Install four retaining nuts and tighten to 13 - 19 Nm ( 9 - 14 ft lbs ).
4. Position shift cable and bracket to lower two screws of steering actuator housing. Tighten to 7 - 11 Nm ( 62 - 97 in lbs ).
5. Snap shift cable and bracket onto shift selector pivot ball.
6. Position multi-function switch and install two retaining screws. Tighten to 2 - 3 Nm ( 18 - 26 in lbs ).
7. Connect all electrical connectors.
8. Install transmission shift cable and bracket loop on shift selector hook, and install transmission range selector cable bracket to steering actuator housing. Install retaining screw.
9. Install instrument panel reinforcement brace and secure with two retaining bolts.
10. Install lower instrument panel cover.
11. Snap RH and LH lower instrument panel mouldings into place.
12. Install upper steering column shroud and lower steering column shroud.
13. Install ignition switch lock cylinder assembly.
14. Install tilt wheel handle and shank onto steering column lock cylinder housing.
15. Install air bag sliding contact screw. Tighten to 2 - 3 Nm ( 18 - 26 in lbs ).
16. Install steering wheel onto steering column shaft assembly. Install a new bolt and tighten to 34 - 46 Nm ( 25 - 34 ft lbs ).
17. Position driver side air bag module to steering wheel. Install four retaining nuts. Tighten to 4 - 6 Nm ( 35 - 53 ft lbs ).
18. Connect battery ground cable and air bag backup power supply.