Steering Column - Removal and Installation

Fig. 16 Typical shift indicator cable installation:

PONTIAC REAR WHEEL DRIVE MODELS EXC. FIERO & 1000
For removal and installation procedures on Parisienne, 1985---86 Bonneville & 1985---87 Grand Prix models, refer to Chevrolet Rear Wheel Drive Except. Chevette.
REMOVAL
1. Disconnect battery ground cable and remove bolt securing upper intermediate shaft joint to steering shaft.
2. Disconnect shift linkage from shift lever.
3. Remove lower instrument panel trim covers, and if column is to be disassembled, the steering wheel.
4. Remove toe plate cover and toe plate mounting screws and clamp bolt, noting installation position for assembly.
5. On column shift auto. trans., disconnect shift indicator cable from column shift bowl, Fig. 16.
6. Disconnect neutral start and back-up light switch and turn signal connector.
7. Support column and disconnect column bracket assembly.
8. Lower column enough to disconnect electrical connections. If spacers are used, retain for use during installation.
9. Carefully remove column from vehicle and disconnect intermediate shaft from steering shaft.

Fig. 16 Typical shift indicator cable 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
Except. Firebird
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 shims 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 in. without bottoming intermediate shaft coupling.
7. Install and torque toe pan screws in sequence shown in Fig. 1, to 45 lb in
8. Torque steering column bracket nuts (A and B) to 20 lb ft
9. If equipped with column shift automatic transmission, connect and adjust shift indicator cable as shown in Fig. 16.
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 45 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.