Steering Column - Removal and Installation

Removal

Steering wheel removal for vehicles with redundant steering wheel controls has been revised by service bulletin No. 90-110-9.
1. On 1990-91 models, remove air cleaner.
2. On all models, disconnect battery ground cable, then remove steering wheel as necessary. When removing steering wheel that is equipped with redundant steering wheel controls, insert wheel puller bolts only four to six threads deep to prevent bolts from going all the way through the hub.
3. Remove left hand sound insulator and the trim panel below steering column.
4. Unlock steering column, then push top of intermediate shaft seal down for access to upper intermediate shaft coupling and upper coupling pinch bolt.
5. Rotate intermediate shaft as necessary to remove upper coupling pinch bolt.
6. Disconnect shift indicator cable end and casing from steering column and transaxle shift lever, or park lock cable if equipped with floor shift.
7. Disconnect transaxle shift cable from ball stud on transaxle shift lever, then remove transaxle shift cable casing from steering column bracket by depressing two tabs.

Fig. 27 Steering Column Removal And Installation.:

8. Remove lower steering column attaching bolts, Fig. 27, then the upper steering column attaching bolts, and lower steering column to seat.
9. Disconnect electrical connector by loosening the screw and separating the two halves.
10. Withdraw lower end of steering shaft from upper intermediate shaft coupling and remove column. It may be necessary to spread coupling clamp with a screwdriver to withdraw steering shaft.

Installation

1. Install column back into vehicle and insert lower end of column shaft into upper intermediate shaft coupling.
2. Connect column electrical connector, tightening screw that draws the two halves together.
3. Connect transaxle shift cable and transaxle shift cable casing to column bracket and shift lever ball stud, or park lock cable if equipped with floor shift.
4. Install transaxle shift indicator cable end and casing and connect cable to transaxle shift lever.
5. Loosely install upper and lower steering column attaching bolts, then torque to 18 lb ft
6. Install upper coupling pinch bolt into upper intermediate shaft coupling and torque to 35 lb ft
7. Ensure clearance between lower shaft coupling and steering gear is at least .08 inch, then pull up intermediate shaft seal over lower column until it locks in place.
8. Install trim panel below steering column and the left hand sound insulator.
9. In stall steering wheel, if removed, then connect battery ground cable and confirm proper operation of all steering column components and functions.
10. On 1990-91 models, install air cleaner.