Steering Shaft, Lower Bearing & Jacket

Disassembly Procedure





1. Remove the steering shaft seal (1) from the sensor retainer (2).
2. Remove the sensor retainer (2) from the end of the steering shaft assembly (3).





3. Remove the following items from the steering shaft assembly:
- The lower spring retainer (1)
- The steering wheel speed sensor assembly (2)
- The lower bearing spring (3)
- The lower bearing seat (4)
4. Remove the adapter and bearing assembly (5) from the steering column jacket assembly (6).
5. Remove the upper tilt head components. Refer to Steering Column Tilt Head - Off Vehicle.





6. Remove the steering shaft assembly (2) from the steering column support assembly (1).





7. Remove the four TORX head screws (3) from steering column support assembly (2).
8. Remove the steering column support assembly (2) from the steering column jacket assembly (1).

Important: Mark the following items to ensure the proper assembly:
- The race and upper shaft assembly
- The lower steering shaft assembly
Failure to assemble the items properly will cause steering wheel to be turned 180 degrees.





9. Remove the race and upper shaft assembly from the lower steering shaft assembly by performing the following steps:
9.1. Tilt the race and upper shaft assembly 90 degrees toward each other.
9.2. Disengage the race and upper shaft assembly.





10. Remove the centering sphere (1) from the race and upper shaft assembly (2) by rotating the centering sphere 90 degrees.
11. Lift the centering sphere out of the race and upper shaft assembly.





12. Remove the joint preload spring (2) from the centering sphere (1).

Assembly Procedure

- Tools Required
- J 41688 Centering Sphere Installer Tool





1. Remove the centering sphere (1) and the joint preload spring (2).
2. Inspect the centering sphere (1) and joint preload spring (2). Discard and replace if parts are worn or broken.





3. Grease the centering sphere (1,3) with lithium grease.
4. Grease the lower half of the sphere (3) in the upper shaft assembly engagement areas.
5. Grease the upper half of the sphere (1) in the shaft engagement areas opposite to the greased area of the lower half of the sphere.
6. Place the base of J 41688 in a vise.
7. Place the following items in the base of J 41688:
7.1. The lower half of the new centering sphere (3)
7.2. The new joint preload spring (2)
7.3. The upper half of the new centering sphere (1)
7.4. The top half of J 41688.
8. Compress the joint preload spring.





9. Rotate the driver 90 degrees clockwise.





10. Ensure that the feet of the driver slide into the grooves in the base of J 41688.
11. Rotate the driver until the arms lock into place.





12. Firmly attach the upper shaft assembly (2) to the centering sphere (1).
13. Rotate the upper shaft assembly (2) 90 degrees downward. This locks the centering sphere (1) in place.
14. Remove the following items from the vise:
14.1. The centering sphere installer
14.2. The race and the upper shaft assembly





15. Disassemble J 41688 by separating the base.
16. Remove the shaft with the centering sphere attached from J 41688.
17. Apply lithium grease to the exposed shaft engagement area.
18. Install the lower shaft assembly.





19. Install the race and the upper shaft assembly to the lower shaft assembly.
20. Tilt the race and the upper shaft assembly and the lower shaft assembly 90 degrees toward each other.





21. Install the steering column support assembly (2) to the steering column jacket assembly (1) with four TORX head screws (3).





22. Install the steering shaft assembly (2) to the steering column support assembly (1).
23. Install the upper tilt head components. Refer to Steering Column Tilt Head - Off Vehicle.





24. Position the tab on the adapter and bearing assembly (5) with the slot on the steering column jacket assembly (6).
25. Push the adapter and bearing assembly (5) onto the steering column jacket assembly (6).
26. Compress the lower bearing spring (3) to a length of 23-24 mm between the lower bearing seat (4), the steering wheel speed sensor assembly (2) and the lower spring retainer (1).





27. Install the steering shaft seal (1) to the sensor retainer (2).
28. Install the sensor retainer (2) to the steering shaft assembly (3).