Steering Column

Steering Column Accident Damage Inspection - Off Vehicle

Notice: Vehicles involved in accidents resulting in frame damage, major body or sheet metal damage, or where the steering column has been impacted, may also have a damaged or a misaligned steering column.





1. Measure the distance from the lower edge of the upper jacket assembly to a defined point on the lower jacket assembly.
2. Install a new jacket if measurement dimensions are not within specifications.





3. Inspect the steering shaft for sheared injected plastic (1).
4. Install a new steering shaft if the steering shaft contains sheared plastic.

Important: The inflatable restraint steering wheel module coil must be removed from the steering column and allowed to hang freely before the shaft is rotated. Failure to do so could damage the inflatable restraint steering wheel module coil.

5. Check steering shaft runout by rotating the steering wheel using a dial indicator (1) at the lower end of the steering shaft. Runout must not exceed 1.6 mm (0.0625 inch).