Steering Column Removal

WARNING: SAFETY GOGGLES SHOULD BE WORN AT ALL TIMES WHEN WORKING ON STEERING COLUMNS.

1. Remove the ground cable (-) from the negative post on the battery. When removed, isolate the ground cable from the negative post on the battery.
2. Wait for a minimum of 2 minutes before starting the procedure to remove the steering column from the vehicle. This will allow the airbag system capacitor time to de-energize.
3. Rotate the steering wheel for access to the retaining bolt attaching the flex joint on the intermediate steering shaft to the steering column shaft. Remove the retaining bolt attaching the flex joint to the steering column shaft.

Steering Intermediate Shaft Flex Joint Attaching Bolts:

4. Rotate the steering wheel for access to the pinch bolt attaching the flex joint to the intermediate steering shaft. Loosen but do not remove the pinch bolt attaching the flex joint to the intermediate steering shaft.
5. Rotate the steering wheel back to its original position so that the front tires of the vehicle are in the straight ahead position.

WARNING: WHEN AN UNDEPLOYED AIR BAG ASSEMBLY IS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, DISCONNECT BATTERY GROUND CABLE AND ISOLATE. ALLOW SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE FOR TWO MINUTES, THEN BEGIN AIR BAG REMOVAL.

WARNING: WHEN HANDLING AN UNDEPLOYED AIR BAG MODULE DURING SERVICING OF THE STEERING COLUMN THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE OBSERVED. AT NO TIME SHOULD ANY SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY BE PERMITTED NEAR THE INFLATOR ON THE BACK OF THE AIR BAG MODULE. WHEN CARRYING A LIVE MODULE, THE TRIM COVER SHOULD BE POINTED AWAY FROM THE BODY TO MINIMIZE INJURY IF MODULE ACCIDENTLY DEPLOYS. IF AIR BAG MODULE IS PLACED ON A BENCH OR OTHER SURFACE, PLASTIC COVER SHOULD BE FACE UP TO MINIMIZE MOVEMENT IN CASE OF ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT.

Air Bag Module:

6. Remove the airbag module from the steering wheel. The air bag is mounted to the steering wheel by a bolt located in each spoke of the steering wheel. Access for the mounting bolts is from the back side of each steering wheel spoke.

Air Bag Module Electrical Connections:

7. Disconnect the electrical connector from the airbag module. Then disconnect the wiring lead for the horn switch in the airbag module from the clockspring wiring lead.





8. Remove the steering wheel retaining nut.
9. Lock the shaft of the steering column to prevent it from rotating after it is disconnected from the intermediate steering shaft. Lock the steering shaft using the following procedure.

Steering Column Shipping Pin Hole:

- Locate the shipping pin hole in jacket of steering column.

Tie Strap Installed In Steering Column:

- Insert a tie strap into the hole in the bottom of the steering column jacket, through the steering column shaft and through the hole in the top of the steering column jacket.

Tie Strap Locked On Steering Column:

- Lock the tie strap on the steering column jacket.

CAUTION: Before removing the flex joint from the steering column shaft, the steering column shaft MUST be locked to prevent it from rotating. If the steering column shaft is allowed to rotate damage to the clockspring will occur.

Intermediate Shaft Flex Joint Removal:

10. Remove the upper flex joint on the intermediate steering shaft from the steering column shaft. Flex joint is removed from steering column shaft by sliding it down the intermediate steering shaft. If flex joint will not slide down intermediate shaft, insert a screwdriver in slot on flex joint to spread the joint slightly. This will allow the flex joint to slide down the intermediate shaft.

Knee Blocker Trim Panel:

11. Remove the knob from the actuator for the adjustable pedal assembly.
12. Remove the fuse box cover from the knee blocker trim panel.
13. Remove the knee blocker trim panel from the lower instrument panel.

Pedal Actuator Attachment:

14. Remove nut and washer, attaching the adjustable pedal actuator to knee blocker panel. Remove the adjustable pedal actuator from the knee blocker panel.
15. Remove the screws attaching the fuse box to knee blocker panel.

Knee Blocker Panel:

16. Remove the knee blocker panel from the lower instrument panel.

Vent Duct:

17. Remove the duct for the drivers side air vent from the lower dash panel.
18. Tilt the steering column to the full up position.





19. Remove the lower shroud from the steering column.
20. Tilt the steering column to the full down position.





21. Remove the tilt lever from the steering column.





22. Remove the upper shroud from the steering column.

CAUTION: When installing bolts for steering wheel puller into steering wheel, be sure bolts are fully installed into the threaded holes in the steering wheel. If bolts are not fully installed into the threaded holes, threads may be pulled out of the steering wheel when puller is tightened to remove steering wheel.

Puller Installed On Steering Wheel:

23. Install Puller, Snap-On CJ2001P or an equivalent three point puller on the steering wheel.

CAUTION: Do not bump or hammer on steering wheel or steering column shaft when removing steering wheel from steering column.

CAUTION: Do not apply heat to the steering wheel when removing the steering wheel from the steering column.

24. Remove the steering wheel from the shaft of the steering column.





25. Remove the knee blocker trim panel shroud from the bottom of the steering column jacket.





26. Remove the 2 screws attaching the multi-function switch to the steering column.
a. Remove the multi-function switch from the steering column with the wiring harness connected. The wiring harness connector can not be removed from the multi-function switch when the switch is mounted to the steering column.





27. Remove the wiring harness connector from the clockspring.





28. Remove the wiring harness connector from the bottom of the ignition switch. Remove the wiring harness connector from the front side of the ignition switch.

Steering Column Attachment To Dash Panel:

29. Remove the 2 nuts attaching the steering column to the dash panel.

Steering Column Upper Mounting Bracket Attachment:

30. Remove the 2 nuts and washers attaching the upper mounting bracket of the steering column. to the dash panel.

CAUTION: When steering column is lowered to floor of vehicle, place a cover on the cushion of the front seat to protect seat from damage.

31. Remove the steering column from the instrument panel and lower it to the floor and drivers seat of the vehicle.

Steering Column To Instrument Panel Shroud:

32. Remove the steering column to instrument panel shroud from the steering column.

Steering Column Wiring Trough Attachment:

33. Remove the retaining clip used to attaching wiring trough to steering column. Remove the wiring trough from the steering column.
34. Remove the steering column from the vehicle. Use care to avoid damaging the paint or the interior trim of the vehicle.