The steering column is one of the most important elements of road safety, so replace the steering shafts installed in the steering column or the column assembly if the following defects are present:
- play in the cardan joint of the intermediate shaft or damage to its terminal connection with the steering column shaft;
- deformation or damage of the intermediate shaft, play in the cardan joints, damage to the terminal connection of the lower joint with the steering gear shaft;
- deformation or damage to the shaft and steering column parts, damage to the splines connecting the shaft to the steering wheel hub;
- damage to the steering column adjustment mechanism.
1. Disconnect the wire from the negative terminal of the battery.
2. Remove the steering wheel (see "Removal and installation the steering wheel"), having previously set it to a position corresponding to rectilinear movement.
3. Remove the lower decorative panel of the instrument panel (see "Removal and installation the lower decorative panel of the instrument panel").
4. Remove the steering column cover (see "Removal and installation the steering column cover").
5. Remove the driver's airbag and horn contact ring (see "Removal and installation the driver's airbag contact ring").
6. Remove the steering column switch assembly (see "Replacing steering column switches").
7. Disconnect the wiring harness connector from the immobilizer unit.
8. Press the lock of the ignition switch (lock) contact group wiring block...
9. ...pull out the lock bracket...
10. ...and disconnect the connector.
11. Squeeze the tabs of the wire harness holder...
12. ...and, having removed the holder from the hole in the steering column bracket, move the harness to the side.
13. Mark (for example, with a felt-tip pen) the relative position of the intermediate shaft of the steering column and the pinion shaft of the steering gear.
14. Unscrew the clamping bolt of the intermediate shaft terminal connection with the steering gear pinion shaft...
15. ...and remove the bolt from the hinge fork.
16. Remove the two bolts securing the lower steering column bracket to the instrument panel amplifier.
17. Unscrew the two nuts securing the upper steering column bracket to the instrument panel amplifier.
18. Remove the lower intermediate shaft joint from the steering gear pinion shaft...
19. ...and remove the steering column.
NOTE: The steering column shaft crosspieces are non-separable and cannot be repaired, so if they are worn out, replace the shaft assembly.
You can only replace the lower hinge separately, for which you need to loosen the clamping bolt...
...and remove the joint from the intermediate shaft splines.
20. Install the parts in the reverse order of removal. Before installation, apply anaerobic thread locker to the threaded parts of the steering column mounting bolts and nuts.
CAUTION: When installing the steering column, be sure to replace the steering wheel mounting bolt and the intermediate shaft terminal joint mounting bolt and nut with new ones.
[The original material is located on the website chevyman.ru]