Steering Column Intermediate Shaft Inspection

Fig. 1:

The steering column intermediate shaft and its couplings must be inspected whenever any of the following conditions exist:
- When a vehicle has been involved in a collision which deploys the airbag regardless of the extent of damage done to the vehicle.
- When a vehicle has been involved in an undercarriage impact which results in any type of damage to the front suspension's crossmember.
- Under any conditions that results in the steering column assembly or steering column shaft receiving a force great enough to move the steering column or shaft forward or rearward in the vehicle.
- Inspect the steering column intermediate shaft couplings for any of the following conditions: seized bearings, loose bearing stakes, or a bearing not fully seated in the yoke of the coupling.