Steering Shaft: Testing and Inspection

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT





The steering column intermediate shaft and its universal joint couplers (Fig. 1) must be inspected whenever any of the following conditions exist:
^ After the vehicle has been involved in a collision which deploys the airbag, regardless of the extent of damage done to the vehicle.
^ After the vehicle has been involved in an undercarriage impact which results in any type of damage to the front suspension crossmember.
^ Under any conditions which result in the steering column assembly or steering column shaft receiving a force great enough to move the steering column or shaft forward of rearward in a vehicle.

Inspect the intermediate shaft and its universal joint couplers for any of the following conditions:
^ seized or binding bearings
^ loose bearing stakes
^ bearings not fully seated in the coupler yoke
^ bent intermediate shaft

Presence of any of the above faulty conditions call for replacement of the entire steering column intermediate shaft.