Steering Shaft: Service and Repair

INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND DASH SEAL

Removal Procedure





1. Turn the steering wheel until it is horizontal, with the spokes pointing down. This is the straight-ahead position. Make a mark on the stub shaft housing that lines up with a mark on the intermediate shaft lower universal joint. This mark will be used for proper alignment during installation.





2. Remove the lower pinch bolt from the universal joint on the intermediate shaft.





3. Turn the steering wheel to the straight-ahead position. Remove the upper pinch bolt from the universal joint on the intermediate shaft.





4. Remove the nuts from the dash seal retaining ring and remove the dash seal retaining ring.





5. Remove the coupling from the power steering gear and pull the intermediate shaft out of the engine compartment.

Installation Procedure





1. Install the intermediate shaft into the vehicle.





2. Install the dash seal retaining ring with the nuts.
Tighten
Tighten the dash seal retaining ring nuts to 9 Nm (80 inch lbs.).

IMPORTANT: When attaching the upper universal joint, the steering wheel must be placed in the straight-ahead position with the spokes pointing down.





3. Attach the upper universal joint of the intermediate shaft onto the steering column.
4. Install the pinch bolt into the upper universal joint on the intermediate shaft and tighten the bolt.
Tighten
Tighten the upper intermediate shaft pinch bolt to 25 Nm (18 ft. lbs.).

IMPORTANT: When attaching the lower universal joint, the marks on the intermediate shaft and on the stub shaft should line up.





5. Attach the lower universal joint of the intermediate shaft onto the steering gear stub shaft.

IMPORTANT: When installing the lower intermediate shaft pinch bolt, make sure the bolt goes through the universal joint on the side of the stub shaft with the notch. If you have trouble seating the universal joint completely down onto the stub shaft, rotate the steering wheel slightly while pushing down on the universal joint.





6. Install the bolt into the lower universal joint on the intermediate shaft and tighten the bolt.
Tighten
Tighten the lower intermediate shaft pinch bolt to 25 Nm (18 ft. lbs.).