Steering Column Removal

1. Disconnect the negative (ground) cable from the battery and isolate cable.
2. Before beginning removal of steering column assembly from vehicle, be sure front wheels of vehicle are in the straight ahead position.





3. Remove the 4 screws attaching steering column cover, to lower instrument panel. Then remove the trim panel from the instrument panel.





4. Remove 3 screws attaching the steering column cover liner to the instrument panel. Remove the liner from the lower instrument panel.





5. If vehicle is equipped with speed control, remove the speed control switches from the steering wheel. If vehicle is not equipped with speed control, remove the trim covers from the sides of the steering wheel.

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.





6. Remove the 2 fasteners, 1 on each side of steering wheel, attaching the air bag module to the steering wheel.

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 accidentally 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.





7. Remove air bag module from center of steering wheel. Then disconnect the clock spring electrical lead from the back of the air bag module.





8. Disconnect the wiring lead for the horn switch in the airbag module from the wiring lead coming from the clockspring.
9. Turn the lock cylinder to the off position and remove the key from the lock cylinder





10. Turn the steering wheel to the left 1/2 a turn (180°) until the steering column lock is engaged.
11. Remove the steering wheel retaining nut, from the steering column shaft.

CAUTION: When installing Puller, Special Tool C-3428-B, or equivalent on steering wheel be sure puller bolts are fully seated in threaded puller holes on steering wheel. If bolts are not fully seated in threaded holes, threads may be stripped out when puller is tightened to remove steering wheel.





12. Install Puller, Snap-On CJ2001P or an equivalent on the steering wheel.

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

13. Remove steering wheel assembly from steering column shaft using Puller, Special Tool C-3428-B or equivalent.





14. Remove key lock cylinder from steering column. Key lock cylinder is removed from steering column using the following procedure. Place the key lock cylinder in the Run position. Then through the hole in lower shroud, depress lock cylinder retaining tab and remove key lock cylinder.





15. Remove the 3 screws attaching the upper and lower shroud to the steering column. First remove lower shroud from steering column, then release tilt lever and tilt steering column to its lowest point. Then remove upper shroud from steering column.

Steering Column To Coupling Attachment:

16. Remove retaining pin in the upper to lower steering column coupler pinch bolt.
17. Loosen the upper to lower steering coupler pinch bolt retaining nut and remove pinch bolt from steering coupler. (Pinch bolt nut is caged to coupler and is not removable.) Then separate upper steering coupler from lower steering coupler shaft.
18. Remove the 4 nuts attaching the lower mounting bracket of the steering column to the body mounting bracket for the steering column.





19. Remove the 2 steering column assembly upper bat wing bracket to support bracket nuts.
20. Lower steering column assembly in the steering column access opening of the lower instrument panel.





21. Remove routing clip holding wiring harness to jacket of steering column. Then remove wiring harness connectors from the multi- function switch and the windshield wiper switch.





22. Remove the vehicle wiring harness connectors from the ignition switch and clock spring.
23. Remove steering column assembly from vehicle through the drivers door of the passenger compartment. Use care to avoid damaging the paint or interior trim.