Steering Column: Disassembly

Remove SIR coil assembly retaining ring. Remove wire restraint clip, tie wraps and wire harness strap. Remove SIR coil assembly and wave washer. Remove Gray and Black turn signal switch connectors from column connector. Remove 17-way secondary lock from Gray connector and disconnect pass key terminals (if equipped), from cavities 16 and 17. See Figure. Remove turn signal switch. Remove ignition switch.
On floor shift, remove pivot and pulse switch. On column shift, place lock cylinder in RUN position, press locking tab on park lock cable and remove from bearing and housing assembly. Pry locking tab on liner shift base and remove cable from shift base and park lock latch. Remove interlock solenoid. Move shift lever to Neutral, release shift lever spring tension. Remove clip, pin, spring and shift lever. Remove linear shift lever base from column. Disconnect shift cable from ball stud.
On all models, using Lock Plate Compressor (J-23653-SIR) push down shaft lock. Remove and discard shaft lock retaining ring. Remove shaft lock, turn signal cancel cam, upper bearing spring, inner race, inner race seat and tilt lever bracket. With lock cylinder in RUN position, press locking button on housing, remove lock cylinder and preload spring. Remove ignition lock actuator with needle nose pliers. Remove lock bolt support plate and lock bolt from housing.
Tilt Column up, using Phillips screwdriver press and turn tilt wheel spring retainer counterclockwise to remove. Remove tilt wheel spring and guide. Using Pivot Pin Remover (J-21854-01), remove 2 pivot pins. See Fig 1. On column shift, move shift lever to Park for access to pivot pins. Pull tilt lever to disengage lock shoes, remove housing assembly. Remove lower spring retainer. Remove lower bearing spring, seat, adapter and bearing assembly and steering shaft assembly. Remove jacket support assembly.
On all models, mark upper steering shaft to lower steering shaft for reassembly reference. Tilt upper shaft 90 degrees to lower shaft and remove. remove centering sphere and preload spring from upper shaft by rotating 90 degrees. To assemble steering shaft, lubricate centering sphere with lithium grease. Align marks made during removal, reverse disassembly procedure. When properly assembled, with block tooth on upper shaft positioned at 12 o'clock, pinch bolt notch on lower shaft will be at 1 o'clock position.

Fig 1: Removing Pivot Pin

Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

NOTE: Vehicles involved in accident with frame damage, major body damage or impact to the steering column may have damaged or misaligned steering column. Use the following procedures to inspect steering column for damage.