Pontiac FIREBIRD 1972 Service Manual page 1163

9-10 1972 PONTIAC SERVICE MANUAL
overlength bolts as they may prevent a portion of the
assembly from compressing under impact. Equally as im-
portant is correct torque of the bolts and nuts. Care should
be taken to assure that the bolts or nuts securing the
column mounting bracket to the instrument panel are
torqued to the proper specification in order that the
bracket will break away under impact.
When the energy absorbing column is installed in a car it
is no more susceptible to damage through usage than an
ordinary column; however, when the column is removed,
special care must be taken in handling this assembly. Only
the specified wheel puller should be used. When the col-
umn is removed from the car, such actions as a sharp blow
on the end of the steering shaft or shift levers, leaning on
the column assembly, or dropping of the assembly could
shear or loosen the plastic fasteners that maintain column
rigidity. It is therefore important that the removal and
installation, and the disassembly and reassembly proce-
dures be carefully followed when servicing this assembly.
TILT MECHANISM OPERATION
The tilt steering column is designed for driver comfort. It
has six different steering wheel angle positions.
The tilt release lever is located on the left side of the
steering column and below the directional lever. The tilt
lever is pulled toward the steering wheel to disengage the
lock and allow positioning of the wheel at the desired
angle.
The tilt assembly consists of an upper and lower steering
shaft assembly with a universal joint between them. A
support assembly is held to the mast jacket by a lock plate,
an actuator is positioned over the upper steering shaft and
secured to the support by two pivot pins. Two lock shoes
are pinned to the actuator and engage pins in the support
assembly. When the release lever is pulled up and the lock
shoes disengage the support pins, the steering wheel is
pushed up by a spring compressed between the support
and actuator assemblies. Releasing the lever will au-
tomatically reengage the lock shoes and hold the mech-
anism at the desired angle.
FLEXIBLE COUPLING
A steering gear flexible coupling known as a captured
coupling is used on all models (Fig. 9-6). This coupling is
basically the same as non-captured couplings except a
bracket is included on the steering gear side of the cou-
pling which provides an improved design. If at any time
the bracket appears deformed, replace the coupling assem-
bly and thoroughly inspect the steering column for dam-
age. Plastic flexible coupling alignment spacers either
orange or yellow in color are provided on service cou-
plings The alignment spacers help obtain proper steering
gear and column alignment during installation. The spac-
ers must be installed all the way onto the coupling pins
before placing the coupling to the steering shaft flange.
Column instrument panel bracket nuts are then tightened
with the steering shaft flange bottomed on the spacers.
The spacers are split on the inside for easy removal after
all steering gear and column alignment procedures have
been completed and fasteners tightened. Remove the spac-
ers by pulling them away from the locking pins with pliers
or a hook fashioned out of heavy gage wire.
BRACKET-REPI
REMOVE PLASTIC SPACERS
AFTER A L L STEERING
GEAR AND COLUMN
ALIGNMENT PROCEDURES
COUPLING ASM. IF
STEERING SHAFT
BRACKET IS DEFORMED FLANGE TO
STEERING GEAR AND INSPECT STEERING BOTTOM A T STEERING COLUMN
SIDE COLUMN FOR DAMAGE SIDE VIEW
THIS POINT SIDE
Fig. 9-6 Installation of Steering Shaft to Flexible Coupling