Pontiac FIREBIRD 1972 Service Manual page 1185

9-32 1972 PONTIAC SERVICE MANUAL
Hold right (inboard) cover plate tightly against dash
panel and secure to left (outboard) cover plate with
two clamp screws and tighten to 40 lb. in. torque.
CAUTION: Do not permit rofled section of the
seal to reverse itself
Attach right (inboard) cover plate to dash panel with
two cover plate screws and tighten to 40 Ib. in torque.
Tighten two nuts attaching mounting bracket to in-
strument panel. Torque nuts to 20 Ib. ft. torque.
CAUTION: Do not over-torque nuts because
correct torque is necessary to insure breakaway
action o f the bracket and capsules in the event
of a collision.
Reconnect all electrical connections and install any
trim which has been removed.
Connect all transmission linkage, if linkage requires
adjusting, see Section 7 for the procedure.
Adjust back-up light or neutral-start switch (see Sec-
tion 12 for adjustment procedure).
STEERING C O L U M N (F SERIES)
REMOVE
C A UTI 0 N:
When the steering column is
removed from the car, it is extremely suscepti-
ble to damage. Dropping the column assembly
on its end could collapse the steenng shaft or
loosen the plastic injections which maintain
column ngidity. Leaning on the mast jacket
could cause the jacket to bend or deform. Such
damages could impair the column 's collapsible
design. I f it is necessary to remove the steering
wheel, use standard wheel puller J 3044- 1. Do
not hammer on end o f shaft, as hammenng
could loosen plastic injections which maintain
column rigidity.
1. Remove both attaching nuts securing flexible cou-
pling to steering shaft.
2. Disconnect transmission linkage from column shift
levers.
3. Disconnect all electrical connectors from steering
column.
4. Remove the floor pan trim and insulator cover.
5. Remove screws securing toe plate to dash panel.
6. Loosen instrument panel trim cover screws and
remove cover.
NOTE: Remove lower air conditioning duct if
so equipped.
7. Remove instrument panel lower support bracket be-
low steering column.
8. Remove two nuts securing mounting bracket to in-
strument panel and carefully withdraw column.
NOTE: Make sure this procedure is followed in
exactly this order.
CAUTION: See CA UTION on page I o f this
Section regarding the fasteners refered to in
step I.
INSTALL
8. Install instrument panel trim cover.
Position steering column in car and attach steering
shaft flange to steering gear flexible coupling and
tighten coupling nuts to 20 lb. ft. torque (Fig. 9-34).
NOTE: Align large flexible coupling attaching
bolt in large hole of steering shaft flange. Metal-
to-metal contact between flanges on steering
gear stub shaft assembly and steering shaft as-
sembly will transmit and amplifj gear noise to
the driver. (See FLEXIBLE COUPLING ou-
tlined at front of Section 9 and Fig. 9-6 for use
o f plastic alignment spacers).
Loosely attach mounting bracket to instrument panel
with two mounting nuts.
Position cover and seal to front of dash and install
screw at unslotted hole location. Tighten to 40 lb. in.
torque.
Tighten two nuts securing mounting bracket to in-
strument panel to 20 lb. ft. torque.
CAUTION: Do not over-torque nuts because
correct torque is necessary to ensure breakaway
action of the bracket and capsules in the event
of a collision.
Install screws at two slotted locations of cover and
seal and tighten to 40 Ib. in. torque.
Reconnect all electrical connections.
Install instrument panel lower support bracket below
steering column.