Chevrolet CHEVY VAN G10 SERIES Service Manual page 271

FLEXIBLE COUPLING (Fig. 8)
Removal
1. Remove th e steering shaft flange to flexible coupling
bolts.
2. Loosen the steering shaft preload springclam p.
3. Loosen the flexible coupling clam p bolt.
4. Remove the coupling from th e steering gear w orm shaft,
by carefully moving the shaft to gain the necessary
clearance.
STEERING GEAR
Removal
1. D isconnect the b attery ground cable.
2. Set the wheels in a straight ahead position (w orm shaft
12
flat will be at o 'clock).
3. Remove the steering shaft flange to flexible coupling
bolts.
4. Remove the pitm an arm to pitm an shaft n u t. M ark the
relationship o f the arm to the shaft and then remove the
arm from the shaft using Tool J-6632 or J-5504 (fig. 1).
5. Remove the steering gear to fram e m ounting bolts and
remove the steering gear and flexible coupling as an
assembly.
6
. Remove the flexible coupling clam p bolt and remove the
coupling from the w orm shaft. It m ay be necessary to tap
the coupling w ith a soft m allet to remove it from the
splined w orm shaft.
Installation
C A U T IO N : The pitm an arm to pitm an shaft nut,
steering gear to fram e bolts and steering coupling to
steering shaft and w orm shaft fastener are im portant
a t t a c h in g p a rts in t h a t they could affect the
performance of vital components and systems, and/or
could result in major repair expense. They must be
replaced w ith one o f the same part num ber or with an
equivalent part if replacement becomes necessary. Do
n o t use a replacement part o f lesser quality or
substitute design. Torque values must be used as
s p e c ifie d d u r in g re a s s e m b ly to assure proper
retention of this part.
CAPTURING
STRAP
Fig. 8 — Flexible Type Steering Coupling
CO U P LIN G TO
STEERING SHAFT
FLANGE BOLTS
1. Install the new coupling onto the w orm shaft, aligning the
flat on the shaft w ith the flat in the coupling. Push the
coupling o n to the shaft until the coupling reinforcem ent
b o tto m s on the shaft. Install the coupling clamp b o lt and
torqu e to specifications (fig.
N O T E : The coupling b olt must pass through the
shaft undercut.
2. When reinstalling the steering gear assem bly, determ ine
the correct m id-position o f the w orm shaft as follows:
a. T urn the shaft all the way through its travel,
counting the num ber o f turns.
b. Turn the shaft back one-half of the total num ber o f
turns. The gear should now be on high point
12
(w orm shaft flat at
3. Reinstall the gear and coupling assem bly, guiding the
alignm ent pins to the proper position on the steering
shaft flange (large pin to large opening— small pin to small
opening).
N O T E : A new coupling
spacers on the alignm ent pins which aid in centering
the pins in the flange openings and also serve to
maintain the correct coupling to flange dimension
(fig. 9). Be sure the spacers are fu lly installed on the
pins.
4. Install the gear to fram e bolts and torque to specifica­
tions.
5. Install the steering shaft flange to coupling bolts and
to rq ue to specifications.
6
. Fashion a h o ok o f heavy gauge wire and pull the plastic
spacers aw ay from the locking pins (fig. 9).
C A U T IO N : Under no circumstances should the
vehicle be driven until the plastic spacers have been
removed from the alignment pins.
N O T E : Check th at the flexible coupling to steering
shaft flange dimension o f .2 5 0 " to .3 7 5 " has been
maintained. The coupling pins should be centered in
the flange slots.
Fig. 9 — Removal o f A lignm ent Pin Spacers
STEERING 9-5
8
).
o 'clock).
incorporates plastic
C H E V Y V A N SHOP M A N U A L