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STEERING
19 - 55
SNAP RING
Fig. 2 Steering
Cc
away o f the inserts b y t h e " k n i f e - l i k e " edge i n t h e
adjoining tube section.
The steering column shaft is comprised o f two sec-
tions. T h e upper shaft (section) is solid a n d has a
double-flatted lower end. The lower shaft (section) is
hollow and formed to f i t over t h e double-flatted end
of the upper shaft. T h e purpose o f the f l a t t e d section
is t o provide continued steering action even though
the column is completely "collapsed". Plastic is i n -
jected t h r o u g h four holes i n t h e lower, hollow shaft
i n t o a p a i r o f a n n u l a r grooves on the solid p o r t i o n of
the shaft. T h e four s m a l l holes, w h e n f i l l e d w i t h
plastic, f o r m the shear pins. Upon impact, t h e shear
pins
shear-off
a n d t h e shaft
gradually
collapses
against a resistance provided by the plastic collars i n
the a n n u l a r grooves.
The support bracket is designed to r e s t r a i n the col-
u m n f r o m being shifted t o w a r d the driver d u r i n g i m -
pact. I t incorporates t w o "break-away capsules" t h a t
allow the support bracket to slip off of the attaching
points, p e r m i t t i n g the steering column t o compress or
y i e l d i n a forward direction under a severe impact a t
the driver side.
W h e n t h e column is installed i n t h e vehicle, i t is
n o r m a l l y n o t susceptible t o damage. However, when
i t is removed, special care must be t a k e n d u r i n g han-
d l i n g . W h e n the column is removed from the vehicle,
actions such as a sharp blow on the end of the steer-
mn—Column
Shift
i n g shaft o r the s h i f t levers, leaning o n t h e column,
or d r o p p i n g t h e c o l u m n could shear or loosen t h e
plastic shear pins or rivets t h a t r e t a i n t h e column
r i g i d . I t is, therefore, suggested t h a t the removal and
i n s t a l l a t i o n , and t h e disassembly and assembly pro-
cedures be carefully followed w h e n servicing a steer-
i n g c o l u m n .
CAUTION: Bumping, jolting and hammering on the
steering column shaft and gear shift tube must be
avoided during all service procedures. If the shear
pins are broken, the controlled length of the col-
lapsing features will be altered and cause these
components to be unfit for additional use. If the
steering column shaft or the gear shift tube are
damaged, they cannot be repaired, they must be re-
placed.
The necessary special tools and t h e i r usage are also
described i n the following service procedures.
S a f e t y g o g g l e s s h o u l d b e w o r n a t a l l t i m e s
w h e n i n v o l v e d w i t h s t e e r i n g c o l u m n s e r v i c e .
STEERING COLUMN-REMOVAL/INSTALLATION
REMOVAL
(1) Disconnect the negative (ground) cable from the
battery.
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