Opel 1900 1973 Service Manual page 211

1973 OPEL SERVICE'MANUAL
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 speufied
wheel puller should be used.
When the column is removed from the car, such
actions as a sharp blow on the end of the steering
shaft laying things across or on top of the column
assembly, leaning on the column assembly, or drop-
ping of the assembly could shear or loosen the plastic
fasteners that maintain column rigidity or possibly
bend the assembly causing a binding condition.
therefore important that the removal and installation
and the disassembly and reassembly procedures be
strictly followed when servicing this assembly.
The steering column assembly is attached with a
bracket (A) at four points to the connecting brace
below the instrument panel. See Figure 3E-17. The
two upper bolts are designed as tear-lock-bolts. A
bolt (B) is welded to the bracket which engages in an
narrowing elongated hole. The same applies to the
upper bolt (C) of the steering column lower bearing
attachment which engages in a hole of the connect-
ing brace.
As soon as a sufficiently large secondary energy
becomes effective, the steering mast jacket slides to-
wards the front whereby the bolt (B) as well as the
bolt head (C) is additionally pushed into the respec-
tive narrowing elongated holes. Both elongated holes
are arranged so that the primary energy cannot push
the steering mast assembly into the passenger com-
partment.
The GT steering column incorporates two universal
Figure 3E-17 Steering Column Bracket
joints to allow ~for the offset between the steering
column and the gear assembly.
The upper steering column assembly is connected to
the center steering shaft with one universal joint,
while the lower universal joint connects the center
steering shaft to the steering gear pinion shaft.
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF STEERING
W H E E L
This procedure may be performed with the steering
column assembly either removed or installed in the
car.
1. Disconnect battery.
2.
Remove horn cap.
3. Bend lockplate tabs down and remove steering
wheel nut, lockplate and washer.
4. Mark shaft and wheel hub for reassembly align-
ment.
5. Remove steering wheel using steering wheel puller
J-21686. Do not rap on end of puller in order to free
wheel from shaft as this would very likely loosen
plastic injections that maintain steering shaft rigid-
ity. Striking of underside of steering wheel to jar it