Steering Column

Mount column in a suitable holding fixture or clamp onto two weld nuts with a vise. During reassembly, apply a thin coat of lithium grease to all friction parts. Install shift lever spring into housing if equipped. With floor shift models, install plunger. With tilt only columns, slide the gearshift lever housing onto mast jacket. With tilt-telescoping columns, install transmission control lock tube housing extension and tighten screws. Install housing cover so the three cover tabs enter slots in housing extension. Install housing onto mast jacket assembly.
NOTE: Do not hammer on end of shift tube.
Install bearing support lock plate wave washer. Install bearing support lock plate sliding it under jacket opening. Slide lock plate into notches in jacket. Insert shift tube into lower end of mast jacket. Align keyway in tube with key in shift lever housing. Insert suitable shift tube installer tool (J-23073) in shift tube and turn tool to tighten swivel (see Fig 1). With tool installed as shown, turn nut on tool while guiding shift lever through jacket slot, and pull shift tube into housing. Remove tool.

Fig 1: Shift Tube Installer Tool
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
Install bearing support thrust washer and retaining ring by pulling shift lever housing up far enough to compress wave washer. Install bearing support by aligning "V" in support with "V" in jacket. Install and tighten screws.
NOTE: With telescope columns, install actuator rod before tightening support screws.

Install lower bearing adapter, bearing, bearing reinforcement, jacket and adapter. Install centering spheres and anti-lash spring. With telescope columns, install upper shaft, locking wedge, locking rod and bumper in upper yoke. Install steering shaft assembly in shift tube from upper end carefully guiding shaft through tube and bearing. With tilt only columns, install actuator rod through shift lever housing and insert in slot in bearing support.
If bearing housing was disassembled, proceed as follows: Press bearings into housing. Install lock shoe springs, lock shoes and shoe pin in housing.
NOTE: With tilt lever opening on left side, shoes facing up, the four slot shoe is on left.

Use a 0.180" rod to line up shoes for pin installation. Install shoe release lever, spring and pin.

NOTE: To reduce load on release lever, hold shoes inward and wedge a block between top of shoes and bearing housing.

Install sector drive shaft and lightly tap sector onto shaft and install snap ring. Install lock bolt and engage with sector cam surface. Install rack and spring. Block tooth on rack should engage same on sector. Install external tilt release lever. Install lock bolt spring and tighten screw.
Extend rack downward from housing and assemble housing over steering shaft. Engage rack over end of actuator rod. With tilt release lever, hold lock shoes in the disengaged position and position housing over shaft so pivot pin holes line up. Install pivot pins using a brass drift. Place housing in full up position and install tilt spring guide, spring and retainer. Install upper bearing inner race and race seat. Install tilt and turn signal lever opening shields as equipped. Remove tilt release lever and install turn signal housing. Install tilt release lever and shift lever.
Install ignition key lock cylinder. Hold cylinder sleeve and rotate knob clockwise against stop. Insert cylinder in bore with key on sleeve aligned to keyway in housing. Push in on cylinder while rotating knob counterclockwise until drive section of cylinder mates with drive shaft. Check lock for freedom of rotation. Depress the warning buzzer switch actuating button on lock cylinder before installing buzzer. Install buzzer switch with contacts toward upper end of column and with formed end of spring clip around lower end of switch.
NOTE: Avoid twisting switch during installation to prevent damage to buzzer terminal.
Install turn signal switch wire harness down through housing and connect harness. Install signal switch screws, switch lever and hazard warning knob. Place signal switch in neutral position to protect springs when cancelling cam is installed. Install upper bearing preload spring, horn contact carrier and lock plate over upper shaft. Install lock plate compressing tool and install new "C" ring. Before installing ignition switch, place lock cylinder in "LOCK" position and ignition switch in lock position. Install switch rod in switch and position switch on column. Check switch operation and connect harness if column is in vehicle. Install remaining components by reversing removal procedure.

TIGHTENING SPECIFICATIONS

Application

Ft. Lbs.

Steering Wheel Nut

30-35

Bracket-to-Column Bolts

15-30

Bracket-to-instrument Panel Stud Nuts

⁽¹⁾15-25

Clamp-to-Steering Shaft Nut

Oldsmobile Cutlass, 88 & 98

Joint Assembly-to-Steering Shaft Bolt

Oldsmobile Toronado

Flex Coupling Nuts

Flex Coupling-to-Shaft Bolt

Application

INCH Lbs.

Turn Signal Switch Screws

25-35

Ignition Switch Screws

Housing Cover Screws

100

Support-to-Lock Plate Screws

Shaft Lock Cover Screws

Shift Gate Screws

Lock Bolt Spring Screw

Tilt Release Lever

Trans. Control Lock Tube Housing

Extension Screw

Corvette

⁽¹⁾	Do not exceed 25 ft. lbs. to prevent crushing capsules.