Steering Column Disassembly/Assembly: Disassembly

Remove the ignition switch lock cylinder. See IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .
Remove the air bag sliding contact; see AIR BAG SLIDING CONTACT (CLOCKSPRING) REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .
Remove the steering column; See STEERING COLUMN REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .
On manual transmission equipped vehicles, remove the ignition switch.
1. Remove the ignition switch bolts.
2. Remove the ignition switch.
  
  Fig 1: Removing Ignition Switch
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Remove the bearing retainer.

Fig 2: Removing Bearing Retainer
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Remove the steering column lock housing bearing.

Fig 3: Removing Steering Column Lock Housing Bearing
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Remove the steering column lock gear.

Fig 4: Removing Steering Column Lock Gear
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
On automatic transmission equipped vehicles, remove the shock absorber electronic steering sensor.
1. Disconnect the electrical connector.
2. Remove the screws.
3. Remove the shock absorber electronic steering sensor.
  
  Fig 5: Removing Shock Absorber Electronic Steering Sensor
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
On fixed steering column equipped vehicles, remove the snap ring from the bottom of the steering column shaft.

Fig 6: Removing Snap Ring From Bottom Of Steering Column Shaft
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
On tilt steering column equipped vehicles, remove the sensor ring.
1. Remove the steering column lower bearing spring.
2. Remove the sensor ring.
  
  Fig 7: Removing Sensor Ring
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Remove the steering column bearing tolerance ring from the steering column shaft.

Fig 8: Removing Steering Column Bearing Tolerance Ring From Steering Column Shaft
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
On tilt steering column equipped vehicles, remove the lock cylinder housing pivot screws.

Fig 9: Removing Lock Cylinder Housing Pivot Screws
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
WARNING:
- The steering column position spring is under tension and may come out with great force.
On fixed steering column equipped vehicles, remove the two lock cylinder housing screws and the steering column spacer.

Fig 10: Removing Lock Cylinder Housing Screws And Steering Column Spacer
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Remove the steering column lock cylinder housing and the steering column shaft from the steering actuator housing.
1. Pry up on the steering column locking levers using a shop fabricated tool.
2. On tilt steering columns, remove the steering column position spring.
  
  Fig 11: Removing Steering Column Lock Cylinder Housing And Steering Column Shaft From Steering Actuator Housing
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Remove the turn signal cancel cam.

Fig 12: Removing Turn Signal Cancel Cam
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Remove the snap ring.

Fig 13: Removing Snap Ring
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Remove the steering column upper bearing spring.

Fig 14: Removing Steering Column Upper Bearing Spring
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Remove the steering column bearing sleeve.

Fig 15: Removing Steering Column Bearing Sleeve
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Remove the steering column bearing tolerance ring.
1. Slide the steering column shaft in toward the steering column lock cylinder housing, then out.
2. Slide the steering column bearing tolerance ring off the steering column shaft.
  
  Fig 16: Removing Steering Column Bearing Tolerance Ring
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Using a suitable punch, remove the steering column bearing from the steering column lock cylinder housing.

Fig 17: Removing Steering Column Bearing From Steering Column Lock Cylinder Housing Using Punch
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
On tilt steering columns, use a suitable punch to remove the steering column bearing from the steering column lock cylinder housing.

Fig 18: Removing Steering Column Bearing From Steering Column Lock Cylinder Housing Using Punch
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
On automatic transmission equipped vehicles, remove the brake shift interlock solenoid.
1. Remove the three bolts.
2. Remove the brake shift interlock solenoid.
  
  Fig 19: Removing Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
On automatic transmission equipped vehicles, remove the shift tube.
1. Remove the four bolts.
2. Remove the two shift tube clamps.
3. Remove the shift tube.
  
  Fig 20: Removing Shift Tube
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
On automatic transmission equipped vehicles, remove the transmission selector lever arm and support.
1. Remove the two bolts.
2. Remove the transmission selector lever arm and support.
  
  Fig 21: Removing Transmission Selector Lever Arm And Support
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
On automatic transmission equipped vehicles, remove the gearshift selector tube spring.

Fig 22: Removing Gearshift Selector Tube Spring
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
On automatic transmission equipped vehicles, drive out the gearshift lever pin from the shift tube.

Fig 23: Removing Gearshift Lever Pin From Shift Tube
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
On automatic transmission equipped vehicles, remove the gearshift lever.

Fig 24: Removing Gearshift Lever
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
On automatic transmission equipped vehicles, remove the column shift selector lever plunger.
1. If it is bent, replace the column shift selector lever plunger.
  
  Fig 25: Removing Column Shift Selector Lever Plunger
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
On automatic transmission equipped vehicles,
1. Remove the two gearshift lever socket bushings.
2. Remove the transmission control selector lever spring clip.
  
  Fig 26: Removing Gearshift Lever Socket Bushings & Transmission Control Selector Lever Spring Clip
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
On automatic transmission equipped vehicles, remove the steering column lock pawl.
1. Drive out the steering column lock lever pin.
2. Remove the steering column lock pawl.
  
  Fig 27: Removing Steering Column Lock Pawl
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
On automatic transmission equipped vehicles, remove the ignition switch.
1. Remove the bolts.
2. Remove the ignition switch.
  
  Fig 28: Removing Ignition Switch
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Remove the lower steering column bearing and sleeve.

Fig 29: Removing Lower Steering Column Bearing And Sleeve
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Remove the steering column lower bearing retainer.
1. Remove the three bolts.
2. Remove the steering column lower bearing retainer.
  
  Fig 30: Removing Steering Column Lower Bearing Retainer
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Remove the upper steering column lock actuator and the lower steering column lock actuator.

Fig 31: Removing Upper Steering Column Lock Actuator And Lower Steering Column Lock Actuator
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.