Steering Column Alignment
- Turn pinion shaft on steering gear to straight ahead position. Install steering column in vehicle and position inner column in straight ahead position and insert pinion shaft in steering column.
- Install two top column upper bracket bolts and tighten until weight is off of steering column and column bracket is parallel with body bracket. Steering column should pass through toe-plate hole approximately in center.
- Measure spaces between brackets. Install spacer washers between both brackets that are same thickness as distance just measured. Tighten bolts finger tight.
- Tighten toe-plate screws. Tighten column-to-pinion shaft clamp bolt. Measure gap between column and body brackets at third bolt hole and install a spacer washer of same thickness. Tighten bolt finger tight.
- Remove toe-plate and bolt securing steering column to pinion shaft at steering gear. Pull up on steering column slightly and push down on pinion shaft. Column should move freely.
- If column moves hard, check for proper installation and shim alignment (if any) of rack and pinion steering gear. If column moves easily, tighten three upper mounting bolts, toe-plate bolts, and column-to-steering clamp bolt.TIGHTENING SPECIFICATIONS
Application Ft. Lbs. (mkg) Steering Column Upper Mount Bolts 12-17 (1.66-2.35) Pinion Shaft Pinch Bolt 9-12 (1.24-1.66) Steering Wheel Nut 41-43 (5.67-5.95)