Removal Procedure
- Steering Column Lower Trim Cover Replacement (Encore) Steering Column Lower Trim Cover Replacement (Trax) Remove
- The steering column
- The intermediate shaft(s)
- The steering gear
- With the steering wheel in the straight ahead position, LOCK the steering column.
- Instrument Panel Knee Bolster Replacement (Encore)Instrument Panel Knee Bolster Replacement (Trax) Remove
- Instrument Panel Knee Bolster Outer Bracket Replacement Remove
- Floor Front Air Outlet Duct Replacement - Left Side (Encore)Floor Front Air Outlet Duct Replacement - Left Side (Trax) Remove
- Disconnect any electrical connectors as necessary.
- Place match marks on the intermediate steering shaft lower universal joint and the intermediate steering shaft to aid in installation.
- Place match marks on the intermediate steering shaft lower universal joint and the steering gear shaft to aid in installation.
- Intermediate Steering Shaft Middle Bolt - Remove
- Intermediate Steering Shaft Lower Bolt - Remove
- Remove the intermediate steering shaft lower universal joint (3) from the vehicle.
- Support the steering column.
- Steering Column Lower Support Bracket Bolt - Remove
- Steering Column Upper Support Bracket Bolt - Remove
- Remove the steering column assembly from the vehicle.
- Transfer components as necessary.
- If replacing the steering column, copy the match marks from the OLD steering column to the NEW steering column.
With wheels of the vehicle facing straight ahead, secure the steering wheel utilizing steering column anti-rotation pin, steering column lock, or a strap to prevent rotation. Locking of the steering column will prevent damage and a possible malfunction of the SIR system. The steering wheel must be secured in position before disconnecting the following components:
After disconnecting these components, do not rotate the steering wheel or move the front tires and wheels. Failure to follow this procedure may cause the SIR coil assembly to become un-centered and cause possible damage to the SIR coil. If you think the SIR coil has become un-centered, refer to your specific SIR coil's centering procedure to re-center SIR Coil.
If the intermediate steering shaft lower universal joint is difficult to separate, insert a wide blade flat screw driver and tap with a hammer to open up the slots as necessary.
Do not support the steering column by only the lower or upper support bracket. Damage to the column lower bearing adapter could result.
Once the steering column is removed from the vehicle, the column is extremely susceptible to damage. Dropping the column assembly on the end could collapse the steering shaft or loosen the plastic injections, which maintain column rigidity. Leaning on the column assembly could cause the jacket to bend or deform. Any of the above damage could impair the columns collapsible design. Do NOT hammer on the end of the shaft, because hammering could loosen the plastic injections, which maintain column rigidity. If you need to remove the steering wheel, refer to the Steering Wheel Replacement procedure in this section.