Steering Shaft Inspection

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2017 Mazda 3. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Set the wheel blocks for both the front and rear wheels. (Without electric parking brake)
Disconnect the negative battery cable. (See NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE DISCONNECTION/CONNECTION [SKYACTIV-G 2.0, SKYACTIV-G 2.5] .)
Shift the selector lever from the P position to the D position (ATX).
Remove the following parts:
1. Upper panel (See UPPER PANEL REMOVAL .) (See UPPER PANEL INSTALLATION .)
2. Rear console (See REAR CONSOLE REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
3. Shift lever knob (MTX) (See MANUAL TRANSAXLE SHIFT MECHANISM REMOVAL/INSTALLATION [C66M-R] .)
4. Selector lever knob (ATX) (See AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE SHIFT MECHANISM REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
5. Shift panel (See SHIFT PANEL REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
6. Front console box (Without electric parking brake) (See FRONT CONSOLE BOX REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
7. CD player (With CD player) (See CD PLAYER REMOVAL .) (See CD PLAYER INSTALLATION .)
8. Side wall (See SIDE WALL REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
9. Glove compartment (See GLOVE COMPARTMENT REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
10. Decoration panel (See DECORATION PANEL REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
11. Front console (See FRONT CONSOLE REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
12. Driver-side front scuff plate (See FRONT SCUFF PLATE REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
13. Driver-side front side trim (See FRONT SIDE TRIM REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
14. Hood release lever (See HOOD RELEASE LEVER AND RELEASE CABLE REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
15. Fuel-filler lid opener lever (See FUEL-FILLER LID OPENER AND LEVER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
16. Driver-side lower panel (See LOWER PANEL REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
17. Column cover (See COLUMN COVER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
Inspect the steering column for excessive play and damage.
Verify that the clearance between the projection on the steering column shown in the figure and the bracket is less than 2.0 mm {0.079 in}

Fig 1: Projection And Bracket Clearance
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
- If the clearance between the projection and bracket is 2.0 mm {0.079 in} or more, replace the steering column component. (See STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
NOTE:
- If the clearance between the projection and bracket is 2.0 mm {0.079 in} or more, the impact absorbing mechanism of the steering column will operate, therefore it is necessary to replace the steering column component.