Tilt steering column installation

Hello my name is Dave.

The pins should actually tap in quite easily if you have it lined up properly. One of the tricks is to make sure the tilt foot is in the most upright position and if you look at the pin it is stepped so it should go in the first little bit by just pushing on it and when you have the column lined up you'll feel it barely start, from there you should be able to tap it in. The second side usually is even easier. I do want to ask if you tightened the three bolts on the top of the base of the column as this is usually the reason for dismantling the column as you have, I would guess you did and that was why you have done this but if not I would highly recommend tightening them while you have it apart, even though they are inverted torx I actually have found that a 6 point 8mm or 5/16 1/4" socket on an extension with a universal works beautifully and can sneak in there nicely. I hope this helps you get everything back together and working properly and thank you for using 2CarPros.

It sounds like you have the gear off one tooth, and as far as getting the pivot pins use a screw driver on one side to hold it then push the main shaft over to line up the opposing holes. Here are some instructions and diagrams to help. Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

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Welcome to 2CarPros.

What I am going to provide are the directions specific to replacement with a tilt wheel. All attached pictures correlate with the directions. Also, pic 1 is an exploded view of the column. Read through the directions, compare the pics, and see if anything stands out as different to what you have done.

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IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER
Tilt Wheel Steering Column
pic 1

Legend

pic 2

Housing Cover And Turn Signal Switch Removal

pic 3

Buzzer Switch Wires, Removal

pic 4

Pivot Pin Removal

pic 5

Buzzer Switch Removal

pic 6

Lock Cylinder Set Removal

pic 7

Remove or Disconnect

Tools Required: J 35689-A Terminal Remover J 21854-01 Pivot Pin Remover.

Important: Steering column must be removed from car before proceeding with the following steps.

1. Do steps 1 through 18 under Turn Signal Switch Assembly / Service and Repair / Remove or Disconnect. See: Turn Signal Switch > Procedures
2. Pull tilt lever (30) and tilt column all the way up.
3. Insert phillips head screwdriver into square opening in spring retainer (11), push down and turn left to release retainer (11) and wheel tilt spring (12).
4. Spring retainer (11), tilt spring (12) and tilt spring guide (13).
5. Two lower spring retainers (28) and discard.
6. Lower bearing spring (27) and lower bearing seat (26).
7. Adapter screws (25).
8. Adapter and lower bearing assembly (24).
9. Two pivot pins (10) with J 21854-01 as shown.
10. Place lock cylinder (20) in "Run" position.
11. Pull tilt lever (30) to release shaft and housing assembly (9).
12. Shaft and housing assembly (9) from jacket and bowl assembly (19).
13. Place lock cylinder (20) in "Off-Lock" position and remove key.
14. Buzzer switch (17). Use screwdriver to lift switch tab and pull gently on wires to remove.
15. Lock retaining screw (18).
16. Lock cylinder (20).
17. Column tilt bumpers (31) with vise grips. If bumper is broken off use a 5.9 mm (7/32 in.) Drill to remove remaining piece of bumper.
18. Tilt bracket screws (29).
19. Tilt lever and bracket assembly (30).
20. Rod cap (32) from dimmer switch rod (35).
21. Jacket and bowl assembly (19).

Install or Connect

Important: All fasteners in the following steps must be firmly seated before being tightened to specified torque.

1. Rod cap (32) into jacket and bowl assembly (19).
2. Tilt lever and bracket assembly (30) into jacket and bowl assembly (19).
3. Tilt bracket screws (29) and torque to 5.2 Nm (46 lb. In.).
4. Three tilt bumpers (31) into jacket and bowl assembly (19) until bottomed.
5. Steering column lock cylinder set (20) in "Off- Lock" position with key removed.
6. Lock retaining screw (18) and torque to 7.0 Nm (62 lb. In.).
7. Buzzer switch assembly (17). Push switch down into retaining bore until bottomed with plastic tab covering lock retaining screw (18).
8. Insert key and place lock cylinder (20) in "Run" position.
9. Shaft and housing assembly (9).
10. Lubricate pivot pins (10) with lithium grease.

Two pivot pins (10) into pivot holes in shaft and housing assembly (9) until bottomed.

11. Pull tilt lever (30) and tilt column all the way up.
12. Lubricate tilt spring guide (13) with lithium grease.

Tilt spring guide (13) into tilt spring (12).

13. Guide (13) and tilt spring (12) with spring retainer (11) as follows:

- Be sure that recess in spring guide (13) engages round locating tab in jacket and bowl assembly (19).
- Insert phillips head screwdriver into square opening in spring retainer (11), push down and turn right to lock in place.

14. Adapter and lower bearing assembly (24).
15. Adapter screws (25) and torque to 3 Nm (26 lb. In.).
16. Lower bearing seat (26) and lower bearing spring (27).
17. Two new lower spring retainers (28), compress spring (27) until retainers are positioned 29 mm (1.14 in.) From lower end of steering shaft.
18. Steering Column in car.
19. Park lock cable into ignition switch inhibiter and snap in place.
20. Do steps 1 through 18 under Turn Signal Switch Assembly / Service and Repair / Install or Connect. See: Turn Signal Switch > Procedures

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Let me know if you have questions or need help.

Take care,
Joe

Happy to help. Let me know if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe

Welcome to 2CarPros.

An alignment shouldn't be needed unless the steering wheel is off center when going straight. What you described sounds correct. Here are the directions for removal and install. The attached picture correlates with the directions.

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STEERING COLUMN - REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION
Removal

Steering wheel removal for vehicles with redundant steering wheel controls has been revised by service bulletin No. 90-110-9.
1. On 1990-91 models, remove air cleaner.
2. On all models, disconnect battery ground cable, then remove steering wheel as necessary. When removing steering wheel that is equipped with redundant steering wheel controls, insert wheel puller bolts only four to six threads deep to prevent bolts from going all the way through the hub.
3. Remove left hand sound insulator and the trim panel below steering column.
4. Unlock steering column, then push top of intermediate shaft seal down for access to upper intermediate shaft coupling and upper coupling pinch bolt.
5. Rotate intermediate shaft as necessary to remove upper coupling pinch bolt.
6. Disconnect shift indicator cable end and casing from steering column and transaxle shift lever, or park lock cable if equipped with floor shift.
7. Disconnect transaxle shift cable from ball stud on transaxle shift lever, then remove transaxle shift cable casing from steering column bracket by depressing two tabs.

Fig. 27 Steering Column Removal And Installation.

Pic 1

8. Remove lower steering column attaching bolts, Fig. 27, then the upper steering column attaching bolts, and lower steering column to seat.
9. Disconnect electrical connector by loosening the screw and separating the two halves.
10. Withdraw lower end of steering shaft from upper intermediate shaft coupling and remove column. It may be necessary to spread coupling clamp with a screwdriver to withdraw steering shaft.

Installation

1. Install column back into vehicle and insert lower end of column shaft into upper intermediate shaft coupling.
2. Connect column electrical connector, tightening screw that draws the two halves together.
3. Connect transaxle shift cable and transaxle shift cable casing to column bracket and shift lever ball stud, or park lock cable if equipped with floor shift.
4. Install transaxle shift indicator cable end and casing and connect cable to transaxle shift lever.
5. Loosely install upper and lower steering column attaching bolts, then torque to 18 lb ft
6. Install upper coupling pinch bolt into upper intermediate shaft coupling and torque to 35 lb ft
7. Ensure clearance between lower shaft coupling and steering gear is at least.08 inch, then pull up intermediate shaft seal over lower column until it locks in place.
8. Install trim panel below steering column and the left hand sound insulator.
9. In stall steering wheel, if removed, then connect battery ground cable and confirm proper operation of all steering column components and functions.
10. On 1990-91 models, install air cleaner.

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Let me know if this helps or if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe

Happy to help. Let us know if you have other questions.

Have a great weekend and 4th!

Take care,
joe

Good evening

1. No it does not require any lube.

2. There is a spring depressor tool you need to compress the spring to the shaft.

3. No, they have the same face on either side.

Roy

You are welcome

Always glad to help

Roy

Nope. Too much pressure required to collapse the spring.

Parts stores have this depressor

Roy.