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How-To; Steering Column Repair
02-07-2011, 04:02 PM
#1
How-To; Steering Column Repair This thread is a how-to from a recent replacement of my Firebird's Wiper Switch Assembly. Since it's one of the deepest components on the column, this procedure will illustrate how to get to most of the other components that can be replaced during an in-car repair.
The good news is that this column is largely unchanged since 1969, so many parts are easy to get and inexpensive. The bad news is that this column is largely unchanged since 1969 and the newer/modern components have been jammed in the old column, which makes some parts very expensive and/or hard to work with.
Before you get started, you'll want to read through the whole thread and confirm you have the needed tools and parts before you tear in to the column. The first time out, the complete dis-assembly and re-assembly will probably take from 1-4 hours, depending on how deep in the column you are looking to go and if you have all the tools right at hand.
As well, if you see any items that are incorrect or should be added, please PM me and I'll be happy to edit the guide.
The good news is that this column is largely unchanged since 1969, so many parts are easy to get and inexpensive. The bad news is that this column is largely unchanged since 1969 and the newer/modern components have been jammed in the old column, which makes some parts very expensive and/or hard to work with.
Before you get started, you'll want to read through the whole thread and confirm you have the needed tools and parts before you tear in to the column. The first time out, the complete dis-assembly and re-assembly will probably take from 1-4 hours, depending on how deep in the column you are looking to go and if you have all the tools right at hand.
As well, if you see any items that are incorrect or should be added, please PM me and I'll be happy to edit the guide.
02-07-2011, 04:03 PM
#2
Disclaimer
This thread describes information on how to remove the driver's side airbag. Please beware that this task is VERY dangerous and, if done improperly, can result in accidental airbag discharge, injury, severe burns, or death. The reader proceeds at their own risk and is strongly encouraged to have this work performed by a professional if they do not feel that they can perform this work safely.
Static electricity is sufficient in some circumstances to activate the bag. When working with the airbag, you should make sure not to tough any exposed connector terminals or use a grounding strap to dissipate any static on your person.
The airbag is loaded with a pyrotechnic device and the equivalent of rocket fuel. When activated, the airbag exerts a great deal of energy, burning the fuel and forcefully inflating the airbag. Obviously, passengers in a normal driving/riding position safely contact the bag in a crash. However, if a person is near the bag when it activates, they may be burned by the hot gasses or experience trauma from the force exerted by the bag.
Above all else, the airbag should be fully disabled by disconnecting the car's battery and disconnecting the airbag prior to removal.
This thread describes information on how to remove the driver's side airbag. Please beware that this task is VERY dangerous and, if done improperly, can result in accidental airbag discharge, injury, severe burns, or death. The reader proceeds at their own risk and is strongly encouraged to have this work performed by a professional if they do not feel that they can perform this work safely.
Static electricity is sufficient in some circumstances to activate the bag. When working with the airbag, you should make sure not to tough any exposed connector terminals or use a grounding strap to dissipate any static on your person.
The airbag is loaded with a pyrotechnic device and the equivalent of rocket fuel. When activated, the airbag exerts a great deal of energy, burning the fuel and forcefully inflating the airbag. Obviously, passengers in a normal driving/riding position safely contact the bag in a crash. However, if a person is near the bag when it activates, they may be burned by the hot gasses or experience trauma from the force exerted by the bag.
Above all else, the airbag should be fully disabled by disconnecting the car's battery and disconnecting the airbag prior to removal.
02-07-2011, 04:04 PM
#3
Prep 1) Purchase your parts. Wiper switch, turn signal switch, key cylinder, etc. At very least, you will want to replace your turn signal cam and turn signal cam springs if they have over 75K miles on them. These are the first to wear out and having to pull the column apart again a couple months later to replace these VERY inexpensive parts is a total pain!
- Turn signal cam springs (Doorman part #49312)
- Turn signal cam (Doorman part #83232)
2) Assemble your tools:
- Rubbing Alcohol (for grease clean-up)
- White Lithium Grease
- Brown Lithium Grease
- Flashlight
- Terminal Removal Tool (or paperclip)
- 6mm Nut Driver
- Screwdriver (Flat Head, #1 Phillips, and #2 Phillips)
- Lock Ring Pliers
- Needle Nose Pliers
- 21mm Socket and Wrench
- T-27, T-25, and T-20 Torx Drivers
- Inspection Mirror
- Steering Wheel Lock Plate Compressor
- Steering Wheel Puller and Socket (for the puller)
- Paper Towels and/or Gloves
3) DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. Under the hood, disconnect the negative terminal at the battery and tuck away the terminal so it can't make contact with the battery.
4) Remove the lower instrument panels. The shroud below the steering wheel comes off by removing the two #2 Phillips head screws in the front of the panel and by removing the two 6mm bolts at the bottom of the panel. As you pull the panel away, be sure to disconnect the rear hatch release button connector. Next, pry the two plastic retainers, holding the lower instrument panel cover in place, down from the dash until they disengage. The lower cover then pulls down and out of position. (Note, when you replace this panel, there is a black plastic tab on the left side that goes behind the left side kick panel.)
5) Unplug the driver's side airbag connector. It is a yellow connector clipped to the base of the steering column, with yellow wires going in to each side. You will need to remove a connector lock before you will be able to remove the connector.
6) Two additional black connectors are attached to wires running down the column. One is for the turn signal switch and the other is for the wiper switch and cruise control. If you will be removing either, this is a good time to remove the connectors.
- Turn signal cam springs (Doorman part #49312)
- Turn signal cam (Doorman part #83232)
2) Assemble your tools:
- Rubbing Alcohol (for grease clean-up)
- White Lithium Grease
- Brown Lithium Grease
- Flashlight
- Terminal Removal Tool (or paperclip)
- 6mm Nut Driver
- Screwdriver (Flat Head, #1 Phillips, and #2 Phillips)
- Lock Ring Pliers
- Needle Nose Pliers
- 21mm Socket and Wrench
- T-27, T-25, and T-20 Torx Drivers
- Inspection Mirror
- Steering Wheel Lock Plate Compressor
- Steering Wheel Puller and Socket (for the puller)
- Paper Towels and/or Gloves
3) DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. Under the hood, disconnect the negative terminal at the battery and tuck away the terminal so it can't make contact with the battery.
4) Remove the lower instrument panels. The shroud below the steering wheel comes off by removing the two #2 Phillips head screws in the front of the panel and by removing the two 6mm bolts at the bottom of the panel. As you pull the panel away, be sure to disconnect the rear hatch release button connector. Next, pry the two plastic retainers, holding the lower instrument panel cover in place, down from the dash until they disengage. The lower cover then pulls down and out of position. (Note, when you replace this panel, there is a black plastic tab on the left side that goes behind the left side kick panel.)
5) Unplug the driver's side airbag connector. It is a yellow connector clipped to the base of the steering column, with yellow wires going in to each side. You will need to remove a connector lock before you will be able to remove the connector.
6) Two additional black connectors are attached to wires running down the column. One is for the turn signal switch and the other is for the wiper switch and cruise control. If you will be removing either, this is a good time to remove the connectors.
Last edited by wssix99; 02-13-2011 at 10:49 PM. Reason: fixed font
02-07-2011, 04:07 PM
#4
Dis-assembly 7) Turn the steering wheel so it locks; preferably with the wheel generally straight.
8) Remove the airbag. MAKING SURE YOU KEEP YOUR FACE AWAY from the steering wheel, unscrew the two T-25 Torx screws in the back of steering wheel, which hold the airbag in place. (Note: the screws are captive and will not come out once loosened.) Slowly pull the airbag away from the wheel and turn it so that the bag faces to the side - outward towards open space. (You do not want the bag pointed towards the wheel or something hard because it can turn in to a projectile if it goes off.) Using a small flat head screw driver, pry up the yellow terminal lock on the airbag connector and then pull the yellow terminal straight away from the airbag. The terminal should pull away from the back of the airbag easily once the lock is removed. Keeping the bag at arms length, place the removed airbag in a place where it won't turn in to a projectile if it were to go off.
9) Disconnect the horn wire going in to the upper left of the wheel. The wire removes by pressing the white plastic collar inwards and turning 1/4 turn to the left. (counter clockwise) The plastic collar and wire should then come out. Do not force this step/wire or you can break the turn signal cam that it plugs in to.
10) If equipped, disconnect the steering wheel control connector.
11) In the center of the wheel, remove the steering wheel lock nut retaining ring and then remove the lock nut with a 21mm socket.
12) Index the steering wheel by placing a piece of tape across the wheel AND column. This will be needed to properly align the wheel when it goes back on.
13) Using a steering wheel puller (you'll need one equipped with 5/16"X18 TPI bolts) thread the bolts in to the wheel BY HAND. Do not tighten with force. Then turn the center shaft of the puller slowly until the steering wheel comes off the post.
14) As you remove the wheel, be sure to thread the steering wheel controls and airbag wire through the portal.
15) Remove the clock spring. NOTE: THE ORIENTATION OF THE CLOCK SPRING. WHEN REPLACING, THE LARGE **** AT THE TOP OF THE COLUMN WILL NEED TO BE ORIENTED CORRECTLY IN THE RIBS ON THE INSIDE OF THE COLUMN SHROUD IN ORDER FOR THE UNIT TO WORK PROPERLY. Using lock ring pliers, remove the clock spring retainer. Next, use some tape to secure the inner ring of the clock spring (to ease putting it back together) and slowly pull the clock spring out of the column. As it comes out, the wire you disconnected earlier will pull back up through the column. Dangle the clock spring off the column, making sure the wire isn't bound up and that it doesn't come out so far that the free end of the wires at the base of the column get lost.
16) Use a steering wheel lock plate compressor to press the lock plate in to the column. (Note: My compressor is old and I'm too cheap to buy a newer, longer one, so I've used a few quarters in this picture to make up the difference. If only all problems with length were solved so inexpensively...)
Once compressed, use a small flat head screwdriver, lock ring pliers, and a lot of patience to remove the retaining clip. Slowly release the compressor and remove the lock plate, the washers, and springs behind it.
17) Next, remove the turn signal canceling cam from the column and inspect the two nubs. The picture below shows two groves worn in to the nubs from the canceling springs. Time for this one to be replaced!
18) Remove the hazard switch using a #1 Phillips head screwdriver. Be sure not to lose the assembly and spring inside the button!
19) Remove the black turn signal linkage at the upper left of the turn signal switch with a #2 Phillips head screw driver.
20) You will see the two turn signal cam springs above and below the steering shaft. These weaken over time and you will want to replace them as you put things back together. My timing was perfect as one of them snapped on me right as I touched it.
21) Disconnect the turn signal switch connector at the base of the steering column by removing the three T-20 Torx bolts and pull the switch out of the column slowly, making sure the wires and connector don't bind up. At this point, you are ready to replace your parts:
A) The turn signal and wiper switches can be replaced by removing the wire terminals from the connector body with a paperclip or terminal removal tool. (tool p/n - 12094429) The wires can then be fed back up through the column and the switch pulled out. (A wire or string should be attached to the wires so the new ones can be pulled back the same way.)
B) The ignition cylinder can be removed by first making sure its in the off position. The cylinder key position switch can then be easily pulled out with some needle nose pliers. The cylinder retaining bolt is next removed with a T-20 Torx driver and then the cylinder wire needs to be disconnected at the base of the column and then fed back up, just like the turn signal wires above. Once the wire is free and the wire retainer is removed, the cylinder will pull straight out to the side.
c) The wiper switch is removed by the following procedure:
- Remove the plastic cover at the rear of the signal stalk.
- Disconnect the cruise control connector coming out of the stalk. (if equipped)
- Pull the turn signal stalk straight out the side of the column.
- Disconnect the wiper switch connector, remove the terminals from the body and feed back up the column, similar as to is done for the turn signal switch. (above)
- Loosen the ignition cylinder and pull partially out so it does not connect to the cam.
- Remove the three upper collar retaining screws with a T-27 Torx driver.
- Pull the upper collar out slightly and drive the wiper switch pivot pin out and towards the dash.
- When putting the column back together, you should make sure the black high beam cam and plastic cam cover are in place before sliding the upper collar back down. As the collar slides down, the cam and the steering wheel lock rod will need to be fed back in to position in the collar.
8) Remove the airbag. MAKING SURE YOU KEEP YOUR FACE AWAY from the steering wheel, unscrew the two T-25 Torx screws in the back of steering wheel, which hold the airbag in place. (Note: the screws are captive and will not come out once loosened.) Slowly pull the airbag away from the wheel and turn it so that the bag faces to the side - outward towards open space. (You do not want the bag pointed towards the wheel or something hard because it can turn in to a projectile if it goes off.) Using a small flat head screw driver, pry up the yellow terminal lock on the airbag connector and then pull the yellow terminal straight away from the airbag. The terminal should pull away from the back of the airbag easily once the lock is removed. Keeping the bag at arms length, place the removed airbag in a place where it won't turn in to a projectile if it were to go off.
9) Disconnect the horn wire going in to the upper left of the wheel. The wire removes by pressing the white plastic collar inwards and turning 1/4 turn to the left. (counter clockwise) The plastic collar and wire should then come out. Do not force this step/wire or you can break the turn signal cam that it plugs in to.
10) If equipped, disconnect the steering wheel control connector.
11) In the center of the wheel, remove the steering wheel lock nut retaining ring and then remove the lock nut with a 21mm socket.
12) Index the steering wheel by placing a piece of tape across the wheel AND column. This will be needed to properly align the wheel when it goes back on.
13) Using a steering wheel puller (you'll need one equipped with 5/16"X18 TPI bolts) thread the bolts in to the wheel BY HAND. Do not tighten with force. Then turn the center shaft of the puller slowly until the steering wheel comes off the post.
14) As you remove the wheel, be sure to thread the steering wheel controls and airbag wire through the portal.
15) Remove the clock spring. NOTE: THE ORIENTATION OF THE CLOCK SPRING. WHEN REPLACING, THE LARGE **** AT THE TOP OF THE COLUMN WILL NEED TO BE ORIENTED CORRECTLY IN THE RIBS ON THE INSIDE OF THE COLUMN SHROUD IN ORDER FOR THE UNIT TO WORK PROPERLY. Using lock ring pliers, remove the clock spring retainer. Next, use some tape to secure the inner ring of the clock spring (to ease putting it back together) and slowly pull the clock spring out of the column. As it comes out, the wire you disconnected earlier will pull back up through the column. Dangle the clock spring off the column, making sure the wire isn't bound up and that it doesn't come out so far that the free end of the wires at the base of the column get lost.
16) Use a steering wheel lock plate compressor to press the lock plate in to the column. (Note: My compressor is old and I'm too cheap to buy a newer, longer one, so I've used a few quarters in this picture to make up the difference. If only all problems with length were solved so inexpensively...)
Once compressed, use a small flat head screwdriver, lock ring pliers, and a lot of patience to remove the retaining clip. Slowly release the compressor and remove the lock plate, the washers, and springs behind it.
17) Next, remove the turn signal canceling cam from the column and inspect the two nubs. The picture below shows two groves worn in to the nubs from the canceling springs. Time for this one to be replaced!
18) Remove the hazard switch using a #1 Phillips head screwdriver. Be sure not to lose the assembly and spring inside the button!
19) Remove the black turn signal linkage at the upper left of the turn signal switch with a #2 Phillips head screw driver.
20) You will see the two turn signal cam springs above and below the steering shaft. These weaken over time and you will want to replace them as you put things back together. My timing was perfect as one of them snapped on me right as I touched it.
21) Disconnect the turn signal switch connector at the base of the steering column by removing the three T-20 Torx bolts and pull the switch out of the column slowly, making sure the wires and connector don't bind up. At this point, you are ready to replace your parts:
A) The turn signal and wiper switches can be replaced by removing the wire terminals from the connector body with a paperclip or terminal removal tool. (tool p/n - 12094429) The wires can then be fed back up through the column and the switch pulled out. (A wire or string should be attached to the wires so the new ones can be pulled back the same way.)
B) The ignition cylinder can be removed by first making sure its in the off position. The cylinder key position switch can then be easily pulled out with some needle nose pliers. The cylinder retaining bolt is next removed with a T-20 Torx driver and then the cylinder wire needs to be disconnected at the base of the column and then fed back up, just like the turn signal wires above. Once the wire is free and the wire retainer is removed, the cylinder will pull straight out to the side.
c) The wiper switch is removed by the following procedure:
- Remove the plastic cover at the rear of the signal stalk.
- Disconnect the cruise control connector coming out of the stalk. (if equipped)
- Pull the turn signal stalk straight out the side of the column.
- Disconnect the wiper switch connector, remove the terminals from the body and feed back up the column, similar as to is done for the turn signal switch. (above)
- Loosen the ignition cylinder and pull partially out so it does not connect to the cam.
- Remove the three upper collar retaining screws with a T-27 Torx driver.
- Pull the upper collar out slightly and drive the wiper switch pivot pin out and towards the dash.
- When putting the column back together, you should make sure the black high beam cam and plastic cam cover are in place before sliding the upper collar back down. As the collar slides down, the cam and the steering wheel lock rod will need to be fed back in to position in the collar.
Last edited by wssix99; 05-22-2012 at 11:47 AM. Reason: Added a few details and the step to lock the column before starting the removal.
02-07-2011, 04:08 PM
#5
Putting it back together... The column goes back together in the reverse order it was taken apart. As the mechanism goes back together, you will want to watch for the following:
- Be sure to replace the turn signal cam and turn signal cam springs with new parts.
- All brown grease should be removed and replaced liberally with brown lithium grease.
- The turn signal contacts should be liberally lubricated with white lithium grease in order to keep the turn signal mechanism from binding up. You'll notice that getting new grease under the metal springs/contacts and in between the plastic parts that rub together will make your turn signal lever feel just like new.
If you get stuck or are not sure how things go back together, this article is great and has a lot of other details: http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...ck_Rebuild.pdf
- Be sure to replace the turn signal cam and turn signal cam springs with new parts.
- All brown grease should be removed and replaced liberally with brown lithium grease.
- The turn signal contacts should be liberally lubricated with white lithium grease in order to keep the turn signal mechanism from binding up. You'll notice that getting new grease under the metal springs/contacts and in between the plastic parts that rub together will make your turn signal lever feel just like new.
If you get stuck or are not sure how things go back together, this article is great and has a lot of other details: http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...ck_Rebuild.pdf
Last edited by wssix99; 03-28-2012 at 10:40 PM. Reason: updated link
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03-16-2012, 05:30 AM
#11
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In the thread you posted saying something about changing the turn signal cam and springs. Is that not in the new turn signal piece that i bought or is it seperate? I bought the turn siganl piece that goes in the column. Due to the fact the turn signals work when they feel like it after the alternator went out on me. The cruise quit working as well after the apternator went out. So we figured it had to be the switch in the column due to it operates all that. I do not have any burnt bulbs I even replaced them to see made no difference. Please forgive me for asking. I have played with 3rd gen camaro's till this point. I just bought me a 2002 trans am. That I hope to have a lot of fun with. Just need to iron out a few problems. Thanks for any help in this matter.
03-17-2012, 04:49 PM
#12
If you bought just the turn signal lever, then its just a stick (an expensive one) with a switch on it. The wires coming out of the stick are for the On-Off-Resume switch and the end push button, only. In addition to that, there is a wiper lever that should rotate freely around the stick - that engages the wiper switch further inside the column.
When you press down/up on the turn signal lever, it rocks the wiper switch inside the column, which moves a black metal linkage inside the column. That black linkage is attached to the turn signal switch with a single washer-head screw. The turn signal switch is the big white plastic thing in step/picture 19 above. (The turn signal canceling springs sit in and are attached to that switch mechanism.)
I do not have any burnt bulbs I even replaced them to see made no difference. Please forgive me for asking. I have played with 3rd gen camaro's till this point. I just bought me a 2002 trans am. That I hope to have a lot of fun with. Just need to iron out a few problems. Thanks for any help in this matter.
03-18-2012, 05:38 PM
#13
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Misunderstanding No I bought the piece that goes in the steering column not the black piece lever the outside. That is why I was asking was the turn signal cam and springs different from that. I wanted to know if I need to buy more parts before jumping into it. Yea I read on the cruise control module also. I don't have a clutch. I had a 95 truck did the same to me though. Changed out the blinker switch in the column and it solved the whole problem. When I got the car the turn signals were very lazy. Then when the alternator went out they started acting up and the cruise quit working.
03-27-2012, 05:55 PM
#14
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great write up, but i have to ask, how much further do you have to go to replace the actual steering column shaft - from there to the firewall? I'm looking at getting another one, and am first assessing how much of a pain this will be!
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03-27-2012, 06:34 PM
#15
The whole thing should actually be easier to replace than rebuilding part of it in the car. Just deactivate the airbag, unplug the electrical, and then the whole column can come out as a unit. I've never done it myself, but assume there is a disconnect that needs to be made in the engine bay, bolts at the firewall, and then bolts under the dash. The Automatic Transmission interlock may also need to be dealt with, but I don't have one of those. 
03-27-2012, 06:39 PM
#18
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all the way at the bottom, you'll see it, and yes, it just connect to the firewall, but i dont think i'd be able to get enough space to pull it out between the steering wheel/turn signal component housing and the firewall (if it connects to some u-joint inside there??) I'm pretty lost on this one!
03-27-2012, 07:58 PM
#19
Ahhh. Check out the link in post #5. The dis-assembly of the shaft should be in there. BTW - You might have an easier time of it if you take the whole column out of the car and do this on a bench.
That link was not working, so I've updated it.
That link was not working, so I've updated it.
03-28-2012, 05:51 PM
#20
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ok, ha i just got a reply from burkhart, and i now understand why i would've lost so much weight. this is a race only part, and i wont have any of the stock column switches... i.e. turn signals, wipers, etc. but as for the link, it still didn't work for me??