GM 26099066
Steering Column

A vehicle sustaining frame, major body or sheet metal damage in an accident along with impacts to the Steering Column and deployments from supplemental inflatable restraint systems requires inspection of the Steering Column components. Storage of the Steering Column bracket assembly capsules should be checked for looseness when testers manually push or pull on them. The jacket assembly requires replacement when both conditions occur while the bracket shows loose caps or bolt attachment. When the capsules on the Steering Column bracket assembly do not sit securely and the bracket connects through welding to the jacket assembly then you must only replace the jacket assembly. A jacket assembly overhaul should be performed when measurements show the lower edge of the upper jacket to the defined point on the lower jacket do not match specified dimensions. A visual inspection of the Steering Shaft should check for sheared injected plastic so the Steering Shaft needs replacement if plastic shearing is revealed. The steering wheel rotation procedure requires a dial indicator at the bottom of the Steering Shaft to measure runout that should remain lower than 1.59 mm (0.0625 inch).

Measure the distance from the lower edge of the upper jacket to a defined point on the lower jacket; replace the jacket assembly if the measured dimensions are not within specifications.