GM 91174749
Shaft & Joint

Begin by having the front wheels facing straight ahead before you rotate the Steering Wheel left to orient the Steering Shaft coupling opening vertically. Mark the places where the opening meets the Steering Column shaft and the lower Steering Shaft using paint match marks. The key removal from the Ignition Switch should happen before Steering Column and Steering Shaft coupling and intermediate shaft and lower Steering Shaft disconnection to prevent sir coil damage when the front wheels and tires are moved. Keep the Steering Column in lock position at all times. Twist the wheel left to expose the Steering Shaft coupling bolts (4,5) which enablecolumn lock access. Tap the Steering Shaft coupling onto the Steering Column shaft using a plastic hammer after removing the bolt from the lower Steering Shaft side and then loosening the bolt on immediately adjacent to the Steering Column. Insert bolt to secure the coupling on the Steering Column shaft before applying paint to both the pinion shaft and the steering gear housing. This allows alignment of the pinion shaft with the lower Steering Shaft Universal Joint opening. Disassemble the lower Steering Shaft by taking out the lower bolt then removing the lower Steering Shaft . Follow these instructions during assembly by checking that both front tires and Steering Wheel remain stationary from removal time. When installing a new lower Steering Shaft you must apply the same markings as used in the original part. Install the lower Steering Shaft onto the pinion shaft while aligning its Universal Joint opening with match marks (4,5). Secure the assembly using the lower bolt at 25 nm (18 ft. Lbs.). Line up all match marks between the lower Steering Shaft, Steering Shaft coupling and Steering Column shaft. Use a wrench to loosen the bolt connecting the Steering Column and coupling. Then move the coupling downward over the lower Steering Shaft. Install the Steering Shaft coupling by running bolt to the lower Steering Shaft and bolt to the Steering Column shaft then achieve torque for both bolts at 25 nm (18 ft. Lbs.).