OEM Buick Park Avenue Steering Column

Buick Park Avenue Steering Column Parts and Q&A

• Jacket
  26073096
  Q: What should be inspected in accidents with frame damage or significant body damage regarding the steering column on Buick Park Avenue?

  A:

  Accidents that cause frame damage or substantial sheet metal or body injuries or direct impacts to the Steering Column along with events where supplemental inflatable restraint systems activate can harm the Steering Column alignment. Use hand pressure to check capsule seating position in the bracket slots of the Steering Column assembly while inspecting the bracket assembly for loose connections. Steering Column bracket replacement is required when the bracket attaches to the jacket assembly with loose capsules. A jacket assembly replacement is required when capsules do not fit properly and the bracket uses welding as its attachment method. A measurement between the lower edge of the upper jacket and a defined point on the lower jacket must be performed to detect jacket assembly collapse. A new jacket assembly is required when measurement results exceed specifications. A visual shaft inspection should evaluate sheared injected plastic at the Steering Shaft location; immediate replacement of the Steering Shaft is necessary if sheared plastic material is detected. A dial indicator at the lower end of the Steering Shaft should be used to measure runout after frame damage assessment. The measurement should be limited to 1.60 mm (0.0625 inch) when rotating the steering wheel.
• Steering Column
  26070723
  Q: What should be checked for accidents with potential steering column damage on Buick Park Avenue?

  A:

  Any automobile that sustained damage to its frame or major body or sheet metal parts or experienced Steering Column impact or supplemental inflatable restraint system deployment needs inspection of its Steering Column. Examine each capsule on the Steering Column bracket assembly to verify bracket slot seatings and test loose conditions by hand. Study the manner which the bracket connects to the jacket assembly. Replacement must be confined to the bracket alone when the capsules remain unsecure and the bracket connects to the jacket assembly. The jacket assembly needs replacement whenever the bracket caps do not fit properly and when the bracket is attached to the jacket by welding. Jacket assembly replacement becomes necessary when measurements from the bottom edge of upper to specified location on lower show results outside specifications. The visual examination of the Steering Shaft should search for sheared injected plastic. A replacement Steering Shaft becomes necessary when this abnormality is detected during inspection. The inspection using a dial indicator of the lower Steering Shaft end for runout requires full steering wheel rotation until runout reaches beyond 1.60 mm (0.0625 inch).