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Home › GMC › 2003 › Jimmy 2D Utility, Part Time, Standard › Repair and Diagnosis › Steering › Steering Wheel & Steering Column › Repair Instructions › Steering Column Replacement › Removal Procedure

Removal Procedure

CAUTION: Refer to SIR CAUTION in Cautions and Notices.
NOTE: Once the steering column is removed from the vehicle, the column is extremely susceptible to damage. Dropping the column assembly on the end could collapse the steering shaft or loosen the plastic injections, which maintain column rigidity. Leaning on the column assembly could cause the jacket to bend or deform. Any of the above damage could impair the columns collapsible design. Do NOT hammer on the end of the shaft, because hammering could loosen the plastic injections, which maintain column rigidity. If you need to remove the steering wheel, refer to the Steering Wheel Replacement procedure in this section.
NOTE: The front wheels of the vehicle must be maintained in the straight ahead position and the steering column must be in the LOCK position before disconnecting the steering column or intermediate shaft. Failure to follow these procedures will cause improper alignment of some components during installation and result in damage to the SIR coil assembly.
  1. Disable the SIR system. Refer to DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM in SIR.
  2. Remove the steering wheel. Refer to STEERING WHEEL REPLACEMENT .
  3. Remove the knee bolster. Refer to KNEE BOLSTER REPLACEMENT in Instrument Panel, Gages and Console.
  4. For vehicles with a column shift, remove the range selector cable from the steering column. Refer to AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RANGE SELECTOR CABLE REPLACEMENT (COLUMN SHIFT) or AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RANGE SELECTOR CABLE REPLACEMENT (CONSOLE SHIFT) in Automatic Transmission - 4L60-E.
  5. Lock the steering column through the access hole in the lower steering column trim cover using J 42640  .
    Fig 1: Locking Steering Column Using Steering Column Anti-Rotation Pin
    G01467487Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  6. Loosen the center screw in the steering column bulkhead connector and disconnect the bulkhead connector.
    Fig 2: Disconnecting Bulkhead Connector
    G01467488Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  7. Remove the retaining nuts that secure the steering column to the steering column toe plate.
  8. Remove the retaining nuts that secure the steering column to the upper support bracket.
  9. Remove the steering column.
    Fig 3: Steering Column
    G01467489Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  10. Install the steering column onto J 41352  .
  11. Remove the upper intermediate steering shaft from the steering column.
    Fig 4: Removing Upper Intermediate Steering Shaft From Steering Column
    G01467490Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.


  1. Remove the ignition lock cylinder case. Refer to IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER CASE REPLACEMENT (FLOOR SHIFT)  or IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER CASE REPLACEMENT (COLUMN SHIFT) .
  2. Remove the tilt spring assembly only. Refer to TILT SPRING REPLACEMENT .
  3. Inspect the steering column for accident damage. Refer to STEERING COLUMN ACCIDENT DAMAGE INSPECTION .
  4. Remove the 2 pan head tapping screws from the turn signal and multifunction switch assembly.

    Remove the turn signal and multifunction switch assembly.

    NOTE: Do not use excessive force when removing the automatic transmission shift lock control from the steering column. Using excessive force may cause damage to the automatic transmission shift lock control and/or the steering column.
  5. Remove the A/T shift lock control using the following procedure:
    1. Put the shift lever clevis into the NEUTRAL position.
    2. Use a small screwdriver to pry the A/T shift lock control away from the steering column jacket assembly and the cable shift cam assembly.
    Fig 1: A/T Shift Lock Control
    G01467496Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  6. Remove the 3 flat head tapping screws from the linear shift assembly.

    Remove the linear shift assembly from the steering column support assembly.

    Fig 2: Removing Linear Shift Assembly From Steering Column Support Assembly
    G01467497Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  7. Remove the inner boot seal (4).
  8. Remove the steering shaft seal (3) from the adapter and bearing assembly (1).
  9. Remove the shaft seal retainer (2) from the adapter and bearing assembly (1).
  10. Remove the adapter and bearing assembly (1) from the steering shaft assembly.
    Fig 3: Removing Adapter & Bearing Assembly From Steering Shaft Assembly
    G01467498Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  11. Use J 21854-01  to remove the 2 pivot pins (3) from the steering column tilt head assembly (1).
    Fig 4: Removing Pivot Pins From Steering Column Tilt Head Assembly
    G01467499Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  12. Install the tilt lever into the tilt head assembly (1).
  13. Pull back on the tilt lever and at the same time pull the tilt head assembly (1) down and away from the steering column.
  14. Remove the tilt head assembly (1) with the steering shaft assembly from the steering column jacket assembly (2).
  15. Remove the tilt lever.
    Fig 5: Removing Tilt Head Assembly With Steering Shaft Assembly From Steering Column Jacket Assembly
    G01467500Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  16. Remove the steering shaft assembly (2) from the steering column tilt head assembly (1).
    Fig 6: Removing Steering Shaft Assembly From Steering Column Tilt Head Assembly
    G01467501Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Important:  Mark the race and upper shaft assembly and the lower shaft assembly before disassembly. Failure to assemble the race and upper shaft assembly and the lower shaft assembly correctly will cause the steering wheel to be turned 180 degrees.

  17. Tilt the race and upper shaft assembly (1) 90 degrees to the lower shaft assembly (2).
  18. Disengage the race and upper shaft assembly (1) from the lower shaft assembly (2).
    Fig 7: Disengaging Race & Upper Shaft Assembly From Lower Shaft Assembly
    G01467502Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  19. Insert the race and upper shaft assembly (1) into J 41688  .
  20. Insert J 41688  into a vise.
  21. Rotate the driver 90 degrees in the counterclockwise direction in order to disengage the centering sphere from the race and upper shaft assembly.
  22. Remove the race and upper shaft assembly (1) from J 41688  .
  23. Remove the shaft preload spring and the centering sphere from J 41688  .
  24. If necessary, discard the old centering sphere and the old shaft preload spring.
    Fig 8: Inserting Race & Upper Shaft Assembly Into SST For Removal
    G01467503Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  25. Remove the 4 TORX® head screws (2) from the steering column support assembly (1).
  26. Discard the 4 TORX® head screws.
  27. Remove the steering column support assembly (1) from the steering column jacket assembly.
    Fig 9: Removing Steering Column Support Assembly From Steering Column Jacket Assembly
    G01467504Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
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