Intermediate shaft and coupler — removal and installation
When disconnecting any of the steering shaft components, the main thing to keep in mind is that they must be reinstalled in the same orientation to one another so that synchronization with other components is maintained. Park the vehicle with the wheels pointing straight ahead. Disconnect the cable from the negative terminal of the battery (see Engine electrical systems).
1. Use one of the methods described above to prevent the steering wheel from turning.
2. Working under the hood, mark the relationship of the upper intermediate shaft to the lower intermediate shaft. Remove the fasteners securing the lower intermediate shaft to the upper intermediate shaft.
3. Mark the relationship of the intermediate shaft to the steering column shaft and remove the pinch bolt (see illustration).
18.3 Match mark the shafts
Note: The lower intermediate shaft and the intermediate shaft coupler will be removed from the steering gear as an assembly. They can be separated and replaced individually as necessary.
4. Mark the relationship between the lower intermediate shaft and the steering gear pinion shaft (see illustration).
18.4 Lower intermediate shaft-to-pinion shaft match mark and retaining bolt
5. Slide the lower portion of the intermedia- ate shaft downwards and off the upper inter- mediate shaft, the remove then lower interment- date shaft and steering shaft coupler from the steering gear.
6. The upper intermediate shaft can easily be removed from the shaft coming from the steering column if necessary.
7. Installation is the reverse of removal. Be sure to align the matchmarks and tighten the coupler bolt/nut and the shaft-to-steering gear pinch bolt to the specified torque settings.