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Servicing an Intermediate Steering-Shaft
Note :
- Always wear eye protection and ear protection, and follow proper safety Note, when working with power tools. Also wear eye protection any time that you are working beneath a vehicle.
- As a standard safety precaution, always disconnect the vehicle's negative battery cable before you begin work on any electrical or mechanical components.
Material :
In addition to standard automotive-mechanic's tools (wrenches, ratchets, extenders, screwdrivers, nut-drivers, torque wrench, etc.) and the snow-plow and hitch kits, the only specialty tools that will be needed are a fish wire, engine-degreaser spray, steering lube-kit and a level. An air-compressor and set of pneumatic tools is optional, but may be very helpful for this project.
Procedure :
The basic steps involved in Servicing an Intermediate Steering-Shaft are as below :
- To service the intermediate steering shaft, it must first be removed from the vehicle.
- Remove the bolt on the end of the shaft located under the dash. Working room is tight here, but once the nut is removed from the shaft bolt, the bolt can be pushed out the side of the shaft, and the shaft then pulled off the steering column.
- Removing the end of the intermediate shaft that is near the engine may seem easier. The 20-millimeter bolt and shaft clamp are removed from the end of the shaft that connects to the steering gear box. The other end of the shaft has a universal joint that is too big to pass through the firewall rubber boot, so the intermediate shaft is pulled back through the firewall.
- Clean all of the existing lubricant off the intermediate shaft using degreaser, and check it for wear.
- Fully extend the shaft and carefully remove the clip using needle-nosed pliers.
- With the clip removed, use the filled syringe from the lube kit and put the entire contents of the syringe in the shaft.
- With the grease in place, place the plug (provided with the kit) in the end of the shaft, and press it down tight.
- Compress the shaft a couple of times to evenly distribute the grease inside the shaft.
- Remove the plug and reinstall the clip.
- The procedure for reinstalling the shaft on the vehicle is the reverse of the steps for removal. First the shaft is inserted into the firewall boot from underneath the dash and pushed down toward the engine.
- The end of the shaft just under the steering wheel is connected and bolted in.
- Then the other end of the shaft, near the steering gear box, is bolted in with the clamp that holds the nut.
- With the shaft, reinstalled, verify the repair by turning the steering wheel lock to lock. If the TSB procedure worked properly, and the part was reinstalled properly, there should be no binding or "popping" when the steering wheel is turned.
- In the segment that follows, the throttle body on the truck gets cleaned and serviced.
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