What's the best way to remove steering intermediate shaft?

[andy625]

I am shortly going to be replacing my RAG joint with a kit from unbalanced engineering.

When removing the steering intermediate shaft to drill out the rivets, what's the easiest way to do it? I can't see anything in the Haynes book describing the process.

I'm assuming you just unbolt the shaft at the steering box end, and slide it off the splines of the section nearest the firewall?

Is it easiest to tackle it from above or underneath the car?

[Joe 1320]

*Remove the plastic shaft covers.
*Remove the bolt that secures the top portion of the shaft to the steering column.
*Remove the bolt on the lower pinch coupling.
*Raise the lower section of the shaft from the power steering rack,
It may be necessary to spred open the pinch coupling with a screwdriver.
*Slide the top portion of the shaft off the steering column.

Drill out your rivets, replace the rag joint and reassemble in the reverse order.

Do not move the steering wheel once the shaft has been removed, spinning the wheel could damage the airbag harness assembly.

[andy625]

Thanks Joe, sounds pretty straightforward. I'll be able to get to everything without having to jack the car up by the sound of it? My car is a 3rd Gen '87 Firebird,

[Z Ya Later]

Yeah, what he said. You'll actually be doing work both underneath and above. It shouldn't take you more than about half a day.

[andy625]

OK. I have the car stored in a smallish garage at the moment, and was wondering if I'd be able to do the job without moving the car. As I'll have to get underneath too, sounds like it'll be going outside.

Thanks for your help.

[Al 96 Ram Air T/A]

My steering wheel is slightly off center. If I were to replace the rag-joint, would centering the steering wheel prior to reinstalling the shaft solve the problem?

[Z Ya Later]

Nope. The orientation of the shaft stays the same, so if the steering wheel is slightly off, it will continue to be slightly off. This is, of course, assuming that the problem is not the rag joint itself, in which case, I'd replace that thing immediately.

[Al 96 Ram Air T/A]

So then, how do I center my steering wheel? What's the process?

[Z Ya Later]

In relation to the steering column or in relation to the wheels?

[Al 96 Ram Air T/A]

In relation to the wheels.

I'm pretty sure the alignment is spot on.

[Z Ya Later]

If the alignment is correct, then you would actually want to change the steering wheel alignment in relation to the steering column. I believe you can pull the steering wheel off and rotate it and tighten it down to re-align the wheel with the column. One of our more knowledgeable members can probably shed more light on this.