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Steering Column: Removal & Installation Lexus GS II

Steering Column 9 illustrations ~1476 words

Removal

  1. Disconnect negative battery cable terminal. Place front wheels in straight-ahead position. Using a T30 Torx wrench, loosen retaining screws until groove along screw circumference engages screw case. (Scheme 9) Pull wheel pad out from steering wheel. Unplug air bag connector. (Scheme 10) CAUTION: When removing wheel pad, take care not to pull air bag wiring harness. When storing wheel pad, keep upper surface of pad facing upward.
  2. Mark steering wheel and steering shaft for reassembly reference. Remove steering wheel retaining nut. Using Steering Wheel Puller (09950-50010), remove steering wheel.

Installation

  1. Ensure front wheels are pointing straight ahead. Center cable reel. See «CABLE REEL»(ref-123402-S05563942042001092500000) under ADJUSTMENTS. Align reference marks. Install steering wheel. Tighten steering wheel retaining nut to 26 ft. lbs. (35 N.m). Connect air bag wiring.
  2. Install steering wheel pad after ensuring circumference groove of Torx screws engages screw case. Tighten screws to 78 INCH lbs. (8.8 N.m) for ES300, GS300 and GS400. 63 INCH lbs. (7.1 N.m) for ES300 and 80 INCH lbs. (9 N.m) for SC300 and SC400.

Note. If steering wheel pad has been dropped, or there is evidence of cracks, dents, or other defects in case or connector, replace steering wheel pad. When installing steering wheel pad, ensure wiring does not become pinched or interferes with other components.

Scheme 9

Scheme 9
Scheme 9

Scheme 10

Scheme 10
Scheme 10

Removal (ES300)

Remove front pillar trim panel, scuff plate, door opening cover, cowl side trim, and safety pad. Rotate steering wheel to straight-ahead position. Turn ignition off. Disconnect negative battery cable. Remove steering wheel. See STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD . Remove steering column covers. Remove combination switch retaining screws. Unplug connectors. Remove combination switch.

Removal (GS300, GS400 & LS400)

Remove undercover, lower pad, key cylinder pad, finish panel mounting bracket, and heater register duct. Rotate steering wheel to straight-ahead position. Turn ignition off. Disconnect negative battery cable. Remove steering wheel. See STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD . Remove steering column covers. Remove combination switch retaining screws. Unplug connectors. Remove combination switch.

Removal (SC300 & SC400)

Remove lower finish panel. Rotate steering wheel to straight-ahead position. Turn ignition off. Disconnect negative battery cable. Remove steering wheel. See STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD . Remove steering column covers. Remove combination switch retaining screws. Unplug connectors. Remove combination switch.

Installation (All Models)

To install combination switch, reverse removal procedure. Center cable reel. See CABLE REEL under ADJUSTMENTS.

Removal & Installation (ES300)

Disconnect negative battery cable. Remove steering column. See STEERING COLUMN . Unplug switch connector. Remove retaining screws and ignition switch. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten mounting screws until screw heads break off.

Removal & Installation (GS300, GS400, LS400, SC300 & SC400)

Remove any interfering trim panels or heater ducts. Unplug connector. Remove retaining screws and ignition switch. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten mounting screws until screw heads break off.

  1. Remove air bag (horn pad) and steering wheel. See «STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD»(ref-123402-S03692602592001092500000) . Remove upper and lower column covers. Disconnect hood lock release lever from panel. Remove fuse cover. Remove switch hole cover. Remove instrument lower finish panel. Remove register duct.
  2. Disconnect combination switch harness connectors. Remove combination switch with cable reel. Ensure front wheels are in straight-ahead position.
  3. Place matching reference marks on steering gear shaft and steering column intermediate yoke. Remove bolt. Unbolt steering column from mounts and remove column. To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure matching marks are aligned. Tighten bolts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-123402-S03947964702001092500000) .

Removal & Installation (GS300 & GS400)

  1. Remove air bag (horn pad) and steering wheel. See «STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD»(ref-123402-S03692602592001092500000) . Remove upper and lower column covers. Remove instrument cluster finish panel. Remove lower knee panel. Disconnect courtesy light harness connector. Remove finish plate and end pad.
  2. Remove outside rear view mirror switch assembly. Remove lower pad. Remove No. 2 register duct. Disconnect combination switch harness connectors. Remove combination switch with cable reel. Ensure front wheels are in straight-ahead position.
  3. Place matching reference marks on No. 2 intermediate shaft and sliding yoke. Remove bolt. Remove brake pedal return spring. Loosen clamp on floor hole cover.
  4. Unbolt steering column from mounts and remove column. To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure matching marks are aligned. Tighten bolts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-123402-S03947964702001092500000) .

Removal & Installation (LS400, SC300 & SC400)

  1. Remove air bag (horn pad) and steering wheel. See «STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD»(ref-123402-S03692602592001092500000) . Remove instrument panel undercover. Unscrew data link connectors from cover. Remove instrument panel end pad and finish panel. Remove instrument panel safety pad (knee pad).
  2. Remove register duct. Remove upper and lower column covers. Disconnect combination switch harness connectors. Remove combination switch with cable reel. Ensure front wheels are in straight-ahead position.
  3. Place matching reference marks on steering gear shaft and steering column intermediate yoke. Remove bolt. Unbolt steering column from mounts and remove column. To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure matching marks are aligned. Tighten bolts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-123402-S03947964702001092500000) .

Scheme 11

Scheme 11: Disassembly (SC300 & SC400)
Scheme 11: Disassembly (SC300 & SC400)

Scheme 12

Scheme 12
Scheme 12

Scheme 13

Scheme 13
Scheme 13
  1. Remove ignition key cylinder illumination. Place matching reference marks on sliding yoke and main shaft. Remove sliding yoke. Remove lower dust cover. (Scheme 11) Remove seal from dust cover. Using center punch, mark center of mounting bolts attaching upper column bracket to breakaway bracket.
  2. Using a.16-.20" (4-5 mm) drill, drill bolts. Using screw extractor, remove upper column bracket attaching bolts. Remove bracket. Remove turn signal bracket. Remove protector. Remove connector bracket. (Scheme 11) Remove telescopic lever serrated attachment.
  3. Remove telescopic lever bolt, collar, lever and washer. Remove detent ball and spring. Install double nut on telescopic lever lock bolt and remove. Remove steering column tube stopper bolt. (Scheme 11) Remove snap ring from main shaft securing breakaway bracket.
  4. Remove breakaway bracket. Ensure spline section of main shaft does not become loose. Remove 2 lock wedges from breakaway bracket. Remove steering shaft thrust stopper. Remove compression spring with 2 bushings. Remove 3 tilt tension springs.
  5. Using Allen wrench, hold tilt memory bolt and remove nut. Remove nut and long bolt. Remove 2 "E" rings and spacer from tilt lever lock shaft. Remove tilt lever retainers. Remove collar from tilt memory bolt. Remove right tilt pawl, stopper and tilt lever.
  6. Remove left tilt pawl, stopper tilt sub lever, tilt lever assembly and lever lock shaft. Attach a separate bolt with washer to tilt steering bolt. (Scheme 12) Using appropriate slide hammer, remove bolt. Repeat procedure on other bolt.
  7. Remove upper column tube from lower column tube. Remove tilt memory bolt. Place upper column tube in vise. (Scheme 13) Using appropriate clamp, compress compression spring. Remove snap ring. Remove main shaft from column tube. remove spring, thrust collar and bearing.
  8. To replace key cylinder, turn ignition to ACC position. Push down stop pin and pull out key cylinder. Install new cylinder. Ensure ignition switch is in ACC position.

Scheme 14

Scheme 14: Reassembly (SC300 & SC400)
Scheme 14: Reassembly (SC300 & SC400)

Scheme 15

Scheme 15
Scheme 15

Scheme 16

Scheme 16
Scheme 16

Scheme 17

Scheme 17
Scheme 17
  1. Assemble steering column in reverse order of disassembly. Lubricate all pivot points and bearing surfaces. Inspect upper column tube for a "1" or "2" marking. Select NEW hollow point tilt steering bolts for "1" marking or non-hollow point bolt for "2" marking. Use vise to press in bolts. (Scheme 14)
  2. To install tilt pawls, install 2 tilt pawls to upper column tube. Install pawl pin into long hole of tilt lever and tilt sub lever. Install long bolt through tilt pawls and tilt lever assembly. Temporarily install washer and nut onto long bolt.
  3. Install and tighten tilt lever assembly installation bolt. Engage tilt sub lever side pawl to center of ratchet. While turning tilt lever side collar, completely engage tilt lever side pawl to ratchet. (Scheme 15) Place matching reference marks on pawl and collar.
  4. Remove nut, washer and remove long bolt. With tilt pawl and ratchet engaged, install 2 pawl stoppers. Check that alignment marks on stopper and pawl align when stopper is lightly rotated to pawl side. (Scheme 16)
  5. If alignment marks do not align, select correct pawl stoppers. See «PAWL STOPPER SELECTION»(ref-123402-S06708301472001092500000) table. After selecting stoppers, check that pawl and ratchet are fully engaged on both sides. PAWL STOPPER SELECTION Tilt Lever Side Tilt Sub Lever Side (1) Dimension "A" In. (mm) 1 A.499-.502 (12.68-12.74) 2 B.497-.499 (12.61-12.67) 3 C.494-.496 (12.54-12.60) 4 D.491-.493 (12.47-12.53) 5 E.488-.491 (12.40-12.47) 6 F.485-.488 (12.33-12.39) 7 G.483-.485 (12.26-12.33) (1) (Scheme 17)
  6. Continue to assemble in reverse order of disassembly. Install NEW tapered head bolts on upper column bracket. Tighten bolts until heads break off. Once steering column is completely assembled, check tilt operation. Ensure there is no axial play at end of main shaft.
  7. With main shaft in neutral position, push tilt lever and check that main shaft rises to uppermost position. Lower main shaft, and check that shaft locks in uppermost position.
  8. Check telescopic operation. Ensure there is no axial play when lever is turned fully counterclockwise. Check that main shaft moves smoothly when lever is turned clockwise.

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