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Steering Columns: Removal & Installation Lexus RX I

Steering Column 9 illustrations ~1632 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 1) Pull wheel pad out from steering wheel. Unplug air bag connector. (Scheme 2) CAUTION: When removing wheel pad, DO NOT not pull on 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-2875-S00009531122000041300000) 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 GS300, GS400 and LS400, 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 interfere with other components.

Scheme 1

Scheme 1
Scheme 1

Scheme 2

Scheme 2
Scheme 2

Removal (ES300)

Turn ignition off. Disconnect negative battery cable. Rotate steering wheel to straight-ahead position. Remove steering wheel. See STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD . Remove upper and lower steering column covers. Remove No. 1 lower panel, lower left side panel, lower finish panel and cowl side trim. Remove 3 combination switch retaining screws, unplug connectors and remove combination switch with spiral cable.

Removal (GS300, GS400 & LS400)

Turn ignition off. Disconnect negative battery cable. Rotate steering wheel to straight-ahead position. Remove steering wheel. See STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD . Remove upper and lower steering column covers. Remove 3 retaining screws, unplug connectors and remove combination switch with spiral cable.

Removal (SC300 & SC400)

Turn ignition off. Disconnect negative battery cable. Rotate steering wheel to straight-ahead position. Remove steering wheel. See STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD . Remove upper and lower steering column covers. Remove No. 1 lower finish panel, lower left side finish panel, No. 1 undercover and No. 2 heater-to-register duct. Remove 3 combination switch retaining screws, unplug connectors and remove combination switch with spiral cable.

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. Rotate steering wheel to straight-ahead position. Remove steering wheel. See STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD . Remove upper and lower steering column covers. Remove No. 1 lower panel, lower left side panel, lower finish panel and cowl side trim. 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. Place ignition switch in ACC position. Push down stop pin with screwdriver, and pull out ignition switch cylinder. 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-2875-S10488398422000041300000) . Remove upper and lower steering column covers, front door inside scuff plate, cowl side trim, No. 1 lower panel, lower left side panel and lower finish panel. Disconnect combination switch harness connectors. Remove combination switch with cable reel.
  2. Ensure front wheels are in straight-ahead position. Place matching reference marks on steering gear shaft and steering column intermediate shaft yolk. Remove bolt and remove intermediate shaft assembly. Unplug connectors, remove 4 column assembly set nuts and remove steering column assembly.
  3. To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure matching marks made during removal are aligned. Tighten bolts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-2875-S33505519702000041300000) .

Removal & Installation (GS300 & GS400)

  1. Remove air bag (horn pad) and steering wheel. See «STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD»(ref-2875-S10488398422000041300000) . Remove upper and lower steering column covers. Remove combination switch with spiral cable. Remove No. 1 undercover, finish plate and end pad. Remove hood lock release lever from panel, 4 set bolts and screw and remove No. 1 safely pad and heater-to-register duct.
  2. Place matching reference marks on steering gear shaft and steering column intermediate shaft yoke. Loosen bolt on intermediate shaft yolk, and remove bolt on steering gear shaft yolk. Remove brake pedal return spring. Loosen clamp on floor hole cover.
  3. Remove dust cover, 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-2875-S33505519702000041300000) .

Removal & Installation (LS400, SC300 & SC400)

  1. Remove air bag (horn pad) and steering wheel. See «STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD»(ref-2875-S10488398422000041300000) . Remove upper and lower steering column covers, instrument panel end pad and left side finish panel. Disconnect hood release cable and remove lower finish panel. Disconnect heater-to-register duct and DLC2 connector, and remove undercover panel.
  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-2875-S33505519702000041300000) .

Scheme 3

Scheme 3: Disassembly (SC300 & SC400)
Scheme 3: Disassembly (SC300 & SC400)

Scheme 4

Scheme 4
Scheme 4

Scheme 5

Scheme 5
Scheme 5
  1. Remove ignition key cylinder illumination assembly. Place matching reference marks on sliding yoke and main shaft. Remove sliding yoke. Remove lower dust cover. (Scheme 3) Remove seal from dust cover.
  2. Using center punch, mark center of tapered mounting bolts attaching upper column bracket to breakaway bracket. 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 3) 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 bolt. Remove steering column tube stopper bolt. (Scheme 3) Remove snap ring from main shaft securing break-away bracket, and remove bracket from main shaft.
  4. Ensure spline section of main shaft does not become loose. Remove 2 lock wedges from break-away 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 4) Using appropriate slide hammer, remove bolt. Repeat procedure on other bolt.
  7. Remove upper column tube with main shaft from lower column tube. Remove tilt memory bolt. Place upper column tube in vise. (Scheme 5) Using appropriate clamp, compress compression spring. Remove snap ring. Remove main shaft from column tube. Remove compression spring, thrust collar and bearing from main shaft.
  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 6

Scheme 6: Reassembly
Scheme 6: Reassembly

Scheme 7

Scheme 7
Scheme 7

Scheme 8

Scheme 8
Scheme 8

Scheme 9

Scheme 9
Scheme 9
  1. Assemble steering column in reverse order of disassembly. Lubricate all pivot points and bearing surfaces. Select 2 tilt steering bolts. Inspect upper column tube for a "1" or "2" marking. Select the non-hollow point bolt for the "1" marking and the hollow point bolt for the "2" marking. Use vise to press in bolts. (Scheme 6) NOTE: Select bolt type to match each number marked in squares on upper tube.
  2. Install upper column tube with main shaft into column lower tube. Use a vise to press in 2 tilt steering bolts. Ensure upper tube turns smoothly.
  3. Install tilt lever lock shaft, tilt lever assembly, tilt sub lever and tilt lever. Temporarily tighten tilt lever assembly set bolt.
  4. 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 7) Place matching reference marks on pawl and collar.
  5. 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.
  6. Remove nut, washer and remove long bolt. With tilt pawl and ratchet engaged, install 2 pawl stoppers. Ensure alignment marks on stopper and pawl align when stopper is lightly rotated to pawl side. (Scheme 8)
  7. If alignment marks do not align, select correct pawl stoppers. See «PAWL STOPPER SELECTION»(ref-2875-S14970891212000041300000) table. After selecting stoppers, ensure 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 (12.26-12.32) (1) (Scheme 9)
  8. 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.
  9. With main shaft in neutral position, push tilt lever and check that main shaft rises to uppermost position. Lower main shaft, and ensure shaft locks in uppermost position.
  10. Check telescopic operation. Ensure there is no axial play when lever is turned fully counterclockwise. Ensure main shaft moves smoothly when lever is turned clockwise.

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