Steering Column - Tilt Toyota 4Runner II

DESCRIPTION & OPERATION

Tilt steering wheels incorporate an upper steering shaft, attached by a "U" joint to an intermediate steering shaft. Shafts are held in place by upper and lower brackets.

Brackets are pinned together so upper bracket can move up or down. Upper bracket is locked in place by pawl attached to lever. Steering columns are collapsible.

Removal & Installation

Disconnect battery ground cable. Remove screw securing horn pad and remove horn pad. Disconnect horn electrical connector(s). Remove lock nut and washer. Mark steering shaft and steering wheel for installation reference. Install steering wheel puller and remove steering wheel from shaft. To install, reverse removal procedure.

Disconnect battery ground cable. Remove steering wheel. See STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD in this article. Remove instrument cluster lower trim panel. Remove upper and lower steering column covers. Disconnect combination switch electrical connector. Remove combination switch securing screws, and remove combination switch. To install, reverse removal procedure.

Removal

1. Disconnect battery ground cable. Remove steering wheel, upper and lower steering column covers and combination switch (if necessary). Disconnect ignition switch harness connectors.
2. If shear bolt studs are accessible, use a hacksaw to slot exposed studs. Using a screwdriver, remove studs.
3. If shear bolt studs are recessed or hard to reach with hacksaw, center punch studs. Using a drill bit and a screw extractor, remove studs. Remove steering lock and ignition switch.

Installation

1. To install, reverse removal procedure. Install new shear bolts. Tighten shear bolts finger tight. Ensure proper operation of steering lock and ignition switch.
2. Tighten shear bolts until heads break off. Install combination switch, upper and lower steering column covers and steering wheel.

Scheme 9

1. Disconnect battery ground cable. Remove steering wheel. See «STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD»(/toyota/4runner/ii-1987-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column-tilt) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. (Scheme 9)
2. Remove instrument cluster lower trim panel. Remove air duct from under steering column (if equipped). Remove steering column upper and lower covers. Remove combination switch.
3. On Land Cruiser, remove lower finish panel. Mark "U" joint and shaft for installation reference. Remove bolt and disconnect "U" joint from bottom of steering column shaft. Remove bolts securing steering column.
4. On Pickup and 4Runner, mark steering gearbox and steering column shaft for installation reference. Remove bolts securing steering column. On all models, remove steering column from vehicle. To install, reverse removal procedure.

Scheme 10

Scheme 11

1. Mark worm shaft and main shaft for assembly. Disconnect mainshaft from worm shaft. Mark "U" joint and shaft. Remove "U" joint bolt and "U" joint. (Scheme 10)
2. Mark flexible coupling and shaft. Remove bolt and shaft. Remove 2 bolts and dust shield. Remove column hole cover.
3. Drill tapered head column bracket bolts and use a screw extractor to remove. Remove upper steering column bracket.
4. Remove bolt and compression spring. Remove bushings from spring. Remove 3 tension springs. Remove "E" clips, retainers and nuts. Remove 2 pawl stoppers. Remove nut, bolt, tilt pawls and collars. Remove tilt lever, sub-lever and lever lock bolt.
5. Install a nut (10 x 1.25 mm), washer (36 mm outer diameter) and a 2" (50 mm) bolt (10 x 1.25 mm) to upper column tube. Using slide hammer, remove steering column bolts. (Scheme 11) Remove upper column tube and stopper.
6. Remove turn signal bracket. Attach a universal puller to upper column tube and compress main shaft. Remove snap ring, puller, main shaft, spring, thrust collar, and bearing. Remove snap ring and main shaft collar from lower column tube.

Inspection

Ensure lock mechanism operates properly. Check upper bracket for damage and bearings for rotating smoothness. Check steering shafts for bending, damaged splines, or damaged "U" joints. Check column tube for bending or other damage. Repair or replace components as necessary.

Scheme 12

Scheme 13

1. To reassemble, reverse disassembly procedure. Align bushing tab with hole of column tube. Apply molybdenum disulfide lithium base grease to tilt lever assembly, lock bolt, main shaft, and steering column bolt pivot points.
2. Select steering column bolt WITH center hole when upper column tube is marked "1" (select bolt WITHOUT hole when mark is "2"). (Scheme 12) Tap steering column bolts into place.
3. Engage tilt sub-lever side pawl to center of ratchet. While turning tilt lever side collar, engage tilt lever side pawl to ratchet. (Scheme 13) Install and tighten tilt pawl nut.
4. With tilt pawl and ratchet engaged, install 2 tilt pawl stoppers. Ensure alignment marks on stopper and tilt pawl align when stopper is rotated to pawl side. (Scheme 13)
5. If alignment marks do not align, select replacement tilt pawl stoppers. See «TILT PAWL STOPPER SELECTION»(/toyota/4runner/ii-1987-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column-tilt). After selecting tilt pawl stoppers, ensure that both sides of pawl and ratchet are fully engaged.
6. Tighten steering column clamp tapered head bolts until hexagonal head breaks off. Check that main shaft locks securely in uppermost and lowermost positions.

TILT STEERING SUPPORT SHIM THICKNESS

Scheme 14

1. Drill out tapered head bolts and use a screw extractor to remove column bracket bolts. Remove upper steering column bracket. (Scheme 14)
2. Remove bolt and compression spring. Remove bushings from spring. Remove 3 tension springs. Remove "E" clips, retainers and nuts. Remove 2 pawl stoppers. Remove nut, bolt, tilt pawls and collars. Remove tilt lever, sub-lever and lever lock bolt.
3. Install a nut (10 x 1.25 mm), washer (36 mm outer diameter), and a 2" (50 mm) bolt (10 x 1.25 mm) to upper column tube. Use a slide hammer to remove steering column bolts. (Scheme 11) Remove upper column tube and stopper.
4. Remove turn signal bracket. Attach a universal puller to upper column tube and compress main shaft. Remove snap ring, puller, main shaft, spring, thrust collar, and bearing. Remove snap ring and main shaft collar from lower column tube.

Check that lock mechanism operates properly. Check upper bracket for damage. Check steering shafts for bending, damaged splines, or damaged "U" joints. Check column tube for bending or other damage. Repair or replace components as necessary.

Reassembly

1. To reassemble, reverse disassembly procedure. Align bushing tab with hole of column tube. Apply molybdenum disulfide lithium base grease to tilt lever assembly, lock bolt, main shaft, and steering column bolt pivot points.
2. Select steering column bolt with center hole when upper column tube is marked "1" and bolt without hole when mark is "2"). (Scheme 12) Tap steering column bolts into place.
3. Engage tilt sub-lever side pawl to center of ratchet. While turning tilt lever side collar, engage tilt lever side pawl to ratchet. (Scheme 13) Install and tighten tilt pawl nut.
4. With tilt pawl and ratchet engaged, install 2 tilt pawl stoppers. Check that alignment marks on stopper and tilt pawl align when stopper is rotated to pawl side. (Scheme 13)
5. If alignment marks do not align, select replacement tilt pawl stoppers. See «TILT PAWL STOPPER SELECTION»(/toyota/4runner/ii-1987-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column-tilt). After selecting tilt pawl stoppers, ensure that both sides of pawl and ratchet are fully engaged.
6. Tighten steering column clamp tapered head bolts until hexagonal head breaks off. Check that main shaft locks securely in uppermost and lowermost positions.

TILT PAWL STOPPER SELECTION

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

See also:
• STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD