Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Steering Column: Description
The steering column, under head-on collision conditions, is designed to protect the driver. If the driver is thrown forward into the steering wheel, the column can absorb the force of impact.
The column has 5 major components: one-piece column jacket; one-piece gearshift tube; one-piece steering shaft; energy-absorbing lower bracket and lower plastic adapter; and mounting bracket connecting steering column to the instrument panel, which allows the column to slide forward but blocks its rearward movement toward the driver.
The mounting bracket incorporates 2 breakaway capsules that allow the mounting bracket to slip off the attaching points. This permits the steering column to compress in a forward direction under severe impact from the driver's side. When the column is installed in a vehicle, it is not susceptible to damage through ordinary usage. However, special care must be taken in handling this assembly when it is removed. It is essential that the removal, installation, disassembly and reassembly procedures be carefully followed when servicing this assembly.
Three types of steering columns are used on Chrysler cars: fixed with column shift, fixed with floor shift and tilt column. This article will cover REMOVAL, INSTALLATION and OVERHAUL of fixed with column shift. Exploded view illustrations will be given for all 3 columns. REMOVAL & INSTALLATION procedure of these columns is similar.
The tilt column is designed to be serviced as an assembly. Overhaul procedures of tilt and fixed column with floor shift are not available from manufacturer. Design is similar for all columns. The difference is the lack of column shift components and addition of tilt components. Steering columns use an integral ignition lock switch, which locks steering wheel and shift linkage on column shift.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.