Steering Column Repair: S-10 Steering column, phillips screws, bolt and nut

Question
I would like to replace the column in my 1988 s-10. Im going to go to the local salvage yard and get one but would like to know what tools i should take with me. Also a brief description of the process. Thanx alot!

Answer
Hi,

To startwith, turn the steering wheel to the right where the steering wheel is facing vertical to the floor. Open the hood. There are two ways you can disconnect the steering shaft. You can pull the plastic cover from where the steering shaft fits ito the box or disconnect the shafts where the lower and upper meet. If you are at the steering box you will need either a 7/16 or 11 mm socket. Remove the pinch bolt at the box. The most common way I did it though was to seperate the upper and lower shaft and the bolt and nut is located below the brake booster. You will need a 15 mm socket and extention. Remove the nut and gently tap the bolt out. Hit the lower shaft down ward or use a pry bar to force downward. The lower shaft is designed so itwill go downward. The reason I had you put the steering wheel the way I said was that you could gain access to these bolts. Next, undo the clip that holds the trans linkage at the firewall. Remove the clip with an ice pick awl. Save the wave washer. Remove shift linkage.
Remove dash panel under steering column. There are phillips screws and under the dash you can use a 9/32 or 7 mm socket. Disconnect brake release cable and removelower dash panel. You will find a "Hush panel under the dash which is actually the bottom panel of the dash. The 9/32 screws hold it and you will need a deep 10 mm socket to remove the panel from the fire wall. There are 2 of these bolts. Remove the 4 or 5 10 mm bolts that hold the steering column to the fire wall. Disconnect the nuetral safety switch connectors. Should be two depending on application. This switch is white plastic and is mounted to the top of the column closest to the fire wall.
Next, look at the column from under dash. You will see a clip on the lower shift bowl. This is the shift indicator cable. Slide it off he plastic bowl. Disconnect the cruise, wiper and turn sig connectors. Still looking upward you will see 2 15 mm nuts holding column to dash. Remove them. The steering column can now be removed. A side note (Where you remove these two nuts, you do not have to take the 4 13mm bolts off from the bracket. Leave it with the column.)


Good luck!