There may be a number of reasons you need to remove the steering column from your 2002 Chevy Silverado. One of the most common is so you can remove the instrument panel to work on components like the heating and air conditioning system. You need to remove the steering wheel from the column before you can disconnect the column itself. The positions of the wheel, column and steering shaft are all very precise and you must be careful not to disrupt them.
Disconnect the Silverado's battery at the negative terminal, loosening the cable clamp nut with a wrench. Make sure the front wheels are facing forward and wait two minutes after disconnection (to deplete the air bag power).
Remove the cover from the fuse box at the dashboard's left end, pull the central instrument cluster bezel off and then unscrew and remove the knee bolster below the steering column using a screwdriver. Unbolt and remove the reinforcement panel with a wrench.
Insert a small screwdriver into the holes in the back side of the steering wheel (you may need to turn the wheel) to release the air bag clips. Disconnect the air bag module from the wheel and disconnect its electrical connectors.
Unplug the horn's electrical connector, remove the wheel's retaining nut with a wrench and mark the wheel's position to the steering shaft with a marker.
Connect a puller tool to the steering wheel and remove the wheel from the shaft.
Remove the tilt lever on the steering column if one is present.
Unscrew and remove the lower half of the steering column covers with a screwdriver, then pull the upper half off.
Disconnect all the electrical connectors on the electrical harness and then pry off the clip retaining the harness onto the column.
Unscrew and remove the body control module and its bracket using a screwdriver and disconnect the yellow wiring harness for the air bag clockspring from the module.
Unscrew the nut for the steering shaft and pull off the bolt attaching the upper shaft to the intermediate one. Mark the relationship between the two shafts with the marker.
Remove the steering column's upper and lower mounting nuts with the wrench, lower the column and pull its shaft off the intermediate shaft.
