Steering Column Repair: steering column, steering gearbox, intermediate shaft

Question
I have a 2000 Pontiac Montana with tilt steering.  Just yesterday I went to pull out of a parking space and the steering wheel turned without turning the wheels.  I have identified the problem as being the pinch bolt from the intermediate shaft to the steering gearbox.  What my question is, what is the best way to access this bolt to put it back together again and how do I prevent this from happening again? There is not a lot of room under there and the intermediate shaft boot does not move far enough to access the pinch bolt.

Answer
Hi Jeff:
Sorry about your truck.
The only way to access this bolt is by forcing the boot out of the way (downward) and managing to get your hand and the bolt in place to secure the shafts together.  There is no easy way...it's tight and difficult.
I am wondering why the bolt came out in the first place.  also I am a little concerned that you may have damaged the clockspring in the steering wheel when this happened.  If so, the airbag light will illuminate and you will not have that protection.
If both of those issues are addressed and answered, then you should be ok.

Good luck.
Doug