Dodge Durango

 Service Manual

Steering » Steering column
Removal and installation

Steering column

WARNING: BEFORE SERVICING THE STEERING COLUMN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM MUST BE DISARMED, REFER TO GROUP 8M RESTRAINT SYSTEMS FOR SERVICE PROCEDURES. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

Fig. 4 Steering Column Flash Removal

1 - FILE THIS AREA TO REMOVE FLASHING AND PROVIDE CLEARANCE TO ELIMINATE BINDING

2 - PARK LOCK SLIDER

3 - CAUTION: NEVER REMOVE SHAFT LOCK PLATE

CAUTION: All fasteners must be torqued to specification to ensure proper operation of the steering column.

REMOVAL

(1) Position front wheels straight ahead.

(2) Remove the negative (ground) cable from the battery.

(3) Remove the airbag, refer to Group 8M Restraint Systems.

(4) Remove the steering wheel with an appropriate puller.

CAUTION: Ensure the puller bolts are fully engaged into the steering wheel and not into the clockspring, before attempting to remove the wheel. Failure to do so may damage the steering wheel/ clockspring.

(5) Remove the steering column opening cover and knee blocker, refer to Group 8E Instrument Panel Systems.

(6) Disconnect shift cable (column shift vehicles).

Pry shift cable from the shift lever and remove from cable bracket (Fig. 5).

(7) Remove PRNDL cable (column shift vehicles).

Put shift lever in Park position. Pull cable and twist to remove from PRNDL lever. Push tab on top of cable retainer, then squeeze sides to remove retainer from the column (Fig. 6).

(8) Remove tilt lever (if equipped) from column.

(9) Remove the lower and upper shrouds (Fig. 7).

Fig. 5 Shift Cable

1 - SHIFT LEVER

2 - STEERING COLUMN

3 - SHIFT CABLE

Fig. 6 PRNDL Drive Cable

1 - PRNDL LEVER

2 - THUMB SCREW

3 - CABLE RETAINER

4 - PRNDL CABLE

(10) Remove the turn signal multi-function switch connector with a 7 mm socket (Fig. 8).

(11) Remove remaining electrical connections from the column switches (Fig. 8).

(12) Remove the bolt and nut from upper intermediate shaft (Fig. 9). Slide upper intermediate shaft off column shaft.

(13) Remove column mounting nuts (Fig. 10).

(14) Remove column from vehicle.

(15) Remove clockspring, switches and key cylinder, refer to Group 8 Electrical for procedures.

CAUTION: Failure to follow Group 8 Electrical procedure for clockspring removal, may damage the clockspring plastic latches.

Fig. 7 Column Shrouds

1 - UPPER SHROUD

2 - LOWER SHROUD

3 - PANEL BRACKET

Fig. 8 Multi-function Switch & Column Wiring

1 - MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH

2 - SPEED CONTROL

3 - IGNITION SWITCH

INSTALLATION

(1) Install switches, clockspring and key cylinder, refer to Group 8 Electrical for procedures.

(2) Position the column to the panel bracket and attaching studs. Install, but loose assemble the mounting nuts.

(3) Slide upper intermediate shaft onto the column shaft. Install a new bolt and nut and tighten to 49 N*m (36 ft. lbs.).

(4) Tighten column mounting nuts to 12 N*m (105 in. lbs.).

Fig. 9 Column Shafts & Couplers

1 - COUPLER

2 - LOWER SHAFT

3 - TOE PLATE

4 - STEERING COLUMN

5 - UPPER SHAFT

6 - RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR

Fig. 10 Column Mounting Nuts

1 - MOUNTING NUTS

(5) Connect the multi-function switch wiring and tighten with 7mm socket to 2 N*m (17 in. lbs.).

(6) Install the wiring connections to the column switches.

(7) Install the lower and upper shrouds.

(8) Install the PRNDL cable (column shift vehicles).

Place shifter in Park position. If indicator needs adjusting turn thumb screw on cable retainer to adjust cable.

(9) Install shift cable (column shift vehicles).

(10) Install the tilt lever (if equipped).

(11) Install the knee blocker and steering column opening cover, refer to Group 8E Instrument Panel Systems for procedures.

(12) Install steering wheel and tighten nut to 47 N*m (35 ft. lbs.).

(13) Install airbag, refer to Group 8M Restraint Systems for procedure.

(14) Connect the battery ground (negative) cable.

(15) Check operation of the automatic transmission shift linkage and adjust as necessary. Refer to Group 21, Transmission and Transfer Case for adjustment procedure.

Gear shift lever

REMOVAL

(1) Support the steering column assembly as shown in (Fig. 11) using a suitable size socket and back-up support.

(2) Disconnect over drive switch wiring.

(3) Using a drift of the appropriate size drive the knurled pin out of the steering column and gear shift lever. Remove the gear shift lever from the steering column assembly.

CAUTION: The pin can only be removed from the direction shown (Fig. 11).

INSTALLATION

(1) Support the steering column using a suitable size socket and back-up support.

(2) Install the gear shift lever into the steering column assembly. Align the pin holes in the gear shift lever and the steering column assembly.

CAUTION: The pin must be installed in the original direction.

(3) Carefully Install the pin into the steering column assembly and through the shift lever. If the pin binds check the alignment on the holes. Be sure pin is fully installed into the steering column assembly.

(4) Connect over drive switch wiring.

Fig. 11 Gear Shift Lever Removal

1 - IGNITION SWITCH

2 - KNURLED PIN

3 - GEARSHIFT LEVER

4 - SOCKET

5 - DRIFT

6 - HAMMER

Specifications

Torque chart

DESCRIPTION    TORQUE

Steering Column

Steering Wheel Nut . . . . . . . . 47 N*m (35 ft. lbs.)

Column Bracket Nuts . . . . . 12 N*m (105 in. lbs.)

Shaft Coupler Bolts . . . . . . . . 49 N*m (36 ft. lbs.)

Multi-function Switch Bolt . . . 2 N*m (17 in. lbs.)