Removal and installation the mechanical steering shaft (Opel Kadett E)

Removal

After unscrewing the eight mounting screws, crush the upper and lower parts of the steering column trim cover.

Disconnect the plug connector of the switches and the ignition switch.

Remove the turn signal and headlight switch and the windshield wiper switch.

Set the steering to the straight-ahead position.

Loosen the nut and remove the bolt from the flange connecting the elastic coupling to the steering shaft.

Remove the bolt securing the steering shaft to the front shield.

Remove the shear plate under the instrument panel. To do this, mark a hole in the center of the left shear bolt and unscrew the shear bolt with a ratchet.

Remove the shaft together with the steering wheel from the connecting flange, protecting the shaft from impacts.

Note: The plastic washer loosely placed on the steering shaft serves only to center the shaft. The washer is placed on the shaft before installation and removed after installation.

Installation

Place the plastic mounting washer onto the shaft.

Make sure that the steering gear is in the straight-ahead position. The holes for the tie bolt in the connecting flange should be horizontally located at the top (see photo).



Install the steering shaft with the steering wheel in place so that the steering wheel spokes are directed symmetrically downwards.



Carefully insert the steering shaft into the connecting flange until the shaft bracket rests against the front shield.

Place a shear plate under the instrument panel without tightening the mounting bolts. Correctly position the steering shaft bracket on the front panel. Insert the tie bolt into the connecting flange.

Tighten the shear plate mounting nuts, replacing the left shear bolt and self-locking nut with new ones and placing a flat washer and a disc washer under the nut of the right bolt.

Tighten the steering column bracket to the front shield bolt using a flat washer

Move the steering shaft up until it stops in the ball bearing and, holding the shaft in this position, tighten the nut of the coupling flange clamp bolt.

Remove the plastic mounting washer from the steering shaft.

Connect the plug connector of the switch wiring harness and the ignition switch.

Install the steering column paddle shifters and reinstall both parts of the steering column cover.

Make sure the steering is in the straight ahead position.