Page 179 of 801
YH4
GRAND
VITARA
1. Steering shaft joint
2. Steering shaft (column side)
3. Marks
1. Steering shaft joint
2. Bolt (column side)
3. Bolt (lower shaft assembly side)
1. Steering column hole cover
: If equipped
*
STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN 3C-9
4) Install steering shaft joint to steering shaft by matching it to
marks made before removal.
5) Install shaft joint bolt (column side) to steering shaft joint. Tighten
shaft joint bolt (column side) to specified torque first and then
shaft joint bolt (lower shaft assembly side) to specified torque.
Tightening Torque
(b): 25 N
.m (2.5 kg-m, 18.0 lb-ft)
6) If combination switch is removed, install combination switch.
Refer to ªCOMBINATION SWITCHº in this section.
7) Connect all connectors that have been removed in removal.
8) Install steering column hole cover.
9) If steering wheel is removed, install steering wheel. Refer to
ªSTEERING WHEELº in this section.
10) Connect negative battery cable.
Page 181 of 801

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
1. Steering column assembly
2. Steering shaft joint
3. Marks
1. Steering column assembly
2. Steering shaft joint
3. Steering lower shaft assembly
4. Bolt (column side)
5. Bolt (lower shaft assembly side)
1. Steering lower shaft assembly
2. Steering lower shaft assembly lower joint bolt
3. Steering shaft joint
STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN 3C-11
STEERING LOWER SHAFT ASSEMBLY
REMOVAL
1) Turn steering wheel so that vehicle's front tires are at straight-
ahead position.
2) Turn ignition switch to ªLOCKº position and remove key.
3) Make alignment marks on shaft joint and shaft (column side) for
a guide during reinstallation.
4) After removing bolt on column side of shaft joint and loosening
bolt on its lower shaft assembly side, move shaft joint to lower
shaft assembly side (in arrow direction in figure).
5) Make alignment marks on lower shaft assembly lower joint and
pinion shaft for a guide during reinstallation.
6) Remove lower shaft assembly lower joint bolt and then remove
lower shaft assembly.
7) Remove shaft joint bolt (lower shaft assembly side) from shaft
joint and then remove shaft joint from lower shaft assembly.
Page 182 of 801

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
1. Steering shaft joint
2. Bolt (steering column assembly side)
3. Bolt (lower steering shaft assembly side)1. Steering column assembly
2. Steering shaft joint
3. Marks 1. Steering lower shaft assembly
2. Steering lower shaft assembly lower joint bolt
3. Steering shaft joint1. Steering shaft joint
2. Steering lower shaft assembly
2
1 2, (a)
3C-12 STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN
INSTALLATION
1) Be sure that front wheels and steering wheel are in straightfor-
ward position.
2) Align flat part ªAº of lower shaft assembly with bolt hole ªBº of
shaft joint as shown. Then insert shaft joint into lower shaft as-
sembly.
3) Install shaft joint bolt (lower shaft assembly side) to shaft joint.
Then tighten it by hand.
4) Insert pinion shaft into lower shaft assembly lower joint by
matching it to marks made before removal. And then install low-
er shaft assembly lower joint bolt to lower shaft assembly lower
joint. Tighten it to specified torque.
Tightening Torque
(a): 25 N
.m (2.5 kg-m, 18.0 lb-ft)
5) Install steering shaft joint to steering shaft by matching it to
marks made before removal.
NOTE:
Be sure that front wheels and steering wheel are in straight-
ahead position.
6) Install shaft joint bolt (column side) to shaft joint. Tighten shaft
joint bolt (column side) to specified torque first and then shaft
joint bolt (lower shaft assembly side) to specified torque.
Tightening Torque
(b): 25 N
.m (2.5 kg-m, 18.0 lb-ft)
Page 183 of 801

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN 3C-13
1. Capsule
2. Steering column bracket
3. Plate
1. Steering column assembly
1. Steering column lower seal ªaº
CHECKING STEERING COLUMN FOR
ACCIDENT DAMAGE
NOTE:
Vehicles involved in accidents resulting in body damage,
where steering column has been impacted, may have a dam-
aged or misaligned steering column.
CHECKING PROCEDURE
1) Check that two capsules are attached to steering column brack-
et securely. Check clearance between capsules and steering
column bracket. Clearance should be 0 mm (0 in.) on both sides.
If found loose or clearance, replace steering column assembly.
2) Check two plates for any damages such as crack or breakage.
If anything is found faulty, replace as steering column assembly.
3) Take measurement ªaº as shown. If it is shorter than specified
length, replace column assembly with new one.
Length ªaº: 895 0.8 mm (35.24 0.03 in.)
4) Check steering column lower seal for breakage or deformation.
If found defective, replace.
5) Check steering shaft joints and shaft for any damages such as
crack, breakage, malfunction or excessive play.
If anything is found faulty, replace as steering shaft lower assem-
bly or steering column assembly.
6) Check steering shaft for smooth rotation.
If found defective, replace as column assembly.
7) Check steering shaft and column for bend, cracks or deforma-
tion.
If found defective, replace as column assembly.
Page 184 of 801
YH4
GRAND
VITARA
1. Lower position
2. Upper position
3C-14 STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN
09944-36011
Steering wheel remover
ADJUSTABLE STEERING COLUMN RELEASE
LEVER
INSPECTION
Check to make sure that the following:
Steering column moves smoothly when adjustable steering col-
umn release lever is at lower position (i.e., steering column is not
locked).
Steering column is fixed securely when adjustable steering col-
umn release lever is at higher position (i.e., steering column is
locked).
TIGHTENING TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
FasteningpartsTightening torqueFastening artsN.mkg-mlb-ft
Steering shaft nut333.323.5
Steering column mounting bolt232.317.0
Steering shaft joint bolt252.518.0
Steering lower shaft assembly lower joint bolt252.518.0
SPECIAL TOOL
Page 186 of 801

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
14
15
1. Driver air bag (inflator) module
2. Steering wheel
3. Steering wheel nut
4. Contact coil and combination switch assembly
5. Steering column upper cover
6. Steering column lower cover
7. Steering column assembly
8. Steering lock assembly
9. Steering column hole cover
10. Steering shaft joint
11. Steering lower shaft assembly
12. Adjustable steering column release lever
(if equipped)
13. Steering column lower seal
14. With adjustable steering column release lever type
15. Without adjustable steering column release lever type
3C1-2 AIR BAG STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This double tube type steering column has the following three important features in addition to the steering function:
The column is energy absorbing, designed to compress in a front-end collision.
The ignition switch and lock are mounted conveniently on this column.
With the column mounted lock, the ignition and steering operations can be locked to inhibit theft of the vehicle.
To insure the energy absorbing action, it is important that only the specified screws, bolts, and nuts be used as
designated and that they are tightened to the specified torque. When the column assembly is removed from the
vehicle, special care must be taken in handling it. Use of a steering wheel puller other than the one recommended
in this manual or a sharp blow on the end of the steering shaft, leaning on the assembly, or dropping the assembly
could shear the plastic shear pins which maintain column length and position.
The driver air bag (inflator) module is one of the supplemental restraint (air bag) system components and is
mounted to the center of the steering wheel. During certain frontal crashes, the air bag system supplements the
restraint of the driver's and passenger's seat belts by deploying the air bags. The air bag (inflator) module should
be handled with care to prevent accidental deployment. When servicing, be sure to observe all WARNINGS in this
section. Refer to ªSERVICE PRECAUTIONSº in Section 10B.
Page 194 of 801

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
1. Steering column assembly
2. Steering shaft joint
3. Marks
1. Steering column assembly
2. Steering shaft joint
3. Steering lower shaft assembly
4. Bolt (column side)
5. Bolt (lower shaft assembly side)1. Steering column hole cover
1
3C1-10 AIR BAG STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN
REMOVAL
WARNING:
Never rest a steering column assembly on the steering
wheel with air bag (inflator) module face down and column
vertical. Otherwise personal injury may result.
1) Disconnect negative battery cable at battery terminal.
2) Disable air bag system. Refer to ªDISABLING AIR BAG SYS-
TEMº under ªSERVICE PRECAUTIONSº in Section 10B.
3) Remove steering wheel and contact coil and combination switch
assembly, if necessary. Refer to ªSTEERING WHEELº and
ªCONTACT COIL AND COMBINATION SWITCH ASSEMBLYº
in this section.
Perform the following procedure if not removing steering wheel
and/or combination switch.
ii) Turn steering wheel so that vehicle's front tires are at straight-
ahead position.
ii) Turn ignition switch to ªLOCKº position and remove key.
4) Remove steering column hole cover.
5) Disconnect all connectors for the following parts.
Contact coil and combination switch
Ignition switch
6) Make alignment marks on shaft joint and shaft (column side) for
a guide during reinstallation.
7) After removing bolt on column side of shaft joint and loosening
bolt on its lower shaft assembly side, move shaft joint to lower
shaft assembly side (in arrow direction in the figure).
Page 196 of 801

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
1. Steering column
2. Mounting bolt
3. Steering column lower seal
4. Dash panel
1. Steering column lower seal
In engine room
In cabin
1. Shift (key) interlock cable
2. Screw
3C1-12 AIR BAG STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN
4) Check steering column lower seal for breakage or deformation.
If found defective, replace.
5) Check steering shaft joints and shaft for any damages such as
crack, breakage, malfunction or excessive play.
If anything is found faulty, replace as steering lower shaft assem-
bly or steering column assembly.
6) Check steering shaft for smooth rotation.
If found defective, replace as column assembly.
7) Check steering shaft and column for bend, cracks or deforma-
tion.
If found defective, replace as column assembly.
INSTALLATION
CAUTION:
After tightening steering column mounting bolts, steering
shaft joint bolts should be tightened.
1) Be sure that front wheels and steering wheel are in straight-
ahead position.
2) If equipped with shift (key) interlock cable, install shift (key) inter-
lock cable to ignition switch.
Tightening Torque
(a): 2.2 N
.m (0.22 kg-m, 1.6 lb-ft)
3) Install steering column assembly to dash panel and upper
bracket so that boss of steering column lower seal and all around
it project out of hole in dash panel into engine room. Tighten
steering column lower bolts (4 pieces) first and then upper bolts
(2 pieces) to specified torque.
Tightening Torque
(b): 23 N
.m (2.3 kg-m, 17.0 lb-ft)