O/T: '88 Cherokee tilt column disassembly

I can see the bolts(2 Torx head ones) that are loose. I can't get to them without disassembling the tile section of the column. How do I pull the pivot pins? I'm guessing there's a way to remove the cap from the tilt spring to release the tension first?

Where can I buy a GOOD manual(my Haynes doesn't tell me squat about this) that will tell me all this without constantly bothering you fine folks on here? lol

Thank you for your time.

Anthony

There is a steel cup at the back of the spring, with a square hole in it. Grab a Phillips screwdriver big enough so it won't pass through the square hole, but small enough so it's "flutes" grab the square hole in the metal cup. PUSH on the screwdriver and rotate the steel cup CCW, releasing the cup and the spring.

Using a slide-hammer dent puller, install a 1" long screw, IIRC, #8-32 (POSSIBLY 10-32) in place of the sheet metal screw the dent puller came with.

Thread the screw into a hinge pin, give it a couple of light yanks with the dent puller, and it will come out. Same with the other pin.

When done, you can use the dent puller the opposite wat to tap the pins back in. It gets easier and quicker after a couple of dozen times!

Oh, yeah, and use some Loctite on those darn screw way down in there, so the don't loosen again.

OR, get a special puller to pull the pivot pins, like these:

(I find the slide hammer quicker and easier.)

Here's a couple of sites:

Link

http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/suspension/t_steering.html

#2.
The pin puller can be made by using a socket of the the correct diameter, a washer, and a machine bolt to fit the threaded hole in the center of the pin. Of course you can get one from the major tool trucks, but you probably won"t be doing this again.

#3. At this point you can hold the tilt release and lift up the collar. The high beam linkage will come apart as well as the rack & pinion that activates the ignition switch. Usually you can lift it just high enough to allow the socket to get to the bolts, if not, just remove it completely.

#3
The bolts are INVERTED TORX HEADS. A regular socket will not work, even if it feels good, you don"t want to strip them off. Remove one of the bolts and clean it with brakeclean. Apply Red Locktite to the threads and reinstall. Repeat this with all the mounting bolts, there are a total of FOUR.

#4. Reassemble everything in reverse order of removal. It"s kind of a balancing act to get the high beam rod and the rack and pinion together all at once. Once aligned, you just drive the tilt pins in with a brass drift. Then reinstall the spring.

Let me know if you need further help. I have repaired dozens of these. I was an auto tech for 15 years. I enjoyed doing these type of repairs.

Chris.

There are three screws holding down that bowl and you about have to gut the whole works to get to 'em and come in from the top.

There is a special tool for pulling the pivots and also another for comressing that big spring.

I have used make-shift stuff in a pinch to do the job, but it is so much easier when you have the proper tool(s) as that little task is just not for the faint of heart anyway. :>)

Good luck with 'er,

Allan

Don't know how they are now either, but at one time just about every componet in the things except the body used different manufacturers' stuff.

Kind of a Heintz 57 thing. :>)

Allan