SIR Steering Wheel and Column - General Information

The locking, energy absorbing column includes three important features in addition to the steering function.
1. The column is energy absorbing, designed to compress in a front-end collision to lessen the chance of injury to the driver.
2. The ignition switch and lock are mounted on the column. With the column mounted lock, the ignition and steering operations can be locked to inhibit theft of the vehicle.
3. The multi-function lever provides for control of the Headlamp high beams, the cruise control, and the windshield washer and wiper.

The column may be removed, disassembled and assembled with relative ease. It its important to use only the specified screws, bolts, and nuts, and to tighten them to the specified torque's in order to ensure the proper energy absorbing functions. When the column assembly is removed from the vehicle, special care must be taken in handling it. Using a steering wheel puller other than the one recommended in this manual, striking sharply on the end of the steering shaft lever, leaning on the assembly or dropping the assembly could shear off or loosen plastic fasteners which maintain column rigidity.