Steering Column: Inspection

If steering wheel does not rotate smoothly, check column bearings for wear. Ensure bearings are lubricated with grease. Check jacket tube for deformation. If vehicle has been in a light collision, check length dimension of steering column and upper joint. See STEERING COLUMN DIMENSIONS table. See Fig 1-Fig 7 .
If length dimension measurement is not within specification or bearings are faulty, replace steering column as an assembly. See Figure. Check tilt wheel mechanism operation. See TILT WHEEL MECHANISM OPERATION table. Replace steering column if tilt wheel does not operate properly.

STEERING COLUMN DIMENSIONS

Application

⁽¹⁾ Length Dimension - In. (mm)

Altima "A"

20.70-20.79 (525.8-528.1)

Frontier & Xterra "L"

33.98-34.04 (863.1-864.7)

Maxima "L"

21.34-21.42 (542.0-544.0)

Pathfinder

Column Upper Shaft "L₁ "

28.22-28.30 (716.7-718.7)

Column Lower Shaft "L₂ "

7.01-7.09 (178.0-180.0)

Column Upper Joint "L₃ " ⁽²⁾

16.96-17.04 (430.8-432.8)

Quest "L"

19.90-19.96 (505.5-507.0)

Sentra "L"

21.34-21.42 (542.0-544.0)

⁽¹⁾	Use specified measuring points. See appropriate illustration. See Fig 1-Fig 5 .

⁽²⁾	Steering column upper joint is located between steering transfer gear assembly and steering column lower shaft.

TILT WHEEL MECHANISM OPERATION

Models

⁽¹⁾ In. (mm)

Altima, Maxima & Sentra

Zero-To-"A"

0.59 (15.0)

Zero-To-"B"

0.59 (15.0)

Frontier & Xterra

Zero-To-"A"

0.79 (20.0)

Zero-To-"B"

0.39 (10.0)

Pathfinder

Zero-To-"A"

1.18 (30.0)

Zero-To-"B"

0.39 (10.0)

Quest

Zero-To-"A"

0.59 (15.0)

Zero-To-"B"

0.98 (25.0)

⁽¹⁾	Use specified measuring points. See Fig 7.

Fig 1: Steering Column Measuring Points (Altima)