Steering Shaft Inspection

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable and wait for 1 min or more. (See NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE DISCONNECTION/CONNECTION ).
2. Remove the driver-side air bag module. (See DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE REMOVAL [TWO-STEP DEPLOYMENT CONTROL SYSTEM] ). (See DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE REMOVAL [STANDARD DEPLOYMENT CONTROL SYSTEM] ). (See DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE INSTALLATION [TWO-STEP DEPLOYMENT CONTROL SYSTEM] ). (See DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE INSTALLATION [STANDARD DEPLOYMENT CONTROL SYSTEM] ).
3. Straighten the steering wheel.
4. Remove the locknut.
   Fig 1: Identifying Steering Wheel Locknut With Torque Specification

   Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
5. Remove the steering wheel using any commercially available puller.
   CAUTION:

   • Do not try to remove the steering wheel by hitting the shaft with a hammer. The steering column will be damaged.
6. Remove the following parts:
   1. Selector lever knob (AT vehicles) (See AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT MECHANISM REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   2. Shift lever knob (MT vehicles) (See TRANSMISSION REMOVAL/INSTALLATION [M66M-D] ).
   3. Shift panel component (See SHIFT PANEL REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   4. Upper panel (See UPPER PANEL REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   5. Parking brake lever boot panel (See PARKING BRAKE LEVER BOOT PANEL REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   6. Rear console (See REAR CONSOLE REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   7. Front console panel (See FRONT CONSOLE PANEL REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   8. Front console component (See FRONT CONSOLE REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   9. Driver-side scuff plate (See SCUFF PLATE REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   10. Driver-side front side trim (See FRONT SIDE TRIM REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   11. Driver-side A-pillar trim (See A-PILLAR TRIM REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   12. Hood release lever (See HOOD RELEASE LEVER AND RELEASE CABLE REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   13. Driver-side lower panel (See DRIVER-SIDE LOWER PANEL REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   14. Passenger-side scuff plate (See SCUFF PLATE REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   15. Passenger-side front side trim (See FRONT SIDE TRIM REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   16. Passenger-side A-pillar trim (See A-PILLAR TRIM REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   17. Passenger-side lower panel (See PASSENGER-SIDE LOWER PANEL REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   18. Center panel No. 2 (See CENTER PANEL No. 2 REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   19. Column cover (See COLUMN COVER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   20. Meter hood (See METER HOOD REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   21. Instrument cluster (See INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   22. Clock spring (See CLOCK SPRING REMOVAL/INSTALLATION [TWO-STEP DEPLOYMENT CONTROL SYSTEM] ). (See CLOCK SPRING REMOVAL/INSTALLATION [STANDARD DEPLOYMENT CONTROL SYSTEM] ).
   23. Light switch (See LIGHT SWITCH REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   24. Wiper and washer switch (See WIPER AND WASHER SWITCH REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
   25. Start stop unit (See START STOP UNIT REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
7. Disconnect the intermediate shaft (upper) from the steering column. (See STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
8. Remove the clip from the steering column. (See STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
9. Inspect the steering column bearing for looseness and damage.
   • If there is any malfunction, replace the steering column. (See STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
10. Verify that the dimension of the steering column shown in the figure is as specified.

Fig 2: Checking Dimension Of Steering Column

Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.

Outer column length 

369.5 mm {14.55 in}

Upper shaft length 

451.0 mm {17.76 in}

• If not within the standard, replace the steering column, intermediate shaft (upper), and intermediate shaft (lower). (See STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ). (See INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).