Steering Column: Disassembly

Remove clamp bolt and remove column tube and joint cover. Using a hacksaw, make a slit in steering lock bracket bolt head and column support bolt head and remove lock and support.
Remove snap ring from upper shaft (upper and lower shaft snap rings on Montero and 4WD Pickup). Remove shaft (with dust seal and bushing) from column tube.
On Starion, slide joint cover from socket assembly. Remove retaining rings and joint pin collar. With shaft set upright, use a magnet to pull joint pins out from both sides of socket. Separate column tube sections.
On Pickup, remove yoke and rubber coupling from steering shaft lower end. Remove rubber band from dust seal and move seal to expose retainer caulking. Drill caulking and remove retainer with a drift. Remove rubber band, dust cover, dust seal, and bushing from shaft.
NOTE: Do not remove pin from steering shaft. Do not disassemble socket.
On Montero and 4WD Pickup, slide dust cover to lower shaft side. Separate lower and upper shafts. Remove pipe, spring and upper boot from upper shaft. Remove dust cover and lower boot from lower shaft.

Fig 1: Exploded View of Pickup Steering Column. RWD is shown, 4WD is similar.

Fig 2: Exploded View of Starion Steering Column