Description & Operation: Notes
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville, 1997 Oldsmobile Regency, 1997 Oldsmobile LSS, 1997 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight, and 1997 Buick LeSabre. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
Steering columns are designated as fixed or tilt column, and as column shift or floor shift. Column shift and floor shift columns are basically the same, except for the shift tube on column shift steering columns.
Steering column components are designed to collapse if impacted during a collision. Steering shaft, column jacket and shift tube (column shift) are 2-piece units injected with plastic to hold the 2 pieces together as one unit. If column and/or steering wheel are impacted, the injected plastic will shear, allowing the column assembly to collapse.