doing the steering shaft lube this morning. I have read that I could possibly damage the SIR coil if...

Please fill in the blank.

oh yeah, and what is the SIR coil?

As usual, GM has a tool just for this purpose, but I never buy those. A screwdriver and/or pliers usually do the trick. I just thought I would throw this out there, to see what possible damage I could do.

Thanks

 

just unbolt the bottom of the shaft from the joint next to the manifold and stroke the shaft 6 or 7 times and it will be fine for a while...

 

From what I have read, the SIR coil is part of the airbag system(clock spring?). You can break it if you turn the wheel while the shaft is disconnected. I think that tool is just some special pin to keep the wheel from turning.

 

If the steering wheel spins when the shaft is disconnected, and isn't set back the way it was, the clock spring for the driver's air bag can be stretched beyound it's limit and snap...followed by an SRS malfunction indicator lamp. You can lock the steering wheel with the kind of lock that's used to hold it in place when performing an alignment, or do what I do which is to run the seat belt through the wheel and engage it, holding the wheel in place. A properly posistioned bungee chord will work also.