How to remove and install the steering column of the UAZ-3151, -31512, -31514, -31519 car

We remove the steering column for repair or replacement.

We prepare the vehicle and disconnect the negative terminal from the battery.

Steering column removal sequence

We remove the steering wheel, the steering column switches and the ignition switch.

We disconnect the steering column shaft from the steering gear and disconnect the pressure hose, as described in the article “Removal and adjustment of the steering gear with power steering”.

Using a 13 mm spanner, we undo the nut of the upper universal joint mounting bolt, holding the bolt with a 12 mm spanner to prevent it from turning.

Spanner on the upper universal joint nut — The upper universal joint nut is undone with a 13 mm spanner while the bolt is held with a 12 mm spanner

We withdraw the bolt.

Withdrawing the bolt from the joint — Once the nut is undone, the bolt comes out of the hole freely

We remove the steering cardan shaft.

Cardan shaft disconnected from the gear — The steering cardan shaft is removed after the bolt has been withdrawn

Using a 14 mm spanner, we undo the two bolts securing the steering column to the pedal assembly.

Two bolts securing the column to the pedal assembly — With a 14 mm spanner, the two bolts connecting the column to the pedal assembly are undone

Using a 10 mm socket, we undo the four bolts securing the steering column bracket to the engine compartment bulkhead.

Four bracket bolts on the bulkhead — The steering column bracket is secured to the engine compartment bulkhead with four 10 mm socket bolts

We remove the steering column.

Column taken out of the cabin — Once all the fixings are undone, the column comes out of the cabin freely

Materials and design features

The steering column of the UAZ-3151, -31512, -31514, -31519 vehicles is a steel tube with mounting brackets, inside which the steering shaft rotates on bearings. The upper end of the shaft is connected to the steering wheel, the lower end to the universal joint. The cardan shaft has a telescopic joint that compensates for movement of the body relative to the frame. The fasteners are metric-thread bolts and nuts, strength class not lower than 8.8. When refitting, it is recommended to replace the self-locking nuts and spring washers with new ones, and to tighten the threaded joints to the torque specified in the repair manual.

Installation

We install the steering column in the reverse order.