Steering Column: Description

Steering columns are designated as fixed or tilt column, and as column shift or floor shift. Column shift and floor shift columns are the same except for a shift tube on column shift steering columns.

The steering column is designed to collapse if impacted by the driver during a collision. The steering shaft, column jacket and shift tube (column shift) are 2-piece units that are injected with plastic. The plastic protrudes from holes in the unit. This keeps the 2 pieces rigidly together as a unit. If the column is impacted, the plastic pieces break off, allowing the column to collapse.