Skylark L4-138 2.3L SOHC VIN 3 MFI QUAD 4 (1992)
Steering Wheel: Technical Service Bulletins
Steering Wheel - Self-Aligning Safety Feature
Bulletin:
92-0A-1
Date:
Nov. '91
Ref. No.: 92-64-0A
Corp. Ref. No.: 170103
SUBJECT:
INFORMATION ON THE SELF-ALIGNING STEERING WHEEL
MODELS AFFECTED:
1992 SKYLARKS
Concerned with injuries related to driver involvement with the steering system during accidents, General Motors developed the energy absorbing steering
column in the mid 1960's. It was designed to collapse in a controlled fashion to help dissipate the energy of the driver during the rapid deceleration of a
collision. In a frontal impact, with a properly adjusted safety belt, the steering wheel is designed to distribute the impact load primarily through the
driver's chest and shoulders.
While this system does an excellent job of reducing potential injuries, the fact is that a high level of energy must be dissipated, in a short time, through
the steering column. Because of this, the driver's involvement with the steering system is still a major source of crash related injuries. In 1982, the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attributed almost 27 percent of all crash related injuries to involvement with the steering system. GM
Research Laboratory data has confirmed that driver impact with the steering wheel can cause a variety of injuries to soft tissue organs, face, neck and
spine.
General Motors' customers have a new safety feature in their vehicles' steering systems, thanks to improved safety technology developed by GM.
To enhance the safety performance of the steering wheel, GM Research Laboratories joined with GM's Inland Fisher Guide Division and various other
GM Divisions to develop an energy absorbing steering wheel assembly. This combined effort resulted in the self-aligning steering wheel which will be
standard equipment on the 1992 Skylarks.
In the event of a front-end collision where the driver hits the steering wheel, the wheel will align itself parallel with the driver's chest and abdomen no
matter how the driver hits it. This self-aligning motion helps spread the force of the impact and helps prevent injuries.
The patented wheel has three sets of energy absorbing components: the hub, spokes and rim. The hub consists of six formed metal "legs" which are
calibrated to limit the rigidity of the steering wheel structure. The limit is based on human injury tolerance data that was obtained through GM Research
Labs. Like the hub at the center of the steering wheel, the wheel's three or four spokes (depending on the model) and rim are also energy absorbing. They
have metal rods contoured to "give" when occupants impact the steering wheel from various angles.
Briefly stated, the design of the wheel assembly is rigid enough for daily use yet flexible and dynamic enough to help absorb the energy of the driver's
forward movement in a frontal collision.
Vehicles with Supplemental Inflatable Restraint Systems (SIR) do not have self-aligning steering wheels since the SIR provides similar protection in
frontal impacts.
It is important to remember that the steering system safety features found on today's vehicles are NOT designed to be a convenient substitute for safety
belts. To protect all occupants of a vehicle, safety belts must be worn at all times.
If you are involved in repairs on a 1992 Skylark that has been in a front end collision, replace the steering wheel if it shows any signs of distortion.