How to Repair a Craftsman Steering Support Shaft

Slip the edge of a flathead screwdriver under the lip of the steering wheel center cap and pry it off.

Use the socket set to remove the center bolt holding the steering wheel in place and then pull the steering wheel up and off.

Lift the engine cover. Remove the screws holding the engine cover to the mower with a Phillips screwdriver. Set the screws and the engine cover to the side.

Check to make sure the mower parking brake is engaged, roll the floor jack beneath the front end and jack up the front end about a foot. Slide jack stands under the front of the mower and lower the mower onto them.

Use the socket set to remove the steering gear mounting nuts. The steering gear is fan-shaped and is mounted just to the side of the steering shaft. Set the steering gear and its mounting bolts to the side.

Use an open-end wrench and the socket set to remove the nut and bolt at the top of the steering shaft, just under the dashboard, inside the engine compartment. Use pliers to remove the cotter pin located in the center of the steering shaft.

Pull the steering shaft upwards through the hole where the steering wheel mounts. Do not pull the steering shaft all the way out, though.

Slide the old steering shaft support from the bottom of the steering shaft and then slide the new one into place. Slide the steering shaft back down into its original position.

Replace the cotter pin and the bolt and nut at the top of the steering shaft.

Hold the steering gear back in place, hand-thread its mounting bolts and then tighten them with the socket set.

Replace the engine cover and its retaining screws.

Replace the center steering nut and then tighten it with the socket set. Also snap the steering wheel center cover back into place.

Jack up the front end of the mower slightly, pull the jacks out by hand and then lower the mower to the ground.