attempting to take out the instrument cluster

Hope you previously removed the negitive battery cable. If not , do so.
You should find 3 nuts or 2 nuts and 1 bolt holding the upper column support to the dash. Completely remove all 3. If yours is a column shift car, set the park brake and lower the shifter to neutral , or even low if you wish.
To pull down on the column while the shifter is in park will alter the linkage requiring readjustment.