Steering Gear: Service and Repair

Power Steering Gear Replacement

Tools Required

KM-507-C Ball Joint Remover

Removal Procedure





Caution: Refer to Battery Disconnect Caution Battery Disconnect Caution.

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle Service and Repair.
3. Remove the front tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation Service and Repair.
4. Place a drain pan under the steering gear to catch the power steering fluid.
5. Disconnect the power steering gear fluid outlet pipe.
6. Disconnect the power steering gear fluid inlet pipe.




7. Position the steering gear straight ahead by turning the steering wheel.
8. Scribe a mark on the stub shaft housing that lines up with a mark on the intermediate shaft lower coupling.




9. Remove the intermediate shaft pinch bolt.




10. Remove the outer tie rod nuts and disconnect the tie rod ends from the strut assembly using the KM-507-C .
11. Remove the front crossmember assembly. Refer to Front Suspension Crossmember Replacement Front Suspension.
12. Remove the transaxle center bracket, if equipped with automatic transaxle. Refer to Transmission Mount Bracket Replacement Transmission Mount Bracket Replacement.
13. Remove the bolts securing the transaxle center bracket to the transaxle and the engine, if equipped with a manual transaxle. Move the transaxle center bracket out of the way.




14. Remove the nuts and bolts from the steering gear mounting bracket.




15. Remove the return line from the clip on the crossmember.
16. Disconnect the rack and pinion assembly from the crossmember assembly.

Installation Procedure





Important: The steering gear and the steering wheel must be in the straight-ahead position.


1. Install the rack and pinion assembly on the crossmember. Align the marks on the shafts to ensure proper positioning. Seat the stub shaft into the intermediate shaft.





Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice Fastener Notice.

2. Install the bolts and nuts on the steering gear mounting bracket.

Tighten the steering gear mounting bracket bolts and nuts to 60 Nm (44 lb ft).




3. Install the return line into the clip on the crossmember.

Tighten the return line clip bolt to 8 Nm (71 lb in).

4. Position the transaxle center bracket in place and install the bolts securing the bracket to the engine and the transaxle, if equipped with manual transaxle.

Tighten the transaxle center bracket-to-transaxle bolts and the transaxle center bracket-to-engine bolt to 80 Nm (59 lb ft).

5. Install the transaxle center bracket, if equipped with an automatic transaxle. Refer to Transmission Mount Bracket Replacement Transmission Mount Bracket Replacement.
6. Install the front crossmember. Refer to Front Suspension Crossmember Replacement Front Suspension.




7. Connect the tie rod ends to the strut assembly.
8. Install the outer tie rod nuts.

Tighten the outer tie rod nuts to 50 Nm (37 lb ft).




9. Install the lower intermediate shaft pinch bolt.

Tighten the lower intermediate shaft pinch bolt to 25 Nm (18 lb ft).




10. Connect the power steering gear fluid inlet and outlet pipe.

Tighten the steering gear inlet and outlet pipe fitting to 28 Nm (21 lb ft).

11. Install the wheels. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation Service and Repair.
12. Lower the vehicle.
13. Perform a front toe adjustment. Refer to Front Toe Adjustment Front Toe Adjustment.
14. Do a straight-ahead check. Refer to Straight Ahead Inspection Straight Ahead Inspection.

Notice: Refer to Using Proper Power Steering Fluid Notice Service Precautions.

15. Refill the power steering system and check for leaks. If leaks are found, correct the cause of the leak and bleed the system. Refer to Power Steering System Bleeding Service and Repair.
16. Connect the negative battery cable.