Removal
1. From interior of vehicle, disconnect the steering gear coupler, from the steering column shaft coupler.
2. Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a frame contact type hoist.
3. Remove both front wheel and tire assemblies from the vehicle.
4. Remove engine/transaxle bobble dampener, on vehicles so equipped, from front suspension crossmember. Bobble strut does not need to be removed from transaxle assembly.
5. Remove nuts attaching both outer tie rod ends to the steering knuckles. Nuts are to be removed from tie rod ends using the following procedure, hold tie rod end stud with an 11/32 socket, while loosening and removing nut with wrench.
Tie Rod End Removal From Steering Knuckle:
6. Remove both tie rod end studs, from the steering knuckles, using Remover, Special Tool MB-990635, or equivalent.
7. If equipped, remove vehicle wiring harness connector from the power steering fluid pressure switch.
8. If vehicle is equipped with power steering, remove power steering pressure and return hose routing bracket from front suspension crossmember. The hose routing bracket does not have to be removed from the power steering pressure and return hoses.
9. If vehicle is equipped with power steering, remove power steering fluid, pressure and return hoses from the power steering gear assembly.
NOTE: This vehicle is designed and assembled using NET BUILD front suspension alignment settings. This means that front suspension alignment settings are determined as the vehicle is designed by the location of front suspension components in relation to the vehicle body. This process is carried out when building the vehicle, by accurately locating the front suspension crossmember, to master gage holes located in the underbody of the vehicle. With this method of designing and building a vehicle, it is no longer possible to adjust a vehicles front suspension alignment settings to the required specifications. Due to this, whenever the front suspension crossmember is removed from a vehicle, it MUST be replaced in the same location on the body of the vehicle it was removed from. Front suspension Toe settings though are still adjustable by the outer tie rod ends.
CAUTION: Before removing front suspension crossmember from the vehicle, the location of the front suspension crossmember MUST be scribed on body of vehicle per. This must be done so crossmember can be relocated against body of vehicle in the same location when it is reinstalled. If location of front suspension crossmember to body of vehicle is not maintained when vehicle is assembled, NET BUILD front suspension alignment settings will not be obtained. This may lead to handling and or tire wear problems.
10. Using an awl, scribe a line marking the location of where front suspension crossmember is mounted against the body of the vehicle.
11. Position a transmission jack under the center of the front suspension crossmember. Transmission jack is used to lower, support and raise front suspension crossmember when removing steering gear assembly.
12. Loosen and fully remove the front 2 bolts attaching front suspension crossmember to frame rails of vehicle. Then loosen the 2 rear bolts attaching front suspension crossmember and lower control arm to body of vehicle. Lower front suspension crossmember while loosening rear bolts, but do not remove rear bolts from crossmember.
13. Using transmission jack, lower front suspension crossmember enough to allow steering gear to be removed from crossmember. When lowering front suspension crossmember, do not let crossmember hang from lower control arms weight of crossmember should be supported by transmission jack.
14. Loosen and remove the 4 bolts, attaching steering assembly to front suspension crossmember. Then remove the steering gear assembly from the front suspension crossmember.
15. Transfer required parts from removed steering gear assembly to the replacement steering gear, new steering gear is being installed.