Removal and Installation

Removal

1. From inside vehicle, remove nuts retaining steering shaft weather boot to dash panel.
2. Remove two bolts retaining intermediate shaft to steering column shaft.
3. Set weather boot aside. Remove pinch bolt at steering gear input shaft and remove intermediate shaft.






4. Raise vehicle on a twin post hoist and remove front wheel and tire assemblies.
5. Support vehicle with jackstands under rear edge of subframe.
6. Remove tie rod cotter pins and nuts, and remove tie rod ends from spindle.
7. Remove tie rod ends from shaft.
Mark position of jam nut to maintain alignment.






8. Remove nuts from gear-to-subframe retaining bolts.
9. Remove rear subframe-to-body retaining bolts.






10. Remove exhaust pipe-to-catalytic converter attachment.
11. Lower twin post hoist carefully until subframe separates from body; approximately four inches.
12. Remove heat shield band and fold shield down.






13. Disconnect VAPS electrical connectors.
14. Rotate gear to clear bolts from subframe and pull left to facilitate line fitting removal.
15. Place a drain pan under vehicle and remove line fittings.
16. Remove LH sway bar link.






17. Remove gear assembly through LH wheel well.

Installation

1. Install new TFE O-rings on line fittings as outlined in Pressure and Return Line Seal Replacement.
2. Place gear retaining bolts in gear housing.
3. Install gear through LH wheel well.
4. Install power steering line fittings to gear assembly.
5. Install VAPS electrical connectors.
6. Position gear into subframe.
7. Install tie rod ends onto shaft.
8. Install band on heat shield.
9. Attach tie rod ends to spindle. Install nuts and new cotter pins.
10. Attach sway bar links.
11. Raise hoist until subframe contacts body.
12. Install subframe retaining bolts.
13. Install gear-to-subframe nuts and tighten to 115-135 Nm (85-100 ft-lbs.).
14. Attach exhaust pipe to catalytic converter.
15. Install tire and wheel assemblies.
Tighten wheel lug nuts to 115-142 Nm (85-105 ft-lbs.).
16. Remove jackstands and lower vehicle.
17. From inside vehicle, push weather boot end out of vehicle and install over valve housing.
18. Install intermediate shaft to steering gear input shaft.
Tighten bolt to 41-51 Nm (30-38 ft-lbs.).
19. Install inner weather boot to floorpan.
20. Install intermediate shaft to steering column shaft.
21. Fill with premium power steering fluid E6AZ-19582-AA (ESW-M2C33-F) or equivalent.
22. Bleed power steering system.
23. Check system for leaks and proper operation.
24. Adjust toe setting