Ride Control Solenoid Valve: Service and Repair

REMOVAL
1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. From inside vehicle, remove nuts retaining steering column tube boot to cowl panel.
3. Remove bolt retaining steering column intermediate shaft coupling to steering column lower yoke.
4. Position steering column tube boot out of the way. Remove pinch bolt retaining steering column intermediate shaft coupling to power rack and pinion steering gear and remove steering column intermediate shaft coupling.
5. Raise vehicle on a twin post hoist and remove front wheel and tire assemblies.





6. Remove exhaust system flex tube-to-dual converter Y-pipe attachment. Disconnect heated oxygen sensor wiring harness. Remove dual converter Y pipe from vehicle.





7. Support vehicle with jackstands under rear edge of front sub-frame.
8. Remove tie rod cotter pins and nuts, and remove tie rod end from RH front wheel knuckle and LH front wheel knuckle.





9. Remove nuts front steering gear-to-front sub-frame retaining bolts.
10. Remove both height sensor attachments from front suspension lower arms.
11. Remove rear sub-frame-to-body retaining bolts.
12. Raise twin post hoist carefully until front sub-frame separates from body, approximately 102 mm (4 inches).
13. Remove steering shaft u-joint shield.





14. Remove LH stabilizer bar link.
15. Rotate power rack and pinion steering gear to clear bolts from front sub-frame and pull left to ease power steering auxiliary actuator removal.
16. Remove four actuator-to-steering gear retaining screws.
17. Lift and remove power steering auxiliary actuator from power rack and pinion steering gear.

INSTALLATION
1. Position power steering auxiliary actuator on power rack and pinion steering gear.

NOTE: Make sure the two seals between the actuator housing and the steering gear housing assembly are in place when positioning the actuator on the power rack and pinion steering gear.

2. Install power steering auxiliary actuator. Install four mounting screws.
3. Install electrical connectors to power steering auxiliary actuator.
4. Position power rack and pinion steering gear into front sub-frame.
5. Install tie rod ends onto front wheel spindle tie rod.
6. Install push-pin retainers at top of heat shield.
7. Install tie rod ends to RH front wheel knuckle and LH front wheel knuckle. Install nuts and tighten to 47 - 63 Nm (35 - 46 ft. lbs.). Install new cotter pin.
8. Install LH stabilizer bar link.
9. Lower hoist until front sub-frame contacts body.
10. Install rear sub-frame retaining bolts. Tighten to 135 - 195 Nm (100 - 143 ft. lbs.).
11. Install power steering short rack-to-sub-frame nuts and tighten to 97 - 132 Nm (72 - 97 ft. lbs.).





12. Install exhaust system flex tube to dual converter Y pipe. Connect heated oxygen sensor wiring harness.
13. Install tire and wheel assemblies. Tighten lug nuts to 115 - 142 Nm (85 - 104 ft. lbs.).
14. Remove jackstands and lower vehicle.
15. From inside vehicle, push steering column tube boot end out of vehicle and install over power rack and pinion steering gear.
16. Install steering column intermediate shaft coupling to power rack and pinion steering gear. Tighten bolt to 41 - 51 Nm (31 - 37 ft. lbs.).
17. Install inner steering column tube boot to cowl panel.
18. Install steering column intermediate shaft coupling to steering column lower yoke.
19. Fill power steering system with Premium Power Steering Fluid E6AZ-19582-AA or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESW-M2C33-F.
20. Reconnect battery ground cable.
21. Bleed power steering system.
22. Check system for leaks and proper operation.
23. Adjust toe setting.