Steering Gear: Service and Repair

Special Tool(s)

Removal
1. Disconnect the battery ground cable.





2. Center the steering wheel and lock in position.





3. Disconnect the steering column shaft from the flexible coupling.
^ Remove the bolt and rotate the clamp plate.





4. CAUTION: When removing the floor seal do not damage the sealing clips.

Remove the floor seal.
1. Release the retaining clips.
2. Disconnect the upper retainer.





5. Remove the steering column flexible coupling.





6. Support the radiator (both sides).
7. Loosen the front road wheel nuts.
8. Raise and support the vehicle.
9. Remove the front road wheels.





10. Remove the radiator splash shield.





11. Disconnect the fluid cooler lines.
^ Drain the fluid into a suitable container.





12. Remove the lower splash shield.





13. Detach the radiator support brackets (both sides).





14. Detach the bumper support brackets.





15. Detach the air conditioning condenser (if equipped).





16. Disconnect the three way catalytic converter from the center muffler.





17. Disconnect the heated oxygen sensor electrical connector.
1. Disconnect the electrical connector.
2. Unclip the wiring.





18. Remove the front support insulator.





19. Detach the rear support insulator.





20. Remove the tie-rod end retaining nuts.





21. Using the special tool, release the tie-rod ends from the wheel knuckles.
22. Support the subframe assembly.





23. Remove the subframe retaining bolts.





24. Lower the subframe to gain access to the steering gear tubes.





25. Disconnect the high-pressure tube support bracket.





26. Disconnect the low-pressure tube support bracket.





27. CAUTION: When the steering gear unions are disconnected the steering gear valve body ports must be plugged to prevent dirt ingress.

Detach the steering gear unions.
1. Disconnect the high-pressure tube union and drain the fluid into a suitable container.
2. Disconnect the return tube union.





28. Remove the rear support insulator.





29. Disconnect the steering gear.





30. CAUTION: Make sure that the pressure check valve does not fall out of the valve body pressure port when the steering gear is being removed.

Remove the steering gear.

Installation





1. CAUTION: Before lowering the vehicle make sure that the steering is in the straight ahead position.

NOTE: If a new steering gear assembly is being installed the unions that are supplied fitted to the steering gear assembly should be removed and saved for future use.

Using the special tool, install a new O-ring seal.
1. Push the new O-ring seal onto the tool.
2. Locate the tool on the union and push on the O-ring seal.





2. Install the steering gear.





3. Install the rear support insulator.





4. Install the power steering tube unions to the steering gear.





5. Install the low-pressure tube support bracket.





6. Install the high-pressure tube support bracket.





7. Install the special tools.
1. Install the alignment pins through the subframe aligning holes.
2. Engage the locking pins.
3. Tighten the alignment pin sleeves.





8. Using the special tools, align the subframe.





9. Install the subframe retaining bolts.





10. Remove the special tools.
1. Loosen the alignment pin sleeves.
2. Disengage the locking pins.
3. Remove the alignment pins from the subframe aligning holes.





11. Using the special tool, align the powertrain.
1. Install the alignment tool.
2. Install the center bolt.





12. Install the rear support insulator center bolt.





13. Remove the special tool.
1. Remove the center bolt.
2. Remove the alignment tool.





14. Install the front support insulator.





15. Install the heated oxygen sensor electrical connector.
1. Connect the electrical connector.
2. Secure the wiring.





16. NOTE: Install new retaining nuts.

Install the tie-rod ends to the wheel knuckles.





17. Install the three way catalytic converter to the center muffler.





18. Attach the air conditioning condenser (if equipped).





19. Attach the bumper support brackets.





20. Attach the radiator support brackets.





21. Install the lower splash shield.





22. Connect the fluid cooler lines.





23. Install the radiator splash shield.





24. Install the front road wheels.
25. Lower the vehicle.





26. WARNING: Install a new pinch bolt. Failure to follow this instruction may result in personal injury.

Install the steering column shaft flexible coupling.





27. Install the floor seal.





28. WARNING: Install a new clamp bolt. Failure to follow this instruction may result in personal injury.

Install the steering column shaft to the flexible coupling.
29. Connect the battery ground cable.
30. Bleed the power steering system.