Steering Rack Sliding Force Measurement
Steering Rack Sliding Force Measurement1. Raise the vehicle on a lift and remove the front tires and engine under covers.
Figure 2:
2. Use Kent-Moore tool # J24319-01 (or equivalent) to remove both tie rods from the steering knuckle arms (see Figure 2).
3. Secure the steering wheel in the neutral (center) position with a steering wheel holder.
Figure 3:
4. Confirm the "matching mark" on the rack and pinion, the "protrusion" on the rubber cap and the "aligning groove" on the transfer gearbox lower joint are all aligned (see Figure 3).
5. Disconnect the transfer gearbox lower joint from the rack and pinion assembly (see Figure 3).
6. Start the engine and let it idle to allow the power steering fluid to reach its normal operating temperature (140 - 176°F).
7. With the engine still running, use a pull gauge to measure the steering rack sliding force for both the left and right tie rods as follows:
A. Place the steering rack in the neutral (center) position.
Figure 4:
B. Attach Kent-Moore pull gauge # J-35999 to each tie rod using heavy gauge wire (see Figure 4).
C. Slowly pull on the pull gauge and note the reading on the gauge at the exact moment the tie rod starts to move.
D. Verify the left and right side pull gauge readings are within 224 - 255 N (20 - 26 Kg, 50 - 57 lb).