Steering Gearbox Removal
Steering Gearbox Removal
Special Tools Required
- Ball Joint Thread Protector, 12 mm 07AAF-SDAA100
- Ball Joint Remover, 28 mm 07MAC-SL0A202
- Engine Hanger Adapter Set VSB02C000031
- Engine Support Hanger, A and Reds AAR-T1256
- Engine Hanger Balance Bar VSB02C000019
- Front Subframe Adapter EQS02BMDXSB0
*Available through the Acura Tool and Equipment program, 888-424-6857.
Note these items during removal:
- Using clean solvent and a brush, wash any oil and dirt off the valve body unit, it's lines, and the end of the steering gearbox. Blow dry with compressed air.
- Lower the front subframe from the body, and remove the steering gearbox through the gap produced by lowering the front subframe.
1. Remove the engine cover.
2. Drain the power steering fluid.
3. Do the battery terminal disconnection procedure Procedures.
4. Raise and support the vehicle Service and Repair.
5. Remove the front wheels.
6. Remove the driver's dashboard undercover Driver's Dashboard Undercover Removal/Installation.
7. Remove steering joint cover (A).
8. Remove the steering joint bolts (A), disconnect the steering joint by sliding the steering joint (B) into the column.
9. Center the steering wheel spokes, and install a commercially available steering wheel holder tool (A).
10. Remove the center guide (A) (if equipped) from the top of the pinion shaft (B), and discard it. The center guide is for factory assembly use only.
11. Wrap vinyl tape over the splines on the pinion shaft.
12. Remove the air cleaner housing Service and Repair.
13. Remove the connector bracket (A) from the front cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach the engine balance bar front arm.
14. Remove the engine mount control solenoid valve bracket (A) from the rear cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach the engine hanger balance bar rear arm.
15. Remove the service caps (A) for the front damper flange nuts from the cowl cover (B). Position the engine hanger adapter set (C) with the FRONT mark facing forward over the damper flange nuts.
16. Lift and support the engine with the engine support hanger (AAR-T1256) and the engine hanger balance bar (VSB02C000019). Attach the front arm (A) to the front cylinder head with a spacer (B) and a 10 mm bolt (C), and attach the rear arm (D) to the rear cylinder head with an 8 mm bolt (E). Tighten the wing nut (F) by hand to lift, and support the engine.
NOTE:
- Be careful when working around the windshield.
- Be careful not to damage the hood opener cable when installing the engine support hanger at the front bulkhead.
- AAR-T1256 two sets required for stacking additional cross section bar.
17. Loosen the adjustable hose clamp (A), and disconnect the return hose (B).
18. Loosen the 16 mm flare nut (C), and disconnect the inlet line (D).
19. Remove the cotter pins (A) from the tie-rod end ball joints and remove the nuts (B).
20. Disconnect the tie-rod end ball joint from the knuckle using the ball joint thread protector (C) and the ball joint remover (D) or both sides Ball Joint Removal.
21. Disconnect the lower arm ball joints from the knuckles Front Lower Arm Removal/Installation.
22. Disconnect the stabilizer link (A) from the stabilizer bar on both sides Front Stabilizer Link Removal/Installation.
23. Raise and support the vehicle.
24. Remove the front undercover Front Undercover Replacement and the front splash shield Splash Shield Replacement.
25. Remove the front subframe stiffener plate (A).
26. Remove exhaust pipe A Service and Repair.
27. Remove the propeller shaft and propeller shaft protectors Propeller Shaft Removal.
28. Remove the inlet line clamp bolts (A).
29. Remove the rear engine mount bolts (A) and (B).
30. Disconnect the front engine mount control solenoid valve tube (A), then remove the front engine mount bolts (B).
31. Loosen the four bolts (A) holding the adjustable arms (B) of the front subframe adapter to its center plate.
32. Line up the slots in the arms with the bolt holes on the corners of the jack base, then attach the front subframe adapter (A) to the jack base with the bolts (B) that came with the jack. Tighten all bolts securely.
33. Raise the jack to vehicle height, then attach the front subframe adapter to the front subframe using the subframe stiffener mounting bolts (C) and bolt holes.
34. Support the front subframe securely by raising the transmission jack.
35. Remove the transmission lower mount bolts (A).
36. Remove the stiffener mounting bolts (A) from the front subframe front brackets (B).
37. Loosen the subframe mounting bolts (C) on the subframe front stiffeners so they are about 40 mm (1.6 in) from the mounting surface. Do not loosen the special bolts more than necessary.
38. Remove the rear stiffener mounting bolts (A) from the front subframe rear stiffener (B).
39. Loosen the front subframe mounting bolts (C) on the front subframe rear brackets so they are about 40 mm (1.6 in) from the mounting surface. Do not loosen the front subframe mounting bolts more than is necessary.
40. Lower the transmission jack slowly until the front subframe has dropped about 40 mm (1.6 in).
41. Remove the mounting bolts (A) from the driver's side of the steering gearbox.
42. Remove the gearbox stiffener bracket (A) from the driver's side of the front subframe.
43. Remove the steering gearbox mounting bolts from the passenger's side of the steering gearbox, then remove the mounting bracket (A), and cushion (B).
44. Carefully move the steering gearbox (A) toward the driver's side until the pinion shaft clears the wheelwell opening on the frame.
45. Remove the steering gearbox (A) through the wheelwell opening on the driver's side.
46. Remove the pinion shaft grommet B from the top of the valve housing.
47. Replace the pinion shaft grommet A if necessary.
48. After removing the steering gearbox, make sure that no power steering fluid gets on the gearbox mount cushions, gearbox housing, surface of the front subframe and stiffener. Wipe off any spilled fluid at once.