Steering Gearbox Removal/Installation

Steering Gearbox Removal and Installation

Special Tools Required

- Ball Joint Thread Protector, 12 mm 07AAF-SDAA100
- Ball Joint Remover, 28 mm 07MAC-SL0A202
- Subframe Alignment Pin 070AG-SJAA10S
- Engine Hanger Adapter VSB02C000015
- Subframe Adapter VSB02C000016
- Engine Support Hanger, A and Reds AAR-T1256
*Available through the Acura Tool and Equipment Program, 888-424-6857.

SRS components are located in this area. Review the SRS components locations Locations, and the precautions and procedures Service and Repair before doing repairs or service.

Note these items during removal:

- Use solvent and a brush, wash any oil and dirt off the end of the steering gearbox. Avoid any electrical parts. Blow dry with compressed air.
- Be sure to remove the steering wheel before disconnecting the steering joint, or damage to the cable reel can occur.

Removal

1. Do the battery terminal disconnection procedure.

2. Raise and support the vehicle Service and Repair.

3. Remove the front wheels.

4. Remove the drivers' airbag, and the steering wheel Steering Wheel Removal.

5. Remove the steering joint cover (A).






6. Loosen the upper steering joint bolt (A), and remove the lower steering joint bolt (B). Disconnect the steering joint (C) by sliding the steering joint into the column shaft (D). Tighten the upper steering joint bolt to hold the steering joint in place.

NOTE: Do not disconnect the steering joint from the column shaft.






7. Remove the center guide (A) (if equipped) from the top of the pinion shaft (B), and discard it.





8. Wrap vinyl tape over the splines on the pinion shaft.

9. Secure the hood in the wide open position (support rod in the lower hole).





10. Remove the strut brace Frame Brace Replacement.

11. Remove the front grille cover Front Grille Cover Replacement.

12. Remove the cotter pin (A) from the tie-rod end ball joint, then remove the nut (B) on both sides.





13. Disconnect the tie-rod end ball joint from the knuckle using the ball joint thread protector (C) and the ball joint remover (D) on both sides Ball Joint Removal.

NOTE: Be careful not to damage the ball joint boot when installing the remover.

14. Remove the power steering heat shield (A).






15. Disconnect the EPS motor angle sensor 6P connector (A).





16. Disconnect the EPS motor 3P connector (B) by pushing the lock (C) and pulling down the lever (D). Wrap the connectors with vinyl tape to avoid contamination from grease or water.

17. Disconnect the EPS subharness 6P connector (A). Wrap the connectors with vinyl tape to avoid contamination from grease or water.






18. Remove the steering gearbox mounting bolts (A) and washers (B) from the steering gearbox.










19. Remove the ignition coil cover (A).






20. Remove the harness cover bracket bolts (A).





21. Attach the engine hanger adapter (B) to the threaded hole located on the rear side of the cylinder head.

22. Install the engine support hanger (A) to the vehicle, and attach the hook (B) to the slotted hole in the engine hanger adapter (C). Tighten the wing nut (D) 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.





23. Remove the rear engine mount (A).

A/T





M/T





24. A/T: Remove the upper base bracket (A) from the base bracket (B).






25. Remove the front engine mount stop (A), then remove the front engine mount bolt (B).






26. Raise the vehicle.

27. Remove the front splash shield Front Splash Shield Replacement.

28. Remove exhaust pipe A Service and Repair.

29. A/T: Disconnect the shift cable from the selector control lever.

30. Attach the front subframe adapter (A) to the subframe (B) by hanging the belt (C) over the front of the subframe, then secure the belt with its stop (D).





31. Raise the jack and line up the slots in the front subframe adapter arms with the bolt holes on the jack base, then securely attach them with four bolts.

32. Remove the lower transmission mount bolts (A).






33. Remove the subframe middle mount (A) on both sides.






34. Remove the stiffener mounting bolt (A) on both sides.





35. Loosen the subframe mounting bolts (B) so they are about 20 mm (0.79 in) from the mounting surface. Do not loosen the subframe mounting bolts more than necessary.

36. Remove the stiffener mounting bolts (A) and subframe mounting bolts (B) from the rear stiffeners (C).






37. Lower the jack slowly until the subframe has dropped about 70 mm (2.76 in).






38. Carefully move the steering gearbox (A) toward the driver's side until the pinion shaft clears the fenderwell opening on the body.






39. Remove the steering gearbox (A) through the fenderwell opening on the driver's side.






40. Remove the pinion shaft grommet (A) from the top of torque sensor (B).






41. Remove the EPS subharness (A) from the steering gearbox (B).






Installation

1. Before installing the steering gearbox, make sure that no grease is on the mating surface of the steering gearbox and the front subframe. To prevent the gearbox mounting bolts from loosening after the installation, remove any grease from the bolt holes.

2. Wrap vinyl tape around the splines on the pinion shaft (A).





3. Install the EPS subharness (B) to the steering gearbox (C).

4. Install the pinion shaft grommet (A). Align the square hole (B) in the pinion shaft grommet with the lug portion (C) on the torque sensor. The grommet must not have a gap at the mating surface of the grommet and torque sensor.






5. Turn the lip (A) of the pinion shaft grommet.





6. Slide the steering gearbox (B) between the front subframe and the body from the driver's side.

7. Carefully move the steering gearbox (A) toward the passenger's side until the pinion shaft clears the wheelwell opening on the body.





8. Continue moving the steering gearbox toward the passenger's side until the steering gearbox is in position.

9. Install the subframe rear stiffeners (A), and loosely install the new subframe mounting bolts (B), new rear stiffener mounting bolts (C), and front stiffener mounting bolts (D).






10. Loosely tighten the subframe mounting bolt (A) in the right rear stiffener until the subframe insulator contacts the body; insert the subframe alignment pin (070AG-SJAA10S) through the positioning slot (B) on the right rear stiffener, through the positioning hole (C) on the subframe, and into the positioning hole (D) on the body.





11. Loosely tighten the left rear subframe mounting bolt with the same procedure as the right rear using the subframe alignment pin.

12. Loosely tighten the subframe mounting bolt (A) and the stiffener mounting bolt (B) on both sides to the front stiffener.






13. Tighten the subframe mounting bolts and stiffener mounting bolts to the specified torque in the sequence shown.

NOTE:

- Tighten (1) and (2) in the same procedure as in step 10 using the subframe alignment pin.
- Check all of the subframe mounting bolts, and retighten if necessary.
- Before tightening the stiffener mounting bolts, check that the positioning holes and slot are aligned using the subframe alignment pin.





14. Install the lower transmission mount bolts (A), and tighten them to the specified torque.






15. Install the subframe middle mount (A) with new mounting bolts, and tighten them to the specified torque on both sides.





16. Remove the transmission jack supporting the subframe.

17. A/T: Connect the shift cable to the selector control lever.

18. Install the exhaust pipe A Service and Repair.

19. Install the front splash shield Front Splash Shield Replacement.

20. Lower the vehicle.

21. Tighten the new front engine mount bolt (A) to the specified torque, then install the front engine mount stop (B) with new mount nuts.






22. A/T: Install the upper base bracket (A) to the base bracket (B) with a new mounting bolt (C) and mounting bolts (D), then tighten them to the specified torque.






23. Install the rear engine mount (A) with new mounting bolts, and tighten them to the specified torque.

A/T





M/T





24. Remove the engine support hanger.

25. Remove the engine hanger adapter (A).





26. Install the harness cover bracket (B).

27. Install the ignition coil cover (A).






28. Install the washers (A) and new steering gearbox mounting bolts (B) to the steering gearbox, then loosely tighten them.

NOTE: Make sure that the washers are in the correct position.









29. Tighten the steering gearbox mounting bolts to the specified torque in the sequence shown.

NOTE: Check all of the steering gearbox mounting bolts, and retighten if necessary.

30. Connect the EPS subharness 6P connector (A) to the steering gearbox.






31. Remove the vinyl tape, then connect the EPS motor angle sensor 6P connector (A) to the steering gearbox.





32. Connect the EPS motor 3P connector (B), then pull up the lever (C), and confirm the connector is fully seated.

33. Install the power steering heat shield (A) with the flange bolts, and tighten them to the specified torque.





34. Install the strut brace Frame Brace Replacement.

35. Install the front grille cover Front Grille Cover Replacement.

36. Reinstall the hood support rod to the upper location of the hood.

37. Wipe off any grease contamination from the ball joint tapered section and threads. Connect the tie-rod end ball joint (A) to the knuckle. Install the nut (B), and tighten it to the specified torque.





38. Install a new cotter pin (C), and bend it as shown.

39. Install the front wheels, then set the wheels in the straight ahead position.

NOTE: Before installing the wheel, clean the mating surface between the brake disc and the inside of the wheel.

40. Remove the vinyl tape around the splines on the pinion shaft.

41. Loosen the upper steering joint bolt (A), and slip the lower end of the steering joint (B) onto the pinion shaft (C) taking care to align the gap (D) within the angle.

NOTE: Pick up the tabs (E) of the pinion shaft grommet, and turn up the lip of the pinion shaft grommet securely in place. Make sure that light does not enter from the space between the pinion shaft grommet and the body.






42. Align the bolt hole (A) on the steering joint with the groove (B) around the pinion shaft, then loosely install the lower steering joint bolt (C). Be sure that the joint bolt is securely in the groove in the pinion shaft.





43. Pull on the steering joint to make sure that the steering joint is fully seated, then tighten the lower joint bolt to the specified torque.

44. Tighten the upper steering joint bolt (D) to the specified torque.

45. Install the steering joint cover (A).





46. Install the steering wheel Steering Wheel Installation, and the driver's airbag.

47. With the tires raised off the ground (vehicle on a lift), check for the following symptoms by turning the steering wheel fully to the right and left several times.






48. Do the battery terminal reconnection procedure, and check these items:

- Turn the ignition switch to ON (II), and check that the SRS indicator comes on for about 6 seconds, and then goes off.
- Make sure the horn and turn signal switches work properly.
- Make sure the steering wheel switches work properly.

49. After installation, check these items:

- Start the engine, allow it to idle, and turn the steering wheel from lock to lock several times.
- Check that the EPS indicator does not come on.
- Check the steering wheel spoke angle. If steering spoke angles to the right and left are not equal (steering wheel and rack are not centered), correct the engagement of the joint/pinion shaft serrations.
- Do the torque sensor neutral position memorization Testing and Inspection.
- Check the wheel alignment, and adjust it if necessary Service and Repair.