Steering Gearbox Removal/Installation
Steering Gearbox Removal and Installation
Special Tools Required
- Ball Joint Thread Protector, 14 mm 07AAE-SJAA100
- Ball Joint Thread Protector, 12 mm 07AAF-SDAA100
- Ball Joint Remover, 28 mm 07MAC-SL0A202
- Subframe Alignment Pin 070AG-SJAA10S
- Engine Support Hanger, A and Reds AAR-T1256
- Engine Hanger Balance Bar VSB02C000019
- Subframe Adapter VSB02C000016
*Available through the Acura Tool and Equipment Program, 888-424-6857.
SRS components are located in this area. Review the SRS component 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. Remove the engine compartment covers and front grille cover Service and Repair.
2. Do the battery terminal disconnection procedure.
3. Raise and support the vehicle Service and Repair.
4. Remove the front wheels.
5. Remove the driver's airbag Driver's Airbag Replacement, and the steering wheel Steering Wheel Removal.
6. Remove the steering joint cover (A).
7. 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.
8. Remove the center guide (A) (if equipped) from the top of the pinion shaft (B), and discard it.
9. Wrap vinyl tape over the splines on the pinion shaft.
10. Disconnect the hood support struts from both sides of the pivot ball (bolted to the hood). Secure the hood in a vertical position. Remove the left side pivot ball and install it into the lower threaded hole, then reattach the support strut.
NOTE: Do not attempt to close the hood with the support strut in the vertical position, as it will damage the support strut and hood.
11. Remove the strut brace Frame Brace 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 connector bracket (A) from the front cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach the engine hanger balance bar front arm.
20. Disconnect the vacuum hose (A), then remove the engine mount control solenoid valve bracket (B) from the rear cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach the engine hanger balance bar rear.
21. Lift and support the engine with the engine support hanger (A) and the engine hanger balance bar (B). Attach the front arm (C) to the front cylinder head with a spacer (D) and a 10 x 1.25 mm bolt (E). Attach the rear arm (F) to the rear cylinder head with a spacer (G) and a 8 x 1.25 mm bolt (H).
22. Support the engine with a jack and a wood block under the oil pan.
23. Remove the rear engine mount stop (A) and the EPS subharness bracket (B), then remove the rear engine mount (C).
24. Disconnect the vacuum hose (D).
25. Remove the rear engine mount base (A).
26. Remove the front engine mount stop (A) and the vacuum hose bracket (B), then remove the front engine mount bolt (C).
27. Raise the vehicle.
28. Remove the front splash shield Front Splash Shield Replacement.
29. Remove exhaust pipe A Service and Repair.
30. Remove the cotter pin (A) from the knuckle ball joint, then remove the castle nut (B).
31. Disconnect the knuckle ball joint from the lower arm using the ball joint thread protector and the ball joint remover Ball Joint Removal.
NOTE:
- Be careful not to damage the ball joint boot when installing the remover.
- Do not force or hammer on the lower arm, or pry between the lower arm and the knuckle. You could damage the ball joint.
32. Remove the damper fork mounting nut (A) while holding the mounting bolt (B), then remove the mounting bolt.
33. Remove the subframe middle mount (A) on both sides.
34. Remove the lower transmission mount nuts (A).
35. 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).
36. 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.
37. Remove the stiffener mounting bolt (A) on both sides.
38. 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.
39. Remove the stiffener mounting bolts (A) and subframe mounting bolts (B) from the rear stiffeners (C).
40. Lower the jack slowly until the subframe has dropped about 70 mm (2.76 in).
41. Carefully move the steering gearbox (A) toward the driver's side until the pinion shaft clears the fenderwell opening on the body.
42. Remove the steering gearbox (A) through the fenderwell opening on the driver's side.
43. Remove the pinion shaft grommet (A) from the top of the torque sensor (B).
44. 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 nuts (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. Install the new damper fork mounting bolt (A) and new mounting nut (B), and loosely tighten the nut while holding the mounting bolt.
18. Tighten the new castle nut (A) to the lower torque specification, then tighten it only far enough to align the slot with the ball joint pin hole. Do not align the castle nut by loosening it.
NOTE: Insert the new cotter pin (B) into the ball joint pin hole from the front to the rear of the vehicle, and bend its end as shown. Check the ball joint pin hole direction before connecting the ball joint.
19. Install exhaust pipe A Service and Repair.
20. Install the front splash shield Front Splash Shield Replacement.
21. Lower the vehicle.
22. Tighten the new front engine mount bolt (A), then install the front engine mount stop (B) and the vacuum hose bracket (C).
23. Support the engine with a jack and a wood block under the oil pan.
24. Install the rear engine mount base (A) with new mounting bolts, and tighten to the specified torque.
25. Connect the vacuum hose (A), then install the rear engine mount (B).
26. Tighten the new rear engine mount bolts (C) and (D), then install the EPS subharness bracket (E), and the rear engine mount stop (F).
27. Remove the engine support hanger and the engine hanger balance bar.
28. Install the engine mount control solenoid valve bracket (A) to the rear cylinder head, and connect the vacuum hose (B).
29. Install the connector bracket (A) to the front cylinder head.
30. 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.
31. 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.
32. Connect the EPS subharness 6P connector (A) to the steering gearbox.
33. Remove the vinyl tape, then connect the EPS motor angle sensor 6P connector (A) to the steering gearbox.
34. Connect the EPS motor 3P connector (B), then pull up the lever (C), and confirm the connector is fully seated.
35. Install the power steering heat shield (A) with the flange bolts, and tighten them to the specified torque.
36. Install the strut brace Frame Brace Replacement.
37. Reinstall the hood support struts to the upper location of the hood.
38. 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.
39. Install a new cotter pin (C), and bend it as shown.
40. Place a floor jack under the lower arm, and raise the suspension to load it with the vehicle's weight. Do not place the jack against the ball joint pin of the knuckle.
41. Tighten the damper fork mounting nut while holding the mounting bolt to the specified torque.
42. 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.
43. Remove the vinyl tape around the splines on the pinion shaft.
44. 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.
45. 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.
46. 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.
47. Tighten the upper steering joint bolt (D) to the specified torque.
48. Install the steering joint cover (A).
49. Install the steering wheel Steering Wheel Installation, and the driver's airbag Driver's Airbag Replacement.
50. 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.
51. 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.
52. Install the front grill cover and engine compartment covers Service and Repair.
53. 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.