Steering Gearbox Removal
Steering Gearbox Removal
Special Tools Required
- Ball Joint Thread Protector, 12 mm 07AAF-SDAA100
- Ball Joint Remover, 32 mm 07MAC-SL0A102
Note these items during removal:
- Using clean solvent and a brush, wash any oil and dirt off the valve body unit, its lines, and the end of the gearbox. Blow dry with compressed air.
- Make sure to remove the steering wheel before disconnecting the steering joint. Damage to the cable reel can occur.
1. Remove the left and right upper fender trim and left upper trim .
2. Drain the power steering fluid.
3. Do the battery terminal disconnection procedure.
4. Raise and support the vehicle Service and Repair.
5. Remove the front wheels.
6. Remove the relay box (A), then release the wire harness clips.
7. Remove the front strut brace Service and Repair.
8. Center the steering wheel spokes, and install a commercially available steering wheel holder tool (A).
9. Remove steering joint cover A.
10. 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 steering shaft (D). Tighten the upper steering joint bolt to hold the steering joint in place.
11. Remove the center guide (A) (if equipped) from the top of the pinion shaft.
12. Remove steering joint cover B. Be careful not to damage the mating surface on joint cover and the pinion shaft grommet. Replace the cover seal (C) if necessary.
13. Remove the pinion shaft grommet (A) from the top of the valve body unit.
14. Wrap vinyl tape (B) over the splines on the pinion shaft.
15. Remove the cotter pin (A) from the tie-rod end ball joint, then remove the nut (B).
16. Disconnect the tie-rod ball joint from the knuckle using the ball joint thread protector and the ball joint remover on both sides Ball Joint Removal.
17. Remove the nuts (A) from the rear engine mount.
18. Remove the rear engine mount (A) and the engine mount vacuum hose holder mounting bolt (B) on the gearbox stiffener.
19. Disconnect the engine mount vacuum hose (C) from the rear engine mount.
20. Remove the inlet line holder mounting bolt (A) and A/T shift cable holder mounting bolt (B) on the gearbox stiffener.
21. Disconnect the return hose from the clamp (C).
22. Remove the inlet line holder mounting bolt (A) and return line holder mounting bolt (B) on the gearbox.
23. Disconnect the ECPS valve motor connector (A).
24. Place several shop towels under the line connections, and cover the gearbox mounting cushion to protect it from the power steering fluid. Loosen the adjustable hose clamp (A), and disconnect the return hose (B).
25. Loosen the 14 mm flare nut (C), and disconnect the inlet line (D).
26. Remove the return line joint (A) from the steering gearbox.
27. Remove the P/S heat shield (A).
28. Remove the gearbox stiffener (A) and the dynamic damper (B).
29. Remove the steering gearbox mounting bolt (A) and washer (B) from the passenger's side gearbox mount.
30. Remove the steering gearbox mounting bolt (A) and washer (B) from the driver's side gearbox mount.
31. Remove the 4-way brake line joint bolts (A). Do not disconnect the lines. Then disconnect the brake pressure sensor connectors (B) (with ACC).
With ACC:
Without ACC:
32. Move the steering gearbox to the passenger's side, and rotate it so the pinion shaft points toward the front of the vehicle.
33. Carefully move the steering gearbox as an assembly toward the driver's side of the vehicle until the pinion shaft clears the wheelwell opening. Be careful not to damage the brake lines with the pinion shaft.
34. Lift the passenger's side of the gearbox, and remove the steering gearbox through the wheelwell opening on the driver's side as shown by the arrow.
35. After removing the steering gearbox, make sure that no power steering fluid gets on the gearbox mount cushions, the gearbox housing, the surface of the front suspension subframe, and the stiffener. Wipe off any spilled fluid at once.