Removal and Installation

STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE


AWD : Removal and Installation


REMOVAL
1. Set the vehicle to the straight-ahead position.
2. Remove tires with a power tool.
3. Remove engine lower cover and front under cover. Refer to Exploded View.
4. Remove front cross bar. Refer to Exploded View.





5. Remove cotter pin (1), and then loosen the nut.
6. Remove steering outer socket (2) from steering knuckle (3) so as not to damage ball joint boot (4) using ball joint remover
(commercial service tool).

CAUTION:
Temporarily tighten the nut to prevent damage to threads and to prevent the ball joint remover from suddenly coming off.
7. Remove high pressure piping and low pressure piping of hydraulic piping, and then drain power steering fluid.





8. Remove steering hydraulic piping bracket from steering gear assembly.





9. Remove power steering solenoid valve harness connector (1).
10. Remove lower joint fixing bolt (steering gear side).





11. Separate the lower shaft from the steering gear assembly by sliding the slide shaft (A: sliding range).

CAUTION:
Spiral cable may be cut if steering wheel turns while separating steering column assembly and steering gear assembly. Be sure to secure steering wheel using string to avoid turning.
12. Remove the mounting bolts and nuts of steering gear assembly.
13. Remove steering gear assembly.

INSTALLATION
Note the following, and install in the reverse order of removal.

CAUTION:
Spiral cable may be cut if steering wheel turns while separating steering column assembly and steering gear assembly. Be sure to secure steering wheel using string to avoid turning.





- When installing suction hose (1), refer to the figure.

CAUTION:
- Never apply fluid to the hose (1) and tube (2).
- Insert hose securely until it contacts spool (A) of tube.
- Leave clearance (L) when installing clamp (3).

L : 3 - 8 mm (0.12 - 0.31 in)

- When installing lower joint to steering gear assembly, follow the procedure listed below.
- Set rack of steering gear in the neutral position.

NOTE:
To get the neutral position of rack, turn gear-sub assembly and measure the distance of inner socket, and then measure the intermediate position of the distance.





- Align rear cover cap projection (A) with the marking position of gear housing assembly (B).
- Install slit part of lower joint (C) aligning with the rear cover cap projection (A). Make sure that the slit part of lower joint (C) is aligned with rear cover cap projection (A) and the marking position of gear housing assembly (B).
- After installation, bleed air from the steering hydraulic system. Refer to Service and Repair.
- Perform final tightening of nuts and bolts on each part under unladen conditions with tires on level ground when removing steering gear assembly. Check wheel alignment. Refer to Inspection.
- Adjust neutral position of steering angle sensor after checking wheel alignment. Refer to Special Repair Requirement.