Steering Gear: Service and Repair
Steering Gear - 2.5L Hybrid and 3.0L All Wheel Drive (AWD)
Removal
1. NOTE: Use a steering wheel holding device (such as Hunter(R) 28-75-1 or equivalent).
Using a suitable holding device, hold the steering wheel in the straight-ahead position.
2. Remove the 2 lower steering column shaft joint cover nuts and the cover.
3. NOTICE: Do not allow the steering column to rotate while the steering column shaft is disconnected from the steering gear or damage to the clockspring may occur. If there is evidence that the steering column has rotated, the clockspring must be removed and recentered. For additional information, refer to Restraint Systems.
Remove the bolt and disconnect the steering column shaft from the steering gear.
- Discard the bolt.
4. NOTICE: Remove the steering gear/dash seal or damage to the seal may occur.
Pulling upward, remove the steering gear/dash seal.
5. Remove the wheels and tires. For additional information, refer to Wheels and Tires.
6. If equipped, remove the 7 screws and the underbody cover.
7. NOTE: RH side shown, LH side similar.
Remove the 4 screws from each side and position the RH and LH fender splash shields aside.
8. Remove the 6 pin-type retainers (4 shown) from the LH and RH splash shield.
9. Remove the 2 outer tie-rod end cotter pins and nuts.
- Discard the cotter pins.
10. NOTICE: Do not use a hammer to separate the outer tie-rod end from the wheel knuckle or damage to the wheel knuckle may result.
Using the Ball Joint Separator, separate the outer tie-rod ends from the wheel knuckles.
11. Remove the exhaust flexible pipe. For additional information, refer to Exhaust System &/or Catalytic Converter.
12. Remove the engine roll restrictor bolt.
13. Disconnect the 2 Electronic Power Assist Steering (EPAS) jumper harness electrical connectors and detach the 3 wiring harness retainers.
14. Remove the bolt and position the ground wire aside.
15. Remove the 2 (one on each side) lower stabilizer bar link nuts and separate the links from the stabilizer bar.
16. Remove the 2 damper fork-to-front lower arm bolts and flagnuts.
17. Position the Powertrain Lift Table under the subframe.
18. Remove the 2 rear mounting nuts and washers from the front subframe.
19. Remove the 4 bolts and the subframe support bracket.
20. Remove the 2 front mounting nuts and washers from the front subframe.
21. Lower the subframe to gain access to the steering gear.
22. Remove the 2 bolts and the EPAS connector shield.
23. Disconnect the 2 EPAS electrical connectors and the wiring retainer.
24. Remove the 3 bolts and the steering gear.
Installation
1. Position the steering gear and install the 3 bolts.
- Tighten to 107 Nm (79 lb-ft).
2. Connect the 2 EPAS electrical connectors and the wiring retainer.
3. Position the EPAS connector shield and install the 2 bolts.
- Tighten to 15 Nm (133 lb-in).
4. Raise the subframe.
5. Install the 2 front subframe nuts and washers.
- Tighten to 150 Nm (111 lb-ft).
6. Install the subframe support bracket, 4 rear subframe bolts and 2 rear subframe nuts.
- To install, tighten the bolts and nuts in 2 stages.
- Stage 1: Tighten the nuts to 150 Nm (111 lb-ft).
- Stage 2: Tighten the bolts to 103 Nm (76 lb-ft).
7. Install the 2 damper fork-to-front lower arm bolts and flagnuts.
- Tighten to 103 Nm (76 lb-ft).
8. Connect the stabilizer bar links and install the 2 nuts.
- Tighten to 42 Nm (31 lb-ft).
9. Position the ground wire and install the bolt.
- Tighten to 10 Nm (89 lb-in).
10. Connect the 2 EPAS jumper harness electrical connectors and attach the 3 wiring harness retainers.
11. Install the engine roll restrictor bolt.
- Tighten to 90 Nm (66 lb-ft).
12. Install the exhaust flexible pipe. For additional information, refer to Exhaust System &/or Catalytic Converter.
13. Position the 2 outer tie-rod ends and install the nuts.
- Tighten to 48 Nm (35 lb-ft).
- Install 2 new cotter pins.
14. Install the LH and RH splash shield and the 6 pin-type retainers.
15. Install the RH and LH fender splash shields and the 4 screws from each side.
16. If equipped, install the underbody cover and the 7 screws.
17. NOTICE: The steering gear/dash seal must be fully seated in the steering gear valve tower groove before the retaining clips are fully engaged into the body. If the steering gear/dash seal is not seated to the steering gear valve tower groove and the clips are not fully engaged to the body, water and foreign material may enter the passenger compartment, and damage the vehicle interior.
Applying hand force to the center of the seal, install the steering gear/dash seal onto the steering gear valve tower until the seal is fully seated in the valve tower groove.
18. Install the steering gear/dash seal until the retaining clips are fully engaged into the body.
19. NOTICE: Do not allow the steering column to rotate while the steering column shaft is disconnected from the steering gear or damage to the clockspring may occur. If there is evidence that the steering column has rotated, the clockspring must be removed and recentered. For additional information, refer to Restraint Systems.
With the locator on the input shaft correctly aligned, connect the steering column shaft to the steering gear and install the new bolt.
- Tighten to 20 Nm (177 lb-in).
20. Install the lower steering column shaft joint cover and the 2 nuts.