Steering Gear - Removal

STEERING GEAR

NOTE: Before proceeding, Service Precautions.





1. Place the steering wheel in the STRAIGHT-AHEAD position. Using a steering wheel holder, lock the steering wheel in place to keep it from rotating. This keeps the clockspring in the proper orientation.




2. At the base of the steering column, remove the coupling retainer clip (4), back off the pinch bolt nut, and remove the steering column coupling pinch bolt (1) (the pinch bolt nut is caged to the coupling and is not removable). Separate the upper (2) from the lower (3) steering column coupling.
3. Raise and support the vehicle. Service and Repair




4. Remove the wheel mounting nuts (3), then both front tire and wheel assemblies (1).




5. On each side of vehicle, remove the nut (2) attaching the outer tie rod (1) to the knuckle (3). To do this, hold the tie rod end stud with a wrench while loosening and removing the nut with a standard wrench or crowfoot wrench.




6. On each side of vehicle, release the tie rod end (1) from the knuckle (2) using Remover (3), Special Tool MB991113.




7. On each side of vehicle, remove the outer tie rod (1) and heat shield (4) from the knuckle (3).




8. If equipped with a power steering fluid pressure switch (3), release the locking tab on the wiring harness connector (1) at the pressure switch, then disconnect the wiring harness connector.




9. Non-turbo engine vehicles - Back out the tube nut and remove the power steering fluid pressure hose (4) at the gear.
10. Non-turbo engine vehicles - Remove the hose clamp, then remove the cooler (2) hose at the power steering gear outlet port fitting.




11. Turbo engine vehicles - Back out the tube nut (3) securing the pressure hose to the gear.
12. Turbo engine vehicles - Open the routing clip (2) and remove the pressure hose from the clip and gear.
13. Turbo engine vehicles - Remove the return hose clamp (4), then remove the return hose at the power steering gear outlet port fitting.




14. On vehicles equipped with crossmember mounted power steering fluid coolers:
a. Remove the cooler tube from the right routing clip on the gear.
b. Remove the two screws securing the cooler (2) to the front suspension crossmember. Allow the cooler to hang out of the way.




15. Remove the mounting nuts (1, 3), then the pencil strut (2) from the right front corner of the crossmember and body of the vehicle. Remove the washer (4) behind the strut from the torque strut (5) bolt.




16. Remove the one fastener (2) securing the wheel house splash shield (1) to the drive belt splash shield (3).




NOTE: Depending on application, it may be necessary to remove some fasteners securing the front fascia (1) to the body lower reinforcement in order to access drive belt splash shield forward fastener.

17. Remove the fastener (5) securing the drive belt splash shield (3) to the front suspension crossmember (6).
18. Remove the fasteners (4) securing the splash shield (3) to the body (2).
19. Remove the drive belt splash shield (3).




20. Remove the bolt (5) mounting the engine torque strut (2) to the crossmember (1).

NOTE: Before removing the front suspension crossmember from the vehicle, the location of the crossmember must be scribed on the body of the vehicle. Do this so the crossmember can be relocated, upon reinstallation, against the body of vehicle in the same location as before removal. If the front suspension crossmember is not reinstalled in exactly the same location as before removal, the preset front wheel alignment settings (caster and camber) will be lost.





21. Using an appropriate marker (2), draw a line (1) as necessary marking the location of the front suspension crossmember (3) where mounted against the body of the vehicle.
22. Position a transmission jack under the center of the front suspension crossmember and raise it to support the bottom of the crossmember.
23. Loosen all six bolts attaching the front suspension crossmember to the frame rails of the vehicle. Do not completely remove the two mounting bolts going through the lower control arm rear isolator bushings. They are designed to disengage from the body threads yet stay within the lower control arm rear isolator bushing. Back the two bolts out just enough to disengage the threaded tapping plates in the body of the vehicle. Completely remove the other four bolts.




CAUTION: Lower the steering gear slowly, paying special attention to the power steering fluid hoses. Do not strain or overextend the hoses because damage to the hoses or connecting hardware may occur.

24. Lower the front suspension crossmember (3) using the transmission jack (4) just enough to allow access to the steering column lower coupling (1). When lowering front suspension crossmember, do not let crossmember hang from lower control arms. The weight should be supported by the transmission jack.




25. Remove the roll pin (3) securing the steering column coupling (1) to the power steering gear pinion shaft (2) using a roll pin punch (4). Push the steering column lower coupling up and off of the power steering gear pinion shaft.




26. Release the pinion shaft dash cover seal (1) from the tabs (3) cast into the power steering gear housing (4) and remove the seal from the gear.




27. Remove the four bolts attaching the power steering gear (3) to the front suspension crossmember (4). Remove the gear from the crossmember.