Steering Coupling - Lower: Removal

NOTE: Before proceeding, (Refer to STEERING - WARNING) (Refer to STEERING/COLUMN - WARNING) .

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. See Fig 1. This keeps the clockspring in the proper orientation.

Fig 1: Steering Wheel Holder
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
Remove the silencer pad below the knee blocker panel below the steering column.
Fold down and remove the knee blocker.
Remove the steering column coupling retainer pin, back off the pinch bolt nut, and remove the steering column coupling pinch bolt (the pinch bolt nut is caged to the coupling and is not removable). Separate the upper and lower steering column couplings. See Fig 2.

Fig 2: Steering Column Coupling
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - RETAINING PIN

2 - PINCH BOLT

3 - NUT
Raise the vehicle. (Refer to LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/HOISTING - STANDARD PROCEDURE)

Release the locking tab on the wiring harness connector for the power steering fluid pressure switch, then remove the wiring harness connector from the power steering fluid pressure switch. See Fig 3.

Fig 3: Power Steering Fluid Pressure Switch

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR

2 - POWER STEERING GEAR

3 - POWER STEERING FLUID PRESSURE SWITCH

4 - REAR OF FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER

Remove the right front tire and wheel assembly.

Remove the pencil strut from the right front corner of the crossmember and body of the vehicle. See Fig 4. Remove the washer behind the strut from the torque strut bolt.

Fig 4: Strut Mounting

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - NUT

2 - PENCIL STRUT

3 - NUT

4 - FLAT WASHER

5 - LOWER TORQUE STRUT

Remove the screws fastening the front fascia to the reinforcement as necessary in order to access the drive-belt splash shield forward fastener screw. See Fig 5.

Fig 5: Fascia And Splash Shield Fasteners

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - FASCIA FASTENERS

2 - FASCIA FASTENERS

3 - SPLASH SHIELD FASTENERS

Remove the drive-belt splash shield fasteners. See Fig 5. Remove the shield.
Remove the bolt mounting the engine torque strut to the right forward corner of the front suspension crossmember. See Fig 4.
NOTE: Before removing the front suspension crossmember from the vehicle, the location of the crossmember must be scribed on the body of the vehicle (Fig. 9). 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.
Using an awl, scribe a line marking the location of where the front suspension crossmember is mounted against the body of the vehicle. See Fig 6.

Fig 6: Marking Crossmember Location
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - SCRIBED LINE

2 - AWL

3 - CROSSMEMBER
Position a transmission jack under the center of the front suspension crossmember and raise it to support the bottom of the crossmember.
Loosen all six bolts attaching the front suspension crossmember to the frame rails of 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.

Lower the front suspension crossmember using the transmission jack just enough to allow access to the steering column lower coupling. See Fig 7. When lowering front suspension crossmember, do not let crossmember hang from lower control arms. The weight should be supported by the transmission jack.

Fig 7: Crossmember Lowered

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - STEERING COLUMN LOWER COUPLING

2 - POWER STEERING GEAR

3 - FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER

4 - TRANSMISSION JACK

Remove the roll pin securing the steering column lower coupling to the power steering gear pinion shaft using a roll pin punch. See Fig 8. Push the steering column lower coupling up and off of the power steering gear pinion shaft.

Fig 8: Coupling Roll Pin

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - STEERING COLUMN LOWER COUPLING

2 - POWER STEERING GEAR PINION SHAFT

3 - ROLL PIN

4 - ROLL PIN PUNCH

Remove the coupling from the vehicle.