Power Steering Gear: Removal
- Disconnect negative battery cable and isolate cable. Raise vehicle. Remove wheels and tires from vehicle. Remove 4 bolts attaching stabilizer bar bushing retainers to frame rails. See Fig 1. The stabilizer bar bushings and retainers do not have to be removed from stabilizer bar. Rotate stabilizer bar forward and down until it is resting on cross brace.
- Remove outer tie rod end to steering knuckle attaching nuts and cotter pins on both sides of vehicle. See Fig 2. Remove both outer tie rod ends from steering knuckles, using Puller Special Tool (C-3894-A). See Fig 3.
- Lower vehicle to level just above ground. Remove 2 fasteners that mount air cleaner housing to radiator support. Remove fastener mounting air cleaner housing to cross car beam. See Fig 4. Remove wiring harness connector from charge air temperature sensor in air cleaner housing. Remove crank case vent hose and IAC hose from air cleaner housing. Remove hose clamps from clean air hoses at throttle bodies. Remove complete air cleaner assembly from vehicle.
- Remove retaining bolt holding intermediate steering shaft universal joint to steering gear. See Fig 5. Using a brass drift and hammer, tap universal joint and intermediate shaft upward until it is off shaft of steering gear. Remove power steering pressure hose and return hose from steering gear. See Fig 6.NOTE: When removing hoses from steering gear, remove return hose fitting from steering gear do not remove hose from fitting.CAUTION: Front wheel toe pattern on Viper is an adjustable specification of front wheel steering geometry. It is set at factory when vehicle is aligned. Toe pattern is adjusted by installing shims, between steering gear and steering gear mounting brackets. If steering gear requires removal from vehicle, note amount of shims installed between steering gear and each mounting bracket. When an existing or a new steering gear is installed, same amount of shims MUST be installed at each mounting bracket to maintain required toe pattern. See Fig 7.
- Raise vehicle. Using Adapter, Special Tool (6632), loosen 2 bolts mounting steering gear to steering gear mounting brackets. See Fig 8. After mounting bolts are loosened using adapter, remove bolts from steering gear. Remove steering gear from vehicle by sliding it out left front fender well, forward of steering knuckle. See Fig 9.CAUTION: Retain toe pattern shims when steering gear is removed. Install above shims in original location with steering gear to maintain proper toe pattern. See Fig 7.