Steering Gearbox Removal and Installation: Installation

Before installing the steering gearbox, make sure that no grease is on the mating surface of the steering gearbox and the front subframe. To prevent the gearbox mounting bolts from loosening after the installation, remove any grease from the bolt holes.
Wrap vinyl tape over the splines on the pinion shaft (A).

Fig 1: Vinyl Tape Over Pinion Shaft Splines, Pinion Shaft Grommet And Return Line Joint With Torque Specifications
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Install the pinion shaft grommet (B). The grommet must not have a gap at the mating surface of the grommet and the valve body unit.
Install the return line joint (C) if removed.
Slide the steering gearbox (A) between the front subframe and the body from the driver's side.

Fig 2: Inserting Steering Gearbox Between Front Subframe And Body On Driver's Side
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Carefully move the steering gearbox (A) toward the passenger's side until the pinion shaft clears the wheelwell opening on the body.

Fig 3: Identifying Steering Gearbox
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Continue moving the steering gearbox toward the passenger's side until the steering gearbox is in position.
Raise the front subframe up to the body. Loosely install the new subframe mounting bolts (A) and the new rear stiffener mounting bolts (B).

Fig 4: Identifying Rear Stiffener And Front Subframe Mounting Bolts
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Align the front subframe with the subframe alignment pin (see FRONT SUBFRAME ALIGNMENT ).
Install the lower transmission mount bolt (A), and tighten it to the specified torque.

Fig 5: Lower Transmission Mounting Bolt With Torque Specification
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Lower the transmission jack supporting the front subframe.
Install the rear engine mount (A) and the rear engine mount base bracket (B).

Fig 6: Rear Engine Mount Actuator Connector, Rear Engine Mount And Rear Engine Mount Base Bracket With Mounting Bolts And Torque Specifications
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Install the new rear engine mount mounting bolts (C) and the new rear engine mount base bracket mounting bolts (D), and tighten them to the specified torque.
Connect the rear engine mount actuator connector (E).
Install exhaust pipe A (see EXHAUST PIPE AND MUFFLER REPLACEMENT ).
Install the front splash shield (see FRONT SPLASH SHIELD REPLACEMENT ).
Lower the vehicle.
Remove the engine support hanger, the engine hanger balance bar, and engine hanger adapter set.
Install the cowl cover (see COWL COVER REPLACEMENT ).
Install the harness bracket to the rear cylinder head.

Fig 7: Harness Bracket Mounting Bolt With Torque Specification
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Install the connector bracket to the front cylinder head.

Fig 8: Connector Bracket Mounting Bolt With Torque Specification
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Position the cutout (A) of the mounting cushion (B) as shown, and install it on the passenger's side of the steering gearbox.

Fig 9: Installing Cutout Of Mounting Cushion On Passenger's Side Of Steering Gearbox With Torque Specifications
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Install the steering gearbox mounting bracket (C) over the mounting cushion, and loosely install the steering gearbox mounting bolts (D).
Install the steering gearbox stiffeners (A), the new steering gearbox mounting bolts (B) and nuts (C), and the new steering gearbox stiffener mounting bolts (D) on the driver's side of the steering gearbox, then loosely tighten the bolts and nuts.

Fig 10: Steering Gearbox Stiffeners With Steering Gearbox Mounting Bolts And Nuts Torque Specification
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Tighten the steering gearbox mounting bolts and nuts, and steering gearbox stiffener mounting bolts to the specified torque alternately in two steps.
Connect the inlet line (A), and tighten the flare nut (B) to the specified torque.

Fig 11: Inlet Line And Flare Nut With Torque Specification
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Install the inlet line clamp bolt (A).

Fig 12: Inlet Line Clamp Bolt With Torque Specification
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Connect the return hose (A) securely, and tighten the adjustable hose clamp (B).

Fig 13: Identifying Return Hose And Adjustable Hose Clamp
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
On both sides, wipe off any grease contamination from the ball joint tapered section and threads. Connect the tie-rod end ball joint (A) to the knuckle. Install the new nut (B), and tighten it to the specified torque.

Fig 14: Tie-Rod End Ball Joint, Cotter Pin With Mounting Nut Torque Specification
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Install a new cotter pin (C), and bend it as shown.
Install the power steering heat shield (A) with the flange bolts, and tighten them to the specified torque.

Fig 15: Power Steering Heat Shield With Flange Bolts Torque Specification
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the vinyl tape around the splines on the pinion shaft.
Center the steering rack within its stroke.
Cut the wire (A).

Fig 16: Aligning Steering Joint And Pinion Shaft Gap
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Slip the lower end of the steering joint (B) onto the pinion shaft (C) taking care to align the gap (D) within the angle.
Remove the steering wheel holder tool (A).

Fig 17: Identifying Steering Wheel Holder Tool
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Align the bolt hole (A) on the steering joint with the groove (B) around the pinion shaft, then loosely install the steering joint bolt (C). Be sure that the joint bolt is securely in the groove in the pinion shaft.

Fig 18: Bolt Hole On Steering Joint Alignment With Groove And Torque Specifications
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Pull on the steering joint to make sure that the steering joint is fully seated, then tighten the steering joint bolt to the specified torque.
Install the steering joint cover (A).

Fig 19: Identifying Steering Joint Cover And Carpet
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Set the carpet (B) in place.
Install the driver's heater panel (see step 1 on CENTER LOWER CONSOLE REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
Install the front wheels, then set the wheels in the straight ahead position.
NOTE: Before installing the wheel, clean the mating surfaces between the brake disc and the inside of the wheel.
Install the front bulkhead cover (see FRONT BULKHEAD COVER REPLACEMENT ).
Do the battery terminal reconnection procedure (see BATTERY TERMINAL DISCONNECTION AND RECONNECTION ).
Install the air intake scoop (see step 1 on INTAKE AIR RESONATOR REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
Fill the system with power steering fluid, and bleed air from the system (see FLUID CHECK/REPLACEMENT ).
Install the engine cover (see step 50 on ENGINE INSTALLATION ).
After installation, check these items:
- Start the engine, allow it to idle, and turn the steering wheel from lock to lock several times to warm up the fluid. Check the steering gearbox for leaks (see FLUID LEAKAGE INSPECTION ).
- Check the steering wheel spoke angle. If steering spoke angles to the right and left are not equal (steering wheel and rack are not centered), correct the engagement of the joint/pinion shaft splines.
- Set the steering column to the center tilt position, and to the center telescopic position, then do the front toe inspection (see WHEEL ALIGNMENT ).