Steering Gear: Reassembly
- Clean all components in solvent. Always use new seals. Using an appropriate size sleeve and press, install pinion shaft bearing onto pinion shaft.
- Install bearing snap ring to pinion shaft. Grease rack, pinion shaft, bushing, needle bearing and other sliding surfaces.NOTE: When lubricating components with grease, DO NOT cover air passages in the housing bushing.
- Install rack into housing from the pinion shaft side of housing. Install pinion shaft into housing while meshing pinion shaft with rack teeth.
- Ensure rack is properly centered. Measure travel of rack at each end of housing. If travel is not equal, remove pinion shaft. Recenter rack and reinstall pinion shaft. Select and install snap ring to minimize pinion shaft axial play. See SNAP RING THICKNESS
table.SNAP RING THICKNESS
Color Code In. (mm) Blue .063 (1.59) White .066 (1.66) Yellow .069 (1.74) - Grease oil seal lip and oil seal-to-housing mating surface. Install oil seal into housing. Grease rack support. Install rack support, rubber cushion, plunger spring and adjusting plug into housing. Center rack.
- Tighten adjusting plug to 60-132 INCH lbs. (7-15 N.m). Back off adjusting plug 30-60 degrees. Apply sealer to adjusting plug lock nut threads. Tighten adjusting plug lock nut to 36-51 ft. lbs. (50-70 N.m).
- Install tie rod assemblies with new tab washers. Stake tie rod-to-rack end nuts. Install bellows and bellows clamps. Using a socket and torque wrench, measure pinion preload and rack starting force.
- Pinion preload should be 4-10 INCH lbs. (.4-1.1 N.m). Rack starting force should be 11-66 lbs. (5-30 kg). If not within specifications, replace plunger spring and rubber cushion. Recheck rack starting force and pinion preload.