Steering Gears & Linkage: Overhaul: Disassembly
- 1) Secure the steering assembly to a suitable holding tool clamped in a vise (keep rack in same relative position as on vehicle). Unlock and loosen inner tie rod ball joint retaining nut, or unpin tie rod eye end from steering arm. Unscrew tie rod, counting number of turns. Unclamp and pull off rubber bellows and securing plate.
- 2) From rack damper bore, remove circlip, thrust washer, spring, and damper plunger. Unscrew remaining two flexible coupling retaining bolts. Remove coupling and plates.
- 3) NOTE: Some models are equipped with pinion bearing preload adjusting screw positioned in center hole of flexible coupling. Extract screw as necessary to assist in disassembly.
Unscrew pinion flange clamp pinch bolt, then remove clamp, upper circlip, safety washer, and spacer. Using a suitable extractor, remove sealing washer from around pinion. Withdraw circlip and washer from bore, then remove grease fitting from opposite side of housing.
- 4)
On early models, pinion may be punched out by inserting an awl through grease fitting hole and tapping lightly with hammer. On later models, or on those which do not have grease fitting on pinion bore, use a suitable extractor (Dir. 325) to pull pinion out of bore.
Remove housing cover and gasket. Extract snap rings and spring seats as follows: For snap ring on outer end of rack, partially lift ring with screwdriver then turn rack with wrench to allow snap ring to free itself from groove. For snap ring at toothed end of rack (pinion end), pull rack toward you from toothed end; snap ring will free itself from groove. Discard all snap rings, circlips, and gasket. Withdraw return spring, spring seats, and rubber ring (if equipped). Extract lower pinion bearing bushing.
- 6)
Use a press and mandrel to remove both rack bearing bushings.NOTE: Even if bushings do not require replacement, remove bushing at outer end (opposite pinion end) to assist reassembly.