Measurement Of Steering Effort

DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE

Step	Check	Yes	No
1 CHECK STEERING EFFORT. Stop the vehicle on paved road. Start the engine. Run the engine at idle. Install a spring scale on the steering wheel. Pull the spring scale at a right angle to the steering wheel, and measure both right and left steering wheel efforts. NOTE: When turning the steering more quickly than necessary from a direction to the other direction at an engine speed of 2,000 rpm or more, steering effort may be heavy. This is caused by flow characteristic of the fluid in the oil pump and is not a defect.	Is the steering effort less than 29.4 N (3.0 kgf, 6.6 lb)?	Go to step 2.	Adjust the backlash.
2 CHECK STEERING EFFORT. Stop the engine. Pull the spring scale at a right angle to the steering wheel, and measure both right and left steering wheel efforts.	Is the steering effort less than 294.2 N (30 kgf, 66.2 lb)?	Go to step 3.	Perform the adjustment.
3 CHECK STEERING WHEEL EFFORT. Remove the universal joint. Measure the steering wheel effort.	Is steering effort less than 2.26 N (0.23 kgf, 0.51 lb)?	Go to step 4.	Check, adjust and replace if necessary.
4 CHECK STEERING WHEEL EFFORT. Measure the steering wheel effort.	Is the difference of steering effort between right and left less than 20%?	Go to step 5.	Check, adjust and replace if necessary.
5 CHECK UNIVERSAL JOINT. Measure the swing torque of the joint (yoke of steering column side). <Ref. to INSPECTION , Universal Joint.>	Is the swing torque of the universal joint less than 7.3 N (0.74 kgf, 1.64 lb)?	Go to step 6.	Replace with a new part.
6 CHECK UNIVERSAL JOINT. Measure the swing torque of the joint (yoke of gearbox side). <Ref. to INSPECTION , Universal Joint.>	Is the swing torque of the universal joint less than 3.8 N (0.39 kgf, 0.86 lb)?	Go to step 7.	Replace with a new part.
7 CHECK FRONT WHEEL. Check the front wheels.	Does the front wheels have unsteady revolution or rattling, or does the brake drag?	Inspect, readjust and replace if necessary.	Go to step 8.
8 CHECK TIE-ROD ENDS. Remove the tie-rod ends.	If the tie-rod ends of suspension have unsteady revolution or rattling?	Inspect and replace if necessary.	Go to step 9.
9 BALL JOINT CHECK. Remove the ball joint.	If the ball joints of suspension have unsteady revolution or rattling?	Inspect and replace if necessary.	Go to step 10.
10 CHECK GEARBOX. Measure the rotating of gearbox. <Ref. to TURNING RESISTANCE OF GEARBOX , INSPECTION, Steering Gearbox.>	Is the rotating resistance of steering gearbox less than 11.3 N (1.15 kgf, 2.54 lb)? Is the difference between right and left sides less than 24%?	Steering effort is normal.	Readjust the backlash, and if ineffective, replace the faulty parts.