Power Steering Gears - SAGINAW Ball Bearing Worm & Nut: Overhaul: Disassembly

Mount gear in suitable holding fixture or clamp gear mounting lug in vise. Turn worm shaft until sector gear is centered on ball nut (straight ahead position). Remove side cover bolts and tap lightly on end of sector shaft to remove.
NOTE: All Chrysler Corp. models (exc. Dart and Valiant with 6 cyl.) use needle bearings in place of bushings for sector shaft. It is recommended to use suitable arbor tool (C-3875) to follow up sector shaft as it is removed to retain bearings.
If sector gear does not clear opening in housing, turn worm shaft slightly to provide clearance. Remove sector shaft and side cover from housing as an assembly. Separate shaft from cover by turning adjusting screw clockwise. Remove adjusting screw from sector shaft slot using care not to lose shim or screw.
NOTE: Some sector shaft adjusting screws are staked in two places and cannot be removed.
Scribe a locating mark on flexible coupling and worm shaft, and remove coupling from shaft. Loosen worm shaft adjuster lock nut with a spanner wrench or brass drift and remove adjuster nut.
CAUTION: DO NOT allow ball nut to run down to either end of worm as damage may result to ball guides. Worm shaft should be horizontal when removing adjuster nut and worm shaft assembly.

Remove worm shaft bearing from adjuster nut with a screwdriver and remove second worm shaft bearing by turning housing on end, bearing should fall out.
Do not disassemble ball nut unless there is indication of binding, tightness or wear on worm shaft.
NOTE: On Chrysler Corp. vehicles, ball nut and worm shaft are serviced as an assembly and components are not to be disassembled.

To disassemble ball nut for other models, remove ball guide clamps and turn ball nut over a clean pan to catch balls. Rotate worm shaft slowly from side to side to remove all balls and remove worm shaft.