Power Rack & Pinion Steering Gear: Disassembly
- Remove steering gear from vehicle. See removal procedures for POWER RACK & PINION STEERING GEAR under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Clean exterior of steering gear. Mount gear in Holding Fixture (T57L-500-B) or soft-jawed vise. Loosen tie rod jam nut. Mark position of tie rod ends to tie rod for assembly reference. Remove tie rod ends from tie rod, counting and noting number of turns required for removal. Remove tie rod jam nuts.
- Remove boot retaining clamps, boots and breather tube. Remove outer input shaft dust seal. Using Lock Nut Wrench (T78P-3504-H), remove yoke plug lock nut. See Figure
. Remove yoke plug and spring. Grip guide post of yoke with pliers and remove yoke from housing. Remove pinion bearing plug. To aid in removal of pinion bearing lock nut, install Torque Adapter (T74P-3504-R) over input shaft. See Fig 1
.
NOTE: DO NOT allow rack to reach full travel when loosening pinion bearing lock nut.
- Using an awl, pry inner input shaft dust seal from housing. DO NOT scratch housing inner surface. Remove input shaft snap ring. Using Valve Body Puller (T78P-3504-B), tighten nut on tool to remove input shaft seal, bearing plug and input shaft/valve assembly. See Fig 2 .
- To remove lower input shaft seal, insert Seal Remover (T78P-3504-E2) and Spacer Collet (T86P-3504-J) until spacer and remover bottom out. Hold large nut while tightening small nut on tool, until expander tightens. See Fig 3
.NOTE: The 4 Teflon rings are the only serviceable portion of the input shaft and valve assembly and should only be replaced if suspected to be faulty.
- Insert slide hammer into rear of seal remover. Pull lower input shaft seal from housing. Inspect lower pinion bearing (remove only if necessary). Use slide hammer and Puller Attachment (T58L-101-B) to pull lower pinion bearing from housing. Using small knife, cut 4 valve "O" rings off of valve sleeve, being careful so as not to damage sleeve (remove only if necessary).
- Thread point of Lock Nut Pin Remover (D81P-3504-N) into spring pin in inner tie rod ball socket. Finger tighten lock nut pin remover. Tighten nut on lock nut pin remover. Remove and discard spring pin. See Fig 4 .
- Pull rack out to expose several teeth. Hold rack with adjustable wrench and loosen ball socket nuts with Socket Wrench (T74P-3504-U). Remove ball socket and tie rod assembly. Push right side of rack into housing far enough to access and remove snap ring. Using hammer and brass drift, carefully drive rack and bushing retainer out of housing from right side.
- Insert Rack Oil Seal Remover (T78P-3504-J) into housing until remover bottoms in housing. Tighten nut on tool until expander tightens. Install slide hammer onto end of seal remover and pull rack seal from housing. Discard seal. Remove plastic and rubber "O" rings from housing using "O" Ring Remover (T71P-19703-C).
- To remove rack bushing retainer seal from rack bushing retainer, place seal in vise and carefully squeeze. Ensure bushing retainer is not damaged. Pry distorted seal from bushing retainer with screwdriver.