Disassembly Procedure

Important:  Do not remove the needle bearing when removing the pitman shaft arm and its components.

1. Remove the pitman shaft seals and bearing. Refer to Pitman Shaft Seals & Bearing Replacement - Off Vehicle (700 Gear)  or Pitman Shaft Seals & Bearing Replacement - Off Vehicle (670 Gear)  .
2. Remove the housing end plug. Refer to Steering Gear Housing End Plug Replacement - Off Vehicle .
3. Turn the stub shaft counterclockwise until the rack piston (2) begins to come out of the steering gear housing (3).
4. Remove the rack piston plug (1).
5. Insert J 21552  into the bore of the rack piston (2).
Fig 1: Installing Rack Piston Arbor
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
6. Hold J 21552  tightly against the worm shaft while turning the stub shaft counterclockwise. Turning the stub shaft forces the rack piston (2) onto J 21552  . The rack piston balls remain in place.
7. Remove the following items as an assembly from the steering gear housing (9).
   • The rack piston (4).
   • The rack piston screws (8), clamp (7), ball guide (6) and balls (5).
   • J 21552 
8. Remove the spool valve assembly. Refer to Steering Gear Valve Replacement - Off Vehicle (700 Gear) .
9. Remove the worm shaft (14).
10. Remove the thrust bearing (12) and the flat races (11, 13).

    Important:  When removing J 21552  watch for falling piston balls (5) from inside the rack piston (4).

11. Remove the J 21552  from the rack piston (4). Remove the rack piston balls (5).
12. Remove the following items from the rack piston (4):
    1. 12.1. The screws (8)
    2. 12.2. The clamp (7)
    3. 12.3. The ball guide (6).
    4. 12.4. The remaining rack piston balls (5) in the ball guide (6)
    Fig 2: Steering Gear Components

    Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
13. Remove the teflon ring (2).
14. Remove the O-ring seal (3).
15. Clean all of the disassembled parts.
16. Inspect all of the disassembled parts for wear.
17. Replace the parts if necessary.