Removal & Installation (626 FS & KL Models)

1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Raise and support front of vehicle. Remove front wheel assemblies. Remove cotter pins and castle nuts from tie rod ends. See Fig 1 .
2. Using Puller Set (49-T028-3A0), separate tie rod ends from steering knuckles. On KL engines, remove front exhaust pipe and catalytic converter assembly nuts and remove assembly.
3. On all models, support engine using Engine Support Set (49-G017-5A0), remove No. 1 engine mount component. Mark steering column intermediate shaft-to-steering column gear pinion for installation purposes. Remove steering column intermediate shaft-to-steering gear pinion shaft bolt.
4. Disconnect pressure and return line connections from steering gear. Remove steering gear mounting bracket nut and bolt.. Remove steering gear and linkage from vehicle.
5. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS  . Tighten steering gear mounting nuts in sequence: left front, right front, right rear, left rear. Fill and bleed power steering system. Check and adjust front wheel alignment. See WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT section.

Fig 1: Removing Steering Gear Assembly (626)

Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.