Removal & Installation (626)
- Disconnect negative battery cable. Raise and support front of vehicle. Remove front wheel assemblies. Remove cotter pin and nut from tie rod ends. See Fig 1.
- Remove tie rod nut. Using Puller Set (49-T028-3A0), separate tie rod ends from steering knuckles. Remove tie rod end ball joint. On KL engines, remove front exhaust pipe and catalytic converter assembly nuts, and remove assembly.
- On all models, support engine using Engine Support Set (49-G017-5A0), and remove No. 1 engine mount component. Remove pressure pipe and return line connections from steering gear. Remove hose clamp.
- Mark steering column intermediate shaft-to-steering column gear pinion for installation purposes. Remove steering column intermediate shaft-to-steering gear pinion shaft bolt. Remove steering gear mounting bracket nut and bolt. Remove steering gear and linkage from vehicle.
- 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 and left rear. Fill and bleed power steering system. Check and adjust front wheel alignment. See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.