Removal & Installation (Protege)

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 8 other vehicles, including the 2002 Mazda Tribute, 2002 Mazda Millenia, 2002 Mazda 626, 2001 Mazda Tribute, and 2001 Mazda Protege. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Disconnect negative battery cable. Raise and support front of vehicle. Remove front wheel assemblies. Remove engine undercover. Remove cotter pins and nuts from tie rod ends.
Using Puller Set (49-T028-3A0), separate tie rod ends from steering knuckles. Remove engine mount member.
Disconnect and remove pressure, return and oil lines from steering gear. See Fig 1. 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 and linkage. See Fig 1.
To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . Fill and bleed power steering system. Check and adjust front wheel alignment. See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

Fig 1: Removing Steering Gear Assembly (Protege)

Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.