Steering Gear And Linkage Inspection

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2017 Mazda 3. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Remove the steering gear and linkage. (See STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)
Remove the tie-rod end and boot. (See STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE DISASSEMBLY .)
Measure the rotation torque of the pinion shaft using a crescent wrench and pull scale. (speed measurement reference 10-15 rpm)

Fig 1: Measuring Rotation Torque Of Pinion Shaft Using Crescent Wrench
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
1. Install the crescent wrench to the steering gear.
2. Measure the length from the pinion shaft center to the crescent wrench end (application point of pull scale) as shown in the figure. This is dimension A.
  
  Fig 2: Measuring Length From Pinion Shaft Center To Crescent Wrench End
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
3. The rotation torque of the pinion shaft can be calculated using the following formula Pinion shaft rotation torque (N.m {kgf.cm, in.lbf}) = Pull scale reading (N {kgf, lbf}) x A (m {cm, in})
Pinion shaft rotation torque (center of rack ± 180°)

1.2-1.8 N.m {13-18 kgf.cm, 11-15 in.lbf}
- If not within the specification, replace the steering gear. (See STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE ASSEMBLY .) (See STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .)