Steering Gearbox Installation

Special Tools Required 

Subframe Alignment Pin 070AG-SJAA10S

1. Before installing the steering gearbox, make sure that no power steering fluid is on the mating surface of the steering gearbox and front subframe. To prevent the gearbox mounting bolts from loosening after the installation, remove any power steering fluid from the mount cushions and bolt holes.
2. Wrap vinyl tape over the splines on the pinion shaft (A).
   Fig 1: Wraping Vinyl Tape Over Splines On Pinion Shaft

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
3. Install the pinion shaft grommet B on the top of the valve housing.
4. Slide the steering gearbox (A) between the front subframe and body from the driver's side.
   Fig 2: Sliding Steering Gearbox Between Front Subframe And Body From Driver's Side

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
5. Carefully move the steering gearbox (A) toward the passenger's side until the pinion shaft clears the wheelwell opening on the body.
   Fig 3: Identifying Steering Gearbox

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
6. Continue moving the gearbox toward the passenger's side until the steering gearbox is in position.
7. Install the gearbox stiffener bracket (A) on the left side of the front subframe, and tighten the bolts and nut to the specified torque.
   Fig 4: Identifying Gearbox Stiffener Bracket With Mounting Bolts And Nuts

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
8. Loosely install the new mounting bolts (A) on the left side of the steering gearbox.
   Fig 5: Identifying Steering Gearbox Mounting Bolts

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
9. Position the cutout (A) on the mounting cushion (B) as shown, and install it on the right side of the steering gearbox.
   Fig 6: Identifying Gearbox Mounting Bracket And Mounting Cushion

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
10. Install the gearbox mounting bracket (C) over the mounting cushion, and loosely install the mounting bolts.
11. Tighten the mounting bolts on both sides of the steering gearbox to the specified torque alternately in two or more steps.
12. Loosely tighten the right rear subframe mounting bolt (A); insert the 15.7 mm side of the subframe alignment pin (070AG-SJAA10S) through the positioning hole (B) on the rear stiffener, through the positioning hole (C) on the subframe, and into the positioning hole (D) on the body, then tighten the left rear subframe mounting bolt.
    Fig 7: Identifying Right Rear Subframe Mounting Bolt And Subframe Alignment Pin

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
13. Loosely tighten the left rear subframe mounting bolt with the same procedure as the right rear using the subframe alignment pin.
14. Loosely tighten the right and left front subframe mounting bolts (A) and the stiffener mounting bolts (B).
    Fig 8: Identifying Right And Left Front Subframe Mounting Bolts With Stiffener Mounting Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
15. Tighten the subframe mounting bolts (A) to the specified torque.
    Fig 9: Subframe Mounting Bolts With Torque Specification

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
16. Tighten the front and rear stiffener mounting bolts (B) to the specified torque.
    NOTE: Before tightening the stiffener mounting bolts, check that the positioning holes and slot are aligned using the subframe alignment pin.
17. Install the new rear engine mount bolts (A) and the rear engine mount bolts (B) to the rear engine mount base bracket.
    Fig 10: Identifying Rear Engine Mount Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
18. Loosely tighten transmission lower mount bolts (A).
    Fig 11: Identifying Transmission Lower Mount Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
19. Install the inlet line clamp bolts (A), and tighten to the specified torque.
    Fig 12: Identifying Inlet Line Clamp Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
20. Tighten the front mount bolts (A), then connect the front engine mount control solenoid valve tube (B).
    Fig 13: Identifying Front Mount Bolts And Front Engine Mount Control Solenoid Valve Tube

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
21. Install exhaust pipe A (see EXHAUST PIPE AND MUFFLER REPLACEMENT ).
22. Install the propeller shaft and propeller shaft protectors (see PROPELLER SHAFT INSTALLATION ).
23. Install the front subframe stiffener plate (A) with new mounting bolts (B), and tighten to the specified torque.
    Fig 14: Identifying Front Subframe Stiffener Plate And Mounting Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
24. Install the front undercover (see FRONT UNDERCOVER REPLACEMENT ) and the front splash shield (see SPLASH SHIELD REPLACEMENT ).
25. Lower the vehicle.
26. Remove the engine support hanger, the hanger balance bar, and hanger adapter set.
27. Connect the stabilizer links (A) to the lower arms (see BUSHING REPLACEMENT ).
    Fig 15: Connecting Stabilizer Links To Lower Arms

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
28. Connect the lower arm ball joints to the knuckles (see LOWER ARM REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
29. Wipe off any grease contamination from the ball joint tapered section and threads. Reconnect the tie-rod end ball joints (A) to the knuckles. Install the new 12 mm nuts (B) and tighten it to the specified torque.
    Fig 16: Connecting Tie-Rod End Ball Joints To Knuckles

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
30. Install the new cotter pin (C) and bend it as shown.
31. Connect the return hose (A) securely, and tighten the adjustable hose clamp (B) 
    Fig 17: Identifying Return Hose, Adjustable Hose Clamp And Inlet Line

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
32. Connect the inlet line (C), and tighten the 16 mm flare nut (D) to the specified torque.
33. Install the front wheel, then set the wheels in the straight ahead position.
    NOTE: Before installing the wheel, clean the mating surfaces of the brake disc and inside of the wheel.
34. Center the steering rack within its stroke.
35. Insert the upper end of the steering joint onto the steering shaft (A) (line up the bolt hole (B) with the flat portion (C) on the shaft), and loosely install the upper joint bolt (D).
    Fig 18: Identifying Upper End Of Steering Joint Installation Position Onto Steering Shaft

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
36. Slip the lower end of the steering joint onto the pinion shaft taking care to align the gap (E) within the angle.
37. Remove the steering wheel holder tool.
38. Align the bolt hole (A) on the steering joint with the groove (B) around the pinion shaft then loosely install the joint bolt (C).
    Fig 19: Aligning Bolt Hole On Steering Joint With Groove

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
39. Pull on the steering joint to make sure that the steering joint is fully seated, then tighten the lower joint bolt to the specified torque.
40. Tighten the upper joint bolt (D) to the specified torque.
41. Install the steering joint cover (A).
    Fig 20: Identifying Steering Joint Cover

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
42. Do the battery terminal reconnection procedure (see USING THE GR8 BATTERY DIAGNOSTIC STATION ), and do these tasks:
    • Turn the ignition switch to ON (II); the SRS indicator should come on for about 6 seconds and then go off.
    • Make sure the horn and turn signal switches work properly.
    • Make sure the steering wheel switches work properly.
43. Fill the system with power steering fluid , and bleed air from the system .
44. After installation, do these checks:
    • Start the engine, allow it to idle, and turn the steering wheel from lock to lock several times to warm up the fluid . Check the gearbox for leaks (see Fluid Leakage Inspection 
    • Check the steering wheel spoke angle. If steering spoke angles to the right and left are not equal (steering wheel and rack are not centered), correct the engagement of the joint/pinion shaft serrations, then adjust the front toe by turning the tie-rod ends, if necessary.
    • Set the steering column to the center tilt position, then do the front toe inspection (see REAR TOE INSPECTION/ADJUSTMENT ).
    • Do the VSA sensor neutral position memorization (see VSA SENSOR NEUTRAL POSITION MEMORIZATION ).