Steering Gearbox Removal

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 Acura MDX, 2012 Acura MDX, 2011 Acura MDX, and 2010 Acura MDX. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Special Tools Required

Ball Joint Thread Protector, 12 mm 07AAF-SDAA100
Ball Joint Remover, 28 mm 07MAC-SL0A202
Engine Hanger Adapter Set VSB02C000031 *
Engine Support Hanger, A and Reds AAR-T1256*
Engine Hanger Balance Bar VSB02C000019*
Front Subframe Adapter EQS02BMDXSB0*

*Available through the Acura Tool and Equipment program, 888-424-6857.

Note these items during removal:

Using clean solvent and a brush, wash any oil and dirt off the valve body unit, it's lines, and the end of the steering gearbox. Blow dry with compressed air.
Lower the front subframe from the body, and remove the steering gearbox through the gap produced by lowering the front subframe.

Remove the front bulkhead cover (see FRONT BULKHEAD COVER REPLACEMENT ).
Remove the engine cover (see step 6 under ENGINE REMOVAL ).
Drain the power steering fluid
Do the battery terminal disconnection procedure (see USING THE GR8 BATTERY DIAGNOSTIC STATION ).
Raise and support the vehicle (see LIFT AND SUPPORT POINTS ).
Remove the front wheels.
Remove the driver's dashboard undercover (see DRIVER'S DASHBOARD LOWER COVER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
Remove steering joint cover (A).

Fig 1: Identifying Steering Joint Cover
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the steering joint bolts (A), disconnect the steering joint by sliding the steering joint (B) into the column.

Fig 2: Identifying Steering Joint Bolts And Steering Joint
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Center the steering wheel spokes, and install a commercially available steering wheel holder tool (A).

Fig 3: Identifying Steering Wheel Holder Tool
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the center guide (A) (if equipped) from the top of the pinion shaft (B), and discard it. The center guide is for factory assembly use only.

Fig 4: Identifying Center Guide And Pinion Shaft
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Wrap vinyl tape over the splines on the pinion shaft.
Remove the air cleaner (see AIR CLEANER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
Remove the connector bracket (A) from the front cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach the engine balance bar front arm.

Fig 5: Identifying Front Cylinder Head Connector Bracket With Mounting Bolt
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the engine mount control solenoid valve bracket (A) from the rear cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach the engine hanger balance bar rear arm.

Fig 6: Identifying Engine Mount Control Solenoid Valve Bracket With Mounting Bolt
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the service caps (A) for the front damper flange nuts from the cowl cover (B). Position the engine hanger adapter set (C) with the FRONT mark facing forward over the damper flange nuts.

Fig 7: Positioning Engine Hanger Adapters Set
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Lift and support the engine with the engine support hanger (AAR-T1256) and the engine hanger balance bar (VSB02C000019). Attach the front arm (A) to the front cylinder head with a spacer (B) and a 10 mm bolt (C), and attach the rear arm (D) to the rear cylinder head with an 8 mm bolt (E). Tighten the wing nut (F) by hand to lift, and support the engine.
NOTE:
- Be careful when working around the windshield.
- Be careful not to damage the hood opener cable when installing the engine support hanger at the front bulkhead.
- AAR-T1256 two sets required for stacking additional cross section bar.
Fig 8: Lifting Engine With Engine Support Hanger
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Loosen the adjustable hose clamp (A), and disconnect the return hose (B).

Fig 9: Identifying Adjustable Hose Clamp, Return Hose, Flare Nut And Inlet Line
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Loosen the 16 mm flare nut (C), and disconnect the inlet line (D).
Remove the cotter pins (A) from the tie-rod end ball joints and remove the nuts (B).

Fig 10: Disconnecting Tie-Rod End Ball Joint From Knuckle Using Ball Joint Thread Protector And Ball Joint Remover
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Disconnect the tie-rod end ball joint from the knuckle using the ball joint thread protector (C) and the ball joint remover (D) on both sides (see BALL JOINT REMOVAL ).
Disconnect the stabilizer link (A) from the stabilizer bar on both sides (see BUSHING REPLACEMENT ).

Fig 11: Identifying Stabilizer Links
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Raise and support the vehicle.
Remove the front undercover (see FRONT UNDERCOVER REPLACEMENT ) and the front splash shield (see SPLASH SHIELD REPLACEMENT ).
Remove the front subframe stiffener plate (A).

Fig 12: Identifying Front Subframe Stiffener Plate With Mounting Bolts
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove exhaust pipe A (see EXHAUST PIPE AND MUFFLER REPLACEMENT ).
Remove the propeller shaft and propeller shaft protectors (see PROPELLER SHAFT REMOVAL ).
Remove the inlet line clamp bolts (A).

Fig 13: Identifying Inlet Line Clamp Bolts
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the rear engine mount bolts (A) and (B).

Fig 14: Identifying Rear Engine Mount Bolts
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Disconnect the front engine mount control solenoid valve tube (A), then remove the front engine mount bolts (B).

Fig 15: Identifying Front Engine Mount Control Solenoid Valve Tube And Front Engine Mount Bolts
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Loosen the four bolts (A) holding the adjustable arms (B) of the front subframe adapter to its center plate.

Fig 16: Identifying Adjustable Arms And Bolts
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Line up the slots in the arms with the bolt holes on the corners of the jack base, then attach the front subframe adapter (A) to the jack base with the bolts (B) that came with the jack. Tighten all bolts securely.

Fig 17: Lifting Front Subframe With Front Subframe Adapter
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Raise the jack to vehicle height, then attach the front subframe adapter to the front subframe using the subframe stiffener mounting bolts (C) and bolt holes.
Support the front subframe securely by raising the transmission jack.
Remove the transmission lower mount bolts (A).

Fig 18: Identifying Transmission Lower Mount Bolts
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the stiffener mounting bolts (A) from the front subframe front brackets (B).

Fig 19: Identifying Front Subframe Front Brackets With Mounting Bolts
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Loosen the subframe mounting bolts (C) on the subframe front stiffeners so they are about 40 mm (1.6 in) from the mounting surface. Do not loosen the special bolts more than necessary.
Remove the rear stiffener mounting bolts (A) from the front subframe rear stiffener (B).

Fig 20: Identifying Rear Stiffener Mounting Bolts And Front Subframe Rear Stiffener
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Loosen the front subframe mounting bolts (C) on the front subframe rear brackets so they are about 40 mm (1.6 in) from the mounting surface. Do not loosen the front subframe mounting bolts more than is necessary.
Lower the transmission jack slowly until the front subframe has dropped about 40 mm (1.6 in).
Remove the mounting bolts (A) from the driver's side of the steering gearbox.

Fig 21: Identifying Driver'S Side Of Steering Gearbox Mounting Bolts
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the gearbox stiffener bracket (A) from the driver's side of the front subframe.

Fig 22: Identifying Gearbox Stiffener Bracket With Mounting Bolt
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the steering gearbox mounting bolts from the passenger's side of the steering gearbox, then remove the mounting bracket (A), and cushion (B).

Fig 23: Identifying Mounting Bracket And Cushion With Mounting Bolt
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Carefully move the steering gearbox (A) toward the driver's side until the pinion shaft clears the wheelwell opening on the frame.

Fig 24: Identifying Steering Gearbox
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the steering gearbox (A) through the wheelwell opening on the driver's side.

Fig 25: Removing Steering Gearbox
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Remove the pinion shaft grommet B from the top of the valve housing.

Fig 26: Identifying Pinion Shaft Grommet
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Replace the pinion shaft grommet A if necessary.

Fig 27: Identifying Pinion Shaft Grommet
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
After removing the steering gearbox, make sure that no power steering fluid gets on the gearbox mount cushions, gearbox housing, surface of the front subframe and stiffener. Wipe off any spilled fluid at once.