Power Steering Gears - SAGINAW Ball Bearing Worm & Nut: Overhaul: Disassembly

Mount gear in suitable holding fixture or clamp gear mounting lug in vise. Turn worm shaft until sector gear is centered on ball nut (straight ahead position). Remove side cover bolts and tap lightly on end of sector shaft to remove. Remove sector shaft and side cover as an assembly. Separate shaft from cover by turning adjusting screw clockwise. Remove adjusting screw from sector shaft slot using care not to lose shim.
Scribe a locating mark on flexible coupling and worm shaft, then remove coupling from shaft. Loosen warm shaft adjuster lock nut with spanner wrench or a punch. Remove worm bearing adjuster, wormshaft and ball nut. Pry lower bearing out of adjuster nut with screwdriver. Turn housing on end to remove upper bearing.
CAUTION: DO NOT allow ball nut to run down to either end of worm as damage may result to ball guides. Worm shaft should be horizontal when removing adjuster nut and worm shaft assembly.
Do not disassemble ball nut unless there is an indication of binding, tightness or wear on worm shaft. If required, remove ball guide clamps and turn ball nut over a clean pan to catch balls. Rotate worm shaft slowly from side-to-side to remove all balls and remove worm shaft.