Steering Gear: Reassembly
- If pinion gear was disassembled, slide large snap ring on pinion. Install new oil seal, then press on new bearing. Install small snap ring to pinion gear.
- Grease toothed and sliding portions of rack and install rack into steering gear housing, from pinion side. Locate rack in housing so that 3.02" (76.7 mm) of rack protrudes from each end of housing.
- Grease pinion gear teeth and install into steering gear housing. Flange on pinion gear should be out of line of straight ahead position by 36° when meshed with rack teeth properly.
- Install large snap ring, of pinion gear, to steering gear housing. Measure amount of pinion gear end play. End play should be less than 0.012" (0.3 mm). If end play is not to specifications, check for worn snap rings, bearing or steering gear housing. Replace components as necessary.
- With pinion gear end play correct, press oil seal into steering gear housing. Grease rack plunger cavity. Install rack plunger, spring, adjusting screw and lock nut. Adjust rack plunger backlash. See backlash adjustment in this article.
- Install tie rod inner ball joint lock washer to rack. Grease inner ball joint and install to rack. Bend lock washer over flat area on inner ball joint. Grease inside lip of rubber boot (large end) and install boot to steering gear housing. Install "O" ring to boot outer end.
- Install ball joints and lock nuts to tie rods. Make sure ball joints are installed on correct end of steering gear. Left ball joint is marked "LH", right ball joint is marked "RH".
- Make sure steering gear operates properly and smoothly. Check pinion rotating torque in straight ahead position. Rotating torque should be 0.8 - 1.1 ft.lbs. (0.11 - 1.5 N.m).TIGHTENING SPECIFICATIONS
Application Ft.Lbs. (N.m) Ball Joint Nut 18-25 (24-34) Gear-to-Crossmember 33-40 (45-54) Rack Plunger Lock Nut 29-43 (39-58) Tie Rod-to-Ball Joint Lock Nut 58-65 (79-88) Tie Rod Inner Ball Joint Lock Nut 58 (79)