Manual Steering Gear Box

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

Pick-up

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Raise the vehicle and support it safely on jackstands.
3. Remove the wheels if additional access is desired. This is, however, not necessary.
4. Remove the pinch bolt that holds the steering column shaft to the steering gear main shaft.
5. Remove the cotter pin, castle nut and remove the steering linkage from the Pitman arm. Use a screw type puller to separate the joint — refer to the procedures in this section.
6. Remove the steering gear box mounting nuts and remove the gear from the vehicle. New mounting nuts will be needed upon installation.

   Fig. 1: Manual steering gear box removal and installation — only available on Pick-up trucks

   Fig. 2: Use a screw-type joint separator/puller to remove the relay rod (center link) end from the Pitman arm

7. Install the steering gear box to the frame and tighten the new mounting nuts to 25–40 ft. lbs. (35–55 Nm).
8. Connect the Pitman arm to the relay rod (center link) and tighten the nut to 33 ft. lbs. (45 Nm). Install a new cotter pin.
9. Connect the steering universal joint to the gearbox and tighten the pinchbolt to 11–14 ft. lbs. (15–20 Nm).
10. Install the wheels, if removed, and lower the vehicle to the ground.
11. Connect the negative battery cable. Have the front alignment inspected and adjusted as necessary.