GEAR
DESCRIPTION
OPERATION
The gear acts as a rolling thread between the worm shaft and rack piston. The worm shaft is supported by a thrust bearing at the lower end and a bearing assembly at the upper end. When the worm shaft is turned the rack piston moves. The rack piston teeth mesh with the pitman shaft. Turning the worm shaft turns the pitman shaft, which turns the steering linkage.
REMOVAL
NOTE: The steering column on vehicles with an automatic transmission may not be equipped with an internal locking shaft that allows the ignition key cylinder to be locked with the key. Alternative methods of locking the steering wheel for service will have to be used.
1. Place the front wheels in the straight ahead position with the steering wheel centered and locked.
2. Siphon out as much power steering fluid as possible.
3. Move the coolant bottle to the side out of the way.
4. Remove the lower column pinch bolt at the gear (2).
5. Remove the lower column coupler shaft (1) from the gear (2).
6. Remove power steering hoses/tubes (1&2) from steering gear (3).
7. Raise and support the vehicle.
8. Remove the track bar bolt (2) at the frame and lower the track bar (1).
9. Remove the pitman arm nut (3).
10. Separate the pitman arm (2) from the gear using special tool 9615 puller (1).
11. Remove pitman (2) arm from gear. (Refer to 19 - STEERING/LINKAGE/PITMAN ARM - REMOVAL).
12. Remove the steering gear retaining bolts (1) and remove the gear.
INSTALLATION
1. Install steering gear on the frame rail and tighten bolts (1) to 95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.)
2. Align and install the pitman arm (2) and tighten nut (3) to 251 N·m (185 ft. lbs.).
3. It may be necessary to pry the axle assembly over to install the track bar (1) at the frame rail. Install track bar at the frame rail bracket. Install the nut and bolt (2) at the frame rail bracket.
4. Tighten the bolt (2) at the frame bracket to 169 N·m (125 ft. lbs.).
5. Install the track bar (1) back into position at the frame.
6. Remove the support and lower the vehicle.
7. Align the column coupler shaft (1) to steering gear (2). Install a new coupler pinch bolt and tighten to 49 N·m (36 ft. lbs.).
8. Install power steering hoses/tubes (1&2) to steering gear (3) and tighten to 36 N·m (27 ft. lbs.).
9. Reinstall the coolant bottle back into position.
10. Fill power steering system to proper level, (Refer to 19 - STEERING - STANDARD PROCEDURE).
11. Check the toe setting, (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/WHEEL ALIGNMENT - STANDARD PROCEDURE).