inspection & replacing steering components

7/31/2019 Inspection & Replacing Steering Components

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U N I T T H R E EU N I T T H R E E

I N S P E CT I N G A N D R E P LA C IN GI N S P E CT I N G A N D R E P LA C IN G

S T E E R I N G LI N K A G E C O MP O N E N T SS T E E R I N G LI N K A G E C O MP O N E N T S

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TAB LE OF CONTENTSTAB LE OF CONTENTS

LESSON ONE - STEERING LINKAGE INSPECTION PROCEDURES ..........................................2

INTRODUCTION............................................................................................ .......................3

Idler Arms........................................................................................................................3

Pitman Arm Inspection.............. ........................................................ ................................4

Pitman Arm Removal ..................................................... ...................................................4

Pitman Arm Installation .................................................. ...................................................5

Pitman Shaft, Seals, and Bearings ..................................................... ................................5

Steering Damper................................................... ....................................................... ...10

Tie Rod Ends ....................................................... ....................................................... ...11

Stabalizer Linkage ................................................ ....................................................... ...17

Rack and Pinion ................................................... ....................................................... ...20WHEEL ALIGNMENT........................................................ ................................................. 22

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LESSON ONELESSON ONE

STEERING L INK AGE INSPECTIONSTEERING LINK AGE INSPECTION

PROCEDURESPROCEDURES

TERMINAL OBJECTIVESuccessful completion of this Units enabling objectives

(technical competencies) will allow you to meet the

Integrated Curriculum Standards (ICS) listed in the rightmargin.

ENABLING OBJECTIVESUpon completion of Lesson One, you should be able to:

Inspect and replace pitman arm, relay(centerlink/intermediate) rod, idler arm and mountings,

and steering linkage damper.

Inspect, replace, and adjust tie rod ends (Sockets), tie

rod sleeves, and clamps. Inspect and replace manual or power rack-and-pinion

steering gear inner tie rod ends (sockets) and bellows

boots.

Inspect and adjust (where applicable) front and rearsteering linkage geometry including parallelism and

vehicle ride height.

ICS

155

Steering andSuspensions System

166

Inspection

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INTRODUCTIONThe following descriptions are for general information only. Always

refer to the appropriate service information for specific procedures.

During inspection of the steering linkage and related components,

you should carefully inspect all pivot points for looseness. Any

looseness in the steering linkage can cause toe change which is the

most serious of the tire wearing angles.

Idler ArmsIdler arms are sometimes overlooked and considered relatively

unimportant. However, only slight looseness in an idler arm may

cause an excessive amount of toe-change while driving, particularly

on rough pavement.

To check idler arms, grasp the center link as close to the idler arm as

possible and vigorously move it up and down. Excessive vertical

looseness indicates the idler arm is worn and should be replaced.Some vehicles have an idler arm inspection procedure with

measurable tolerances.

When removal is necessary, the following steps are usually required:

Separate the idler arm from the center link, using a taperbreaking tool if needed.

Unbolt the frame bracket and remove the arm

Before installing the new arm, check tapers and stud condition.Reconnect and torque to specifications. Also, you should perform

an alignment check.

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Pitman Arm InspectionPitman arms are checked in a manner similar to idler arms. An

additional important check is to rotate the steering column. If there is

movement between the stud and the housing bowl it can be detected

at this time. Movement here is often misinterpreted as looseness in

the steering gear box.

Pitman Arm Removal

The following steps are typical for pitman arm removal:

1. Place the front wheels in a straight-ahead position.

2. Disconnect and cap the fluid hoses from the steering gear.

3. Remove coupler pinch bolt at the steering gear and slide shaft

off the gear.

4. Mark the pitman shaft and pitman arm for installation reference.

5. Remove the steering gear retaining bolts and nuts. Remove

the steering gear from the vehicle.

3-001

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Pitman Arm Installation1. Position the steering gear on the frame rail and install the bolts.

Tighten the bolts to specification.

2. Align the steering coupler on the gear shaft. Install and tighten

the pinch bolt.

3. Align and install the pitman arm.

4. Install the washer and retaining nut on the pitman shaft.

5. Connect the fluid hoses to the steering gear, tighten to

specification. Add fluid.

Pitman Shaft, Seals, and Bearings

Disassembly1. Clean the exposed end of the pitman shaft and housing with a

wire brush.

2. Remove the preload adjuster nut.

3. Rotate the stub shaft with a 12 point socket from stop to stop

and count the number of turns.

4. Center the stub shaft by rotating it from the stop of the total

amount of turns.

5. Remove the side cover bolts and remove the side cover,

gasket and pitman shaft as an assembly. The pitman shaft will

not clear the housing if it is not centered.

6. Remove the pitman shaft from the side cover.

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3-002

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11. Remove the pitman shaft bearing from the housing with a

bearing driver and handle.

3-004

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Assembly

1. Install the pitman shaft bearing into the housing with a bearing

driver and handle.

2. Coat the oil seal and washer with the special grease supplied

with the new seal.

3. Install the oil seal with a driver and handle.

4. Install the backup washer.

5. Install the retainer ring with snap ring pliers.

6. Coat the dust seal with the special grease supplied with the

new seal.

7. Install the dust seal with a driver and handle.

8. Install the pitman shaft to side cover by crewing the shaft until it

fully seats to the side cover.

9. Install the preload adjuster nut. Do not tighten the nut until after

the Over-Center Rotation Torque adjustment has been made.

10. Install the gasket to the side cover and bend the tabs around

the edges of the side cover.

11. Install the pitman shaft assembly and side cover to the

housing.

12. Install the side cover bolts and tighten to specification.

Perform the over-center rotation torque adjustment.

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Steering DamperThe steering damper is a very important component in the steering

system. It must dampen road shock and tire shimmy.

If the vehicle is equipped with a steering damper, check for leakage,

cylinder damage and the condition of the mounting points.

When replacing steering dampers, torque mounting points and then

turn the wheels to extreme right and left to ensure proper operation.

Removal

1. Raise the vehicle.

2. Scribe a location mark on the tie rod for the bracket at each

end of the bracket.

3. Remove the u-bolt nuts from the tie rod bracket.

Installation

1. Position the bracket on the tie rod. Align the location marks

with the bracket.

2. Install the u-bolts and nuts finger tight.

3. Measure with a tape from the right grease fitting of the tie rod

to the left side of the bracket. The measurement specification

should be in the service manual.

4. Tighten the u-bolt nuts to specification.

5. Install the damper to the bracket and tighten the nut tospecification.

6. Remove the support and lower the vehicle.

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Tie Rod EndsChecking tie rods requires the hand force test. Looseness will

usually be caused by weak take up springs or other worn internal

parts. Some manufacturers require the use of a dial indicator as part

of the inspection.

Removal

1. Remove the front wheel and tire.

2. Remove the nuts attaching both the outer tie rod ends to the

steering knuckles. The nuts should be removed by holding the

tie rod end stud with a socket while loosening and removing the

nut with a wrench.

3-005

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3. Remove both tie rod ends from the steering knuckles.

4. Loosen the inner to outer tie rod jam nut. Remove the outer tie

rod from the inner tie rod.

3-006

3-007

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5. Remove the jam nut from the inner tie rod.

6. Using pliers, expand the tie rod boot clamp and remove theclamp from the steering gear clamp.

3-008

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7. Remove the inner tie rod boot to steering gear clamp.

After removing the inner boot clamps, use a very small screwdriver

to lift the boot from its retaining groove in the steering gear.

3-009

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6. Install the steering gear assembly back in the vehicle.

7. Install the tie rod end seal boot heat shield on the tie rod end.8. Install the tie rod end into the steering knuckle. Start the tie rod

end to the steering knuckle attaching nut onto the stud of the tie

rod end. While holding the stud of the tie rod end stationary,

tighten the tie rod end to the steering knuckle attaching nut.

Then using a crowfoot and socket wrench, torque the tie rod

end attaching nut to specification.

9. Make the toe adjustment by turning the inner tie rod.

10. Tighten the inner to outer tie rod jam nut to specification.

Lubricate the tie rod boot groove with silicone type lubricant,

before installing the outer boot clamp, making sure the boot is

not twisted.

3-011

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Stabilizer LinkageStabilizer links connect the lower control arms to the sway bar. The

sway bar attempts to keep the two lower control arms in the same

plane during cornering. Worn bushings and sleeves must be

replaced since they, too, affect handling.

To replace these bushings, first the stabilizer, bushings and washers

must be removed. When removing the stabilizer link, note the

direction the bolt is facing, up or down, so that you can install the new

bolt in the same position.

Removal

1. Raise the vehicle.

2. Remove both rear wheel and tire assemblies from the vehicle.

3. Remove the nuts attaching the stabilizer links/isolator bushings

to the stabilizer bar.

3-012

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3. Install the stabilizer bar onto the stabilizer bar to forward lateral

link attaching links. Install the stabilizer bar to attaching linkbushings on attaching links. Tighten the bushing retaining nuts

to the specified torque.

4. Loosely install the stabilizer bar bushing clamps on the rear

suspension crossmember.

5. Position the stabilizer bar so it is centered in the vehicle and

does not contact other suspension components or the vehicle

body.

6. Tighten the bolts attaching the stabilizer bar bushing clamps to

the rear crossmember to specified torque.

7. Install the wheel and tire assembly on the vehicle. Tighten the

wheel mounting studs in proper sequence until all nuts are

torqued to half specification. Then repeat the tightening

sequence to the full specified torque.

8. Lower the vehicle.

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Rack and PinionWhen inspecting the rack and pinion system you should start on one

side of the vehicle and work across to the opposite side. Perform

the inspection as follows:

Check the tire for scalloping, a break in the belt, runout or abent rim.

Check the ball joint for looseness. Any play may be areason to recommend replacement.

Check the outer tie rod ends for looseness by pushing upand down with hand force. Any vertical looseness can be areason for suggesting replacement.

The bellows boot protects the rack from contamination. Itmay also contain fluid that helps keep the rack lubricated. If

any cracks, splits or leaks exist, the boot should be

replaced. On power steering, if the boot has power steering

fluid in it or is leaking, this may mean a rack seal needs

service.

To check the inner tie rod socket, squeeze the bellows bootuntil the inner socket can be felt. Push and pull on the tire.

If looseness is found in the tie rod end, it should be

replaced.

Rack mounting bushings must be inspected closely. Lookfor wear or deterioration in bushings or excessive

movement.

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With the wheels on the ground, rock the steering wheel andcheck for motion in the outer tie rods. Look for excessive

housing movement in case the bushings need replacement.

Inspect the flex-type steering coupling or universal couplingor universal joint for wear or looseness. If play is found, you

should recommend replacement. Grab the pinion gear

shaft at the flex coupling and try to move it in and out of the

gear box. If theres movement, the pinion bearing preload

may need to be adjusted.

By turning the left tire outwards, you should be able to grabthe rack and try to move it up and down. If movement isfound, theres a procedure in the manufacturers service

manual for increasing the rack-to-pinion gear preload.

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Wheel alignment adjustments should always be made in the

following sequence to ensure that an accurate alignment isperformed:

1. Adjust the rear camber to be at the preferred setting

specification.

2. Adjust the rear wheel toe to be at the preferred setting

specification.

3. Adjust front wheel toe to be at the preferred setting

specification for individual wheel toe and for total toe.

4. Toe is measured in degrees or inches and is the distance that

the front edges of the tires are closer (or farther apart) than the

rear edges.

5. Thrust angle is defined as the average of the toe settings on

each rear wheel. If this measurement is out of specification,

re-adjust the rear wheel toe so that each wheel has of the

total toe measurement. When re-adjusting, do not exceed the

total toe specification.

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inspection & replacing steering components

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