Steering gear replacement

Good morning,

I attached the procedure below and there is nothing about removing the column or any components. I have done one a long time ago and had no issues at all.

Roy

REMOVAL
1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Remove steering column tube boot retainer and pry up boot.
3. Remove steering column gear input shaft coupling bolt, then raise and support vehicle.
4. Remove power steering hose bracket and disconnect power steering return hose.
5. Remove front wheel and tire assemblies, then tie rod cotter pins and end nuts.
6. Separate tie rod ends from steering knuckles using appropriate tool, then remove the tie rod splash shields.
7. Remove front catalytic converter inlet exhaust pipe, and lower for easier access.
8. Place alignment marks on tie rod end, jam nut, and tie rod to ease installation.
9. Loosen jam nut and remove right tie rod end.
10. Remove four steering gear mounting bolts and washers.
11. Slide steering gear to the left and pull right tie rod through fender opening, then the steering gear.

INSTALLATION
1. Position steering gear in its mounting location.
2. Attach intermediate shaft to steering gear pinion and torque bolt to 13-20 ft lb.
3. Guide intermediate shaft into steering column hole, then lower vehicle.
4. With assistance in lifting the steering gear, align intermediate shaft with universal joint and install mounting bolt.
5. Raise and support vehicle, then install the four steering gear washer and bolts. Torque mounting bolts to 23-34 ft lb.
6. Install right tie rod end and attach tie rod ends to steering knuckles. Torque tie rod end nuts to 23-34 ft lb.
7. Install catalytic converter, tie rod splash shields and front wheel and tire assemblies.
8. Lower vehicle and attach power steering lines.
9. Add power steering fluid and bleed system.

Yep, manual steering tells you to do that. I would see if I could just release the coupler and leave the column alone.

Roy

1. Disconnect battery cables and remove battery.
2. Scribe alignment marks on steering column lower universal joint and steering gear pinion shaft, then remove steering column as follows:
a. Working from underneath steering column, remove instrument panel brace and air duct.
B. Remove upper and lower steering column covers, release harness clip, then disconnect harness connectors from back of combination switch.
C. Remove ignition switch.
D. Remove steering column upper mounting bracket to instrument panel attaching nuts, then lower column.
E. Scribe alignment marks on column shaft and intermediate shaft upper universal joint, then remove clamp screw from joint.
F. Remove steering column hinge bracket to pedal support attaching nuts, then pull steering column rearward and remove from vehicle.
3. Cut plastic tie strap securing steering column boot to steering gear.
4. Raise and support vehicle, then remove front wheels.
5. Remove tie rod to steering knuckle attaching nuts, then separate tie rods from knuckle.
6. Remove catalytic converter.
7. Remove tie rod splash shield from right inner fender.
8. Remove steering gear mounting bolts and lower gear until free from steering column boot.
9. Slide steering gear to the right until left tie rod is clear of inner fender, then lower gear and remove through left side of vehicle.

CAUTION: When sliding gear as required, guide gear carefully to prevent damage to boots.

10. Reverse procedure to install, aligning all marks made during removal. Adjust rack yoke preload, as follows:
a. Remove steering gear.
B. With rack centered, measure pinion rotating torque. Pinion should be 8-12 in lb within 90° of centered position, and should not exceed 13 in lb when turned beyond 90° of center.

No, just make sure you do center point steering and you should be fine.

Roy

Okay, no need to remove the rack.

What you need to do is turn the steering wheel all the way to the right. Then count the number of turns it takes to turn it all the way to the left. Let us say it is 4 turns. Then you turn back the wheel exactly 2 turns and stop. That is the center point for the rack.

Then you remove the coupling from the rack for the steering wheel and center the steering wheel in the car and attach the coupling.

Then have it aligned.

Roy

You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy