- Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning
of this section.
- Remove or disconnect the following:
- Negative battery cable
- Flex coupling shield from the steering gear input shaft shield and slide
it up the intermediate shaft
- Bolt that retains the flex coupling to the steering gear
- Steering gear input shaft shield
- Pitman arm to the sector shaft by using a Pitman Arm Puller tool T64P-3590-F.
Do not hammer on the end of the puller as this can damage the steering
gear.
- Bolts attaching the steering gear to the side rail
- Steering gear from the vehicle
To install:
- Rotate the gear input shaft (wormshaft) from stop-to-stop, counting the
total number of turns. Then turn back exactly half-way, placing the gear on
center.
- Install or connect the following:
- Slide the steering gear input shaft shield on the steering gear input
shaft
- Flex coupling on the steering gear input shaft. Ensure that the flat
on the gear input shaft is facing straight up and aligns with the flat
on the flex coupling.
- Steering gear to side rail. Torque the bolts to 66 ft. lbs. (89 Nm).
- Pitman arm on the sector shaft and install the attaching washer and
nut. Align the 2 blocked teeth on the Pitman arm with 4 missing teeth
on the steering gear sector shaft. Torque the nut to 170–228 ft.
lbs. (230–310 Nm).
- Flex coupling to steering gear input shaft attaching bolt and torque
to 50–62 ft. lbs. (68–84 Nm).
- Snap the flex coupling shield to the steering gear input shield
- Negative battery cable
- Check the system to ensure equal turns from center to each lock position.