Raise and support the front of the vehicle on jackstands.
Disconnect the pitman arm at the ball stud.
Lubricate the wormshaft seal with a drop of automatic transmission fluid.
Remove the horn pad from the steering wheel.
Turn the steering wheel slowly to one stop.
Using an inch-pound torque wrench on the steering wheel nut, check the amount
of torque needed to rotate the steering wheel through a 1 1⁄2 turn
cycle. The preload should be 2–6 inch lbs. If correct, proceed with
the rest of the steps. If not perform preload and mesh adjustment.
Rotate the steering wheel from stop-to-stop, counting the total number of
turns. Using that figure, center the steering wheel ( 1⁄2 the
total turns).
Using the inch-pound torque wrench, rotate the steering wheel 90°to
either side of center, noting the highest torque reading over center. The
meshload should be 4–10 inch lbs. (0.5–1 Nm), or at least 2 inch
lbs. more than the preload figure.
Torque the sector cover bolts on the gear to 32–40 ft. lbs.
Loosen the preload adjuster nut and tighten the worm bearing adjuster nut
until all end-play has been removed. Lubricate the wormshaft seal with a few
drops of automatic transmission fluid.
Using an 11⁄16 in.,
12-point socket and an inch lbs. torque wrench, carefully turn the wormshaft
all the way to the right.
Turn the shaft back to the left and measure the torque over a 1 1⁄2 turn
cycle. This is the preload reading.
Tighten or loosen the adjuster nut to bring the preload into range: 5–6
inch lbs. (0.5–1 Nm).
Hold the adjuster nut while torqueing the locknut to 166–187 ft. lbs.
(225–252 Nm).
Rotate the wormshaft stop-to-stop counting the total number of turns and
center the shaft ( 1⁄2 the
total turns).
Using the torque wrench and socket, measure the torque required to turn
the shaft 90°to either side of center.
Turn the sector shaft adjusting screw as needed to bring the meshload torque
within the 9–11 inch lbs. range, or at least 4 inch lbs. higher than
the preload torque.
Hold the adjusting screw while tightening the locknut to 14–25 ft.
lbs. (19–34 Nm).
