Steering Gearbox Removal

Steering Gearbox Removal

Special Tools Required

- Ball Joint Thread Protector, 12 mm 07AAF-SDAA100
- Ball Joint Remover, 28 mm 07MAC-SL0A202

Note these items during removal:

- Using clean solvent and a brush, wash any oil and dirt off the valve body unit, its lines, and the end of the gearbox. Blow dry with compressed air.
- Be sure to remove the steering wheel before disconnecting the steering joint. Damage to the cable reel can occur.

1. Drain the power steering fluid Service and Repair.

2. Do the battery terminal disconnection procedure Procedures.

3. Raise and support the vehicle Service and Repair.

4. Remove the front wheels.

5. Remove the driver's airbag Driver's Airbag Replacement, and Remove the steering wheel Steering Wheel Removal.

6. Remove the driver's dashboard undercover Driver's Dashboard Undercover Removal / Installation.

7. Remove the steering joint cover (A).






8. Release the tilt/telescopic lock lever, and adjust the steering column to the full tilt up position, and to the full telescopic in position.

9. Tighten the tilt/telescopic lock lever.

10. Hold the steering column lower slide shaft (A) together with a piece wire (B) between the upper yoke (C) and the lower yoke (D).





11. Release the tilt/telescopic lock lever, and adjust the steering column to the full telescopic out position, then tighten the tilt/telescopic lock lever.

12. Remove the steering joint bolt (A), and disconnect the steering joint (B) by moving the steering joint toward the column.






13. Remove the center guide (A) (if equipped) from the top of the pinion shaft (B), and discard it. The center guide is for factory assembly use only.






14. Remove the cotter pins (A) from the tie-rod end ball joint, then remove the nuts (B) on both sides.





15. Disconnect the tie-rod end ball joint from the knuckle using the ball joint thread protector and the ball joint remover on both sides Ball Joint Removal.

16. Remove the air cleaner housing Service and Repair.

17. Remove the under-hood fuse/relay box Under-Hood Fuse/Relay Box Removal and Installation.

18. Loosen the adjustable hose clamp (A), and disconnect the return hose (B).





19. Remove the inlet line clamp bolt (C).

20. Loosen the 18 mm flare nut (D), and disconnect the inlet line (E).

21. Remove the 10 mm flange bolt (A) from the driver's side of the steering gearbox.






22. Disconnect the return hose holder (A), and remove the return hose clamp bolt (B).

NOTE: The illustrations show the model with SH-AWD; the model without SH-AWD is similar.






23. Remove the pump outlet hose clamp (A) from the steering gearbox.





24. Disconnect the return hose clips (B).

25. Remove the P/S heat shield (A).






26. Remove the 10 mm flange bolt (A) and the washer (B) from the driver's side of the steering gearbox.





27. Remove the flange bolts (C), then remove the stabilizer bar bushing holder (D) Front Stabilizer Bar Replacement.

28. Remove the 10 mm flange bolts (A) and the washer (B) from the passenger's side of the steering gearbox.





29. Remove the flange bolts (C), then remove the stabilizer bar bushing holder (D) Front Stabilizer Bar Replacement.

30. Remove the steering gearbox bracket mounting bolts (A) from both sides of the subframe.






31. Remove the gearbox brackets (A) on both side.






32. Move the steering gearbox toward the front, and remove the pinion shaft grommet (A) from the top of the valve housing.





33. Apply vinyl tape (B) to the splines on the pinion shaft.

34. Carefully move the steering gearbox and tie-rods as an assembly toward the front side until the pinion shaft (A) clears the wheelwell opening on the frame.






35. Remove the steering gearbox (A) through the wheelwell opening on the driver's side.





36. After removing the steering gearbox, make sure that no power steering fluid gets on the gearbox mount cushions, gearbox housing, or the surface of the front subframe. Wipe off any spilled fluid at once.