Service Procedure
1. Lift the vehicle on an appropriate hoist.
2. Inspect the steering damper bracket mounting nuts by putting a 13 mm box-end wrench onto the nut (Figure 1):
> If a 13 mm wrench fits the steering damper bracket mounting nuts, the bracket and fasteners must be replaced. Continue with Step 3 of this
procedure.
> If a 13 mm wrench does not fit the steering damper bracket mounting nuts, the bracket does not require replacement. Continue with Step 4 of this procedure.
3. Replace the steering damper bracket and fasteners using the following procedure:
a. Remove and save the steering damper-to-damper bracket mounting
nut (Figure 2).
b. Disconnect the steering damper from the steering damper bracket.
c. Remove and discard the four steering bracket nuts, two u-bolts
and the bracket (Figure 2).
d. Place the new steering damper carriage bolt through the square hole in the new bracket.
e. Place the new steering damper bracket assembly onto the tie rod tube at the flat spot area on the tube and install the new u-bolts and nuts. Lightly snug the nuts to hold the steering damper bracket in position.
f. Center the new steering damper bracket on the flattened area of the tie rod tube.
g. Evenly tighten the four steering damper bracket u-bolt nuts to 25 ft. lbs. (34 N.m). Then tighten the four u-bolt nuts to 45 ft. lbs. (61 N.m).
h. Connect the steering damper to the steering damper carriage bolt.
i. Install the steering damper mounting nut and tighten to 75 ft. lbs. (100 N.m).
j. Continue with Step 4 of this procedure.
4. Replace the drag link inner joint using the following procedure:
a. Loosen both drag link adjuster sleeve clamp nuts (Figure 3).
b. Remove and discard the drag link inner joint-to-pitman arm retaining nut (Figure 3).
c. Using special tool C-4150A, separate the steering drag link inner joint from the pitman arm (Figure 4).
d. While counting the number of turns, unscrew the steering drag link inner joint from the drag link adjuster sleeve (right handed threads) (Figure 5).
CAUTION:
Do not allow the drag link adjuster sleeve to turn while unscrewing the drag link inner joint.
e. Screw in the new steering drag link inner joint into the drag link adjuster sleeve the same number of turns counted in step 4d. of this procedure.
f. Connect the new steering drag link inner joint to the pitman arm.
g. Install the new steering drag link inner joint nut and tighten the nut to 100 ft. lbs. (135 N.m).
h. With the wheels in the straight ahead position, make sure that both inner and outer steering drag link joint caps are centered over the joint ball stud (Figure 6).
CAUTION:
Failure to center/align the drag link inner and outer joint
caps over the joint ball studs before tightening the drag link adjuster
sleeve clamps could cause joint failure.
i. With the adjuster sleeve clamps rotated 45 degrees forward, tighten the drag link adjuster sleeve clamp nuts to 45 ft. lbs. (61 N.m).
CAUTION:
The drag link adjuster sleeve clamp tabs must be pointing
45 degrees forward before tightening (Figure 7). Do Not allow the adjuster sleeve clamp tabs to hang straight down.
5. Verify the lower surface of the left outer tie rod socket (Figure 8) is parallel to the upper surface of the left knuckle attaching arm using the following procedure:
a. Loosen the tie rod tube adjuster sleeve clamps.
b. Rotate the left tie rod until the bottom of the tie rod socket is parallel to the top of the left steering knuckle arm (Figure 8).
c. Tighten the tie rod adjuster sleeve clamp nuts to 45 ft. lbs. (61 N.m).
CAUTION:
Failure to align the left tie rod end parallel to the steering knuckle could cause tie rod end damage.
d. Return the vehicle to the customer.
6. Lower the vehicle from the hoist.
7. Drive the vehicle to verify that the steering wheel is straight.
> If the steering wheel is turned to the left, shorten the drag link at the adjuster sleeve located on the drag link.
> If the steering wheel is turned to the right, lengthen the drag link at the adjuster sleeve located on the drag link.
8. Repeat Step 7 until steering wheel is straight.