Removal and Replacement

Steering Gearbox Removal and Installation

Special Tools Required

- Ball Joint Thread Protector, 12 mm 07AAF-SDAA100
- Ball Joint Remover, 28 mm 07MAC-SL0A202
- Subframe Adapter VSB02C000016
*Available through the Honda Tool and Equipment Program, 888-424-6857.

Note these items during removal:

- Using clean solvent and a brush, wash any oil and dirt off the valve body unit, it's lines, and the end of the steering gearbox. Blow dry with compressed air.
- Lower the front subframe from the body, and remove the steering gearbox through the gap produced by lowering the front subframe.

Removal

1. Place the hood support rod (A) in the wide-open position (B).





2. Remove the engine cover.

3. Drain the power steering fluid Testing and Inspection.

4. Remove the air intake scoop.

5. Do the battery terminal disconnection procedure Procedures.

6. Remove the front bulkhead cover Front Bulkhead Cover Replacement.

7. Raise and support the vehicle Service and Repair.

8. Remove the front wheels.

9. Remove the driver's heater panel.

10. Pull back the carpet (A).





11. Remove the steering joint cover (B).

12. Tilt the steering column at the way up, and move it all the way in, then tighten the lock lever.

13. Hold the lower slide shaft (A) on the column with a piece of wire (B) between the joint yoke (C) of the lower slide shaft and joint yoke (D) of the upper shaft to prevent the lower slide shaft from pulling out.






14. Remove the steering joint bolt (A).






15. Center the steering wheel spokes, and install a commercially available steering wheel holder tool (A).






16. Disconnect the steering joint (A) by sliding the steering joint into the column shaft (B).





17. Remove the center guide (C) (if equipped) from the top of the pinion shaft (D), and discard it.

18. Wrap vinyl tape over the splines on the pinion shaft.

19. Remove the power steering heat shield (A).






20. Remove the cotter pin (A) from the tie-rod end ball joint, then remove the nut (B) on both sides.





21. Disconnect the tie-rod end ball joint from the knuckle using the ball joint thread protector (C) and the ball joint remover (D) Ball Joint Removal.

NOTE: Be careful not to damage the ball joint boot when installing the remover.

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






23. Remove the inlet line clamp bolt (A).






24. Loosen the flare nut (A), and disconnect the inlet line (B).






25. Remove the steering gearbox mounting nuts (A) and bolts (B), the steering gearbox stiffener mounting bolts (C), and the steering gearbox stiffeners (D) from the driver's side of the steering gearbox.






26. Remove the steering gearbox mounting bolts (A) from the passenger's side of the steering gearbox, then remove the steering gearbox mounting bracket (B) and the mounting cushion (C).






27. Remove the bolt (A) securing the connector bracket (B) from the front cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole (C) to attach the engine hanger balance bar front arm.






28. Remove the bolt (A) securing the harness bracket (B) from the rear cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole (C) to attach the 2008 V6 attachment arm.





29. Remove the cowl cover Service and Repair.

30. Support the engine with the engine support hanger, and the engine hanger balance bar.

31. Remove the front splash shield Service and Repair.

32. Remove exhaust pipe A Service and Repair.

33. Disconnect the rear engine mount actuator connector (A).





34. Remove the rear engine mount mounting bolts (B) and the rear engine mount base bracket mounting bolts (C).

35. Remove the rear engine mount (D) and the rear engine mount base bracket (E).

36. Attach the subframe adapter (A) to the front subframe (B) by looping the belt (C) over the front of the subframe, then secure the belt with its stop (D).





37. Raise the jack, and line up the slots in the subframe adapter arms with the bolt holes on the jack base, then securely attach them with bolts and nuts.

38. Support the front subframe securely by raising the transmission jack.

39. Remove the lower transmission mount bolt (A).






40. Remove the rear stiffener mounting bolts (A) on both sides.





41. Loosen the front subframe mounting bolts (B) so they are about 30 mm (1.18 in) from the mounting surface. Do not loosen the subframe mounting bolts more than necessary.

42. Lower the transmission jack slowly until the front subframe rear side has dropped about 30 mm (1.18 in).

43. Carefully move the steering gearbox (A) toward the driver's side until the pinion shaft clears the fenderwell opening on the body.






44. Remove the steering gearbox (A) through the fenderwell opening on the driver's side.






45. Remove the pinion shaft grommet (A) from the top of the valve body unit (B).





46. Remove the return line joint (C) if necessary.

Installation

1. Before installing the steering gearbox, make sure that no grease is on the mating surface of the steering gearbox and the front subframe. To prevent the gearbox mounting bolts from loosening after the installation, remove any grease from the bolt holes.

2. Wrap vinyl tape over the splines on the pinion shaft (A).





3. Install the pinion shaft grommet (B). The grommet must not have a gap at the mating surface of the grommet and the valve body unit.

4. Install the return line joint (C) if removed.

5. Slide the steering gearbox (A) between the front subframe and the body from the driver's side.






6. Carefully move the steering gearbox (A) toward the passenger's side until the pinion shaft clears the wheelwell opening on the body.





7. Continue moving the steering gearbox toward the passenger's side until the steering gearbox is in position.

8. Raise the front subframe up to the body. Loosely install the new subframe mounting bolts (A) and the new rear stiffener mounting bolts (B).





9. Align the front subframe with the subframe alignment pin Service and Repair.

10. Install the lower transmission mount bolt (A), and tighten it to the specified torque.





11. Lower the transmission jack supporting the front subframe.

12. Install the rear engine mount (A) and the rear engine mount base bracket (B).





13. Install the new rear engine mount mounting bolts (C) and the new rear engine mount base bracket mounting bolts (D), and tighten them to the specified torque.

14. Connect the rear engine mount actuator connector (E).

15. Install exhaust pipe A Service and Repair.

16. Install the front splash shield Service and Repair.

17. Lower the vehicle.

18. Remove the engine support hanger, the engine hanger balance bar, and engine hanger adapter set.

19. Install the cowl cover Service and Repair.

20. Install the harness bracket to the rear cylinder head.






21. Install the connector bracket to the front cylinder head.






22. Position the cutout (A) of the mounting cushion (B) as shown, and install it on the passenger's side of the steering gearbox.





23. Install the steering gearbox mounting bracket (C) over the mounting cushion, and loosely install the steering gearbox mounting bolts (D).

24. Install the steering gearbox stiffeners (A), the new steering gearbox mounting bolts (B) and nuts (C), and the new steering gearbox stiffener mounting bolts (D) on the driver's side of the steering gearbox, then loosely tighten the bolts and nuts.





25. Tighten the steering gearbox mounting bolts and nuts, and steering gearbox stiffener mounting bolts to the specified torque alternately in two steps.

26. Connect the inlet line (A), and tighten the flare nut (B) to the specified torque.






27. Install the inlet line clamp bolt (A).






28. Connect the return hose (A) securely, and tighten the adjustable hose clamp (B).






29. On both sides, wipe off any grease contamination from the ball joint tapered section and threads. Connect the tie-rod end ball joint (A) to the knuckle. Install the new nut (B), and tighten it to the specified torque.





30. Install a new cotter pin (C), and bend it as shown.

31. Install the power steering heat shield (A) with the flange bolts, and tighten them to the specified torque.





32. Remove the vinyl tape around the splines on the pinion shaft.

33. Center the steering rack within its stroke.

34. Cut the wire (A).





35. Slip the lower end of the steering joint (B) onto the pinion shaft (C) taking care to align the gap (D) within the angle.

36. Remove the steering wheel holder tool (A).






37. Align the bolt hole (A) on the steering joint with the groove (B) around the pinion shaft, then loosely install the steering joint bolt (C). Be sure that the joint bolt is securely in the groove in the pinion shaft.





38. Pull on the steering joint to make sure that the steering joint is fully seated, then tighten the steering joint bolt to the specified torque.

39. Install the steering joint cover (A).





40. Set the carpet (B) in place.

41. Install the driver's heater panel.

42. Install the front wheels, then set the wheels in the straight ahead position.

NOTE: Before installing the wheel, clean the mating surfaces between the brake disc and the inside of the wheel.

43. Install the front bulkhead cover Front Bulkhead Cover Replacement.

44. Do the battery terminal reconnection procedure Procedures.

45. Install the air intake scoop.

46. Fill the system with power steering fluid, and bleed air from the system Testing and Inspection.

47. Install the engine cover.

48. After installation, check these items:

- Start the engine, allow it to idle, and turn the steering wheel from lock to lock several times to warm up the fluid. Check the steering gearbox for leaks Hydraulic Power Steering Fluid Leakage Inspection.
- Check the steering wheel spoke angle. If steering spoke angles to the right and left are not equal (steering wheel and rack are not centered), correct the engagement of the joint/pinion shaft splines.
- Set the steering column to the center tilt position, and to the center telescopic position, then do the front toe inspection Service and Repair.