Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Power Steering Gear Replacement


1. Disconnect lines from gear. Plug lines to prevent entry of dirt and keep lines raised to avoid excessive fluid loss.
2. On all except CJ and Scrambler models, remove clamp bolt and nut attaching flex coupling to steering gear shaft and disconnect intermediate shaft.
3. On CJ and Scrambler models, remove clamp bolt and nut attaching intermediate shaft coupling to steering gear shaft and disconnect intermediate shaft.
4. Paint alignment marks on pitman shaft and pitman arm for assembly reference, then remove and discard the pitman arm nut and lockwasher. Use new nut and lockwasher.
5. Remove pitman using a puller.
6. On all except CJ and Scrambler models, remove steering gear to frame mounting bolts and remove steering gear.
7. On CJ and Scrambler models:
a. Raise left side of vehicle to relieve tension on left front spring and place support stand under the frame.
b. Remove the three lower steering gear mounting brackets to frame bolts.
c. Remove the two upper steering gear mounting brackets to crossmember bolts and remove steering gear and mounting brackets.
d. Remove mounting bracket to gear attaching bolts and remove upper and lower mounting brackets from steering gear.
8. Reverse procedure to install. Apply Loctite 271 or equivalent to mounting bracket to steering gear bolts and to steering gear to frame bolts. Torque steering gear to frame bolts to 75 ft. lbs. on all except CJ and Scrambler models, and 55 ft. lbs. on CJ and Scrambler models, the mounting bracket to steering gear bolts to 70 ft. lbs., the flex coupling clamp bolt to 30 ft. lbs., the intermediate shaft coupling to steering gear bolt to 45 lbs. and the pitman arm nut to 185 ft. lbs.