Removal & Installation

Removal

1. Remove primary steering column boot attachments.
2. Remove intermediate shaft retaining bolts and remove intermediate shaft.
3. Remove secondary steering column boot from inside of passenger compartment.






4. Raise vehicle on a twin post hoist and remove front wheel and tire assemblies.
5. Support vehicle with jackstands under rear edge of sub-frame.
6. Remove tie rod cotter pins and nuts, and remove tie rod ends from spindle.
7. Remove tie rod ends from shaft. Mark position of jam nut to maintain alignment.
8. Remove nuts from gear-to-sub-frame retaining bolts.






9. Remove both height sensor attachments.
10. Remove rear sub-frame-to-body retaining bolts.






11. Remove exhaust pipe-to-catalytic converter attachment.
12. Lower twin post hoist carefully until sub-frame separates from body; approximately four inches.
13. Remove heat shield band and fold shield down.






14. Disconnect VAPS electrical connectors.
15. Rotate gear to clear bolts from sub-frame and pull left to facilitate line fitting removal.
16. Place a drain pan under vehicle and remove line fittings.






17. Remove LH sway bar link.
18. Remove gear assembly through LH wheel well.

Installation

1. Install new TFE O-rings on line fittings as outlined in Pressure and Return Line Seal Replacement.
2. Place gear retaining bolts in gear housing.
3. Install gear through LH wheel well.
4. Install power steering line fittings to gear assembly.
5. Install VAPS electrical connectors.





6. Position gear into sub-frame.
7. Install tie rod ends onto shaft.
8. Install band on heat shield.
9. Attach tie rod ends to spindle. Install nuts and new cotter pins.
10. Attach sway bar links.
11. Raise hoist until sub-frame contacts body.
12. Install sub-frame retaining bolts.
13. Install gear-to-sub-frame nuts and tighten to 115-135 N.m (85-100 lb-ft).
14. Attach exhaust pipe to catalytic converter.