Removal and Replacement
Removing and installing steering gear
Removal
1. Remove underside panel.
2. Loosen universal joint (steering shaft) at steering gear. For this purpose, take out the clamping screw and slide the joint upwards.
Information
^ First fix the steering wheel with the wheels in straight-ahead position or remove the steering wheel with the wheels in straight-ahead position. If this is not done, the airbag contact unit will have to be put in center position after installation of the steering gear.
3. Press out track-rod ball joint from steering arm. Use special tool 9560 (ball-joint extractor). When loosening the locknut, hold it with special tool 9546 (Torx screwdriver).
4. Repeat procedure on the other side.
5. Loosen feed and return lines at the steering gear. For this purpose, loosen the hexagon socket head bolt (arrow) and remove the retainer plate. Plug lines or use collecting container. Cover lines if necessary (danger of soiling).
6. Loosen the two steering-gear fastening screws (on the underside of the cross member).
7. Pull out steering gear to the left (to the right for right-hand drive vehicles).
8. If necessary, loosen and remove right and left track rods at steering gear (arrow).
Information
^ Ensure that no damage (scoring) is caused to the steering rack. To loosen and tighten the track rods, secure the steering gear on a suitable plate.
Installation
Install in reverse order. It is essential to observe the following points while doing so:
- - Replace steering-gear fastening screws and the fit bolt of the steering shaft whenever they have been removed. Screw threads must be clean and free of grease.
- - Ensure that no damage (scoring) is caused to the steering rack.
- - Mount the track rods on the steering gear (Figure 133-96). Then secure the respective bellows with new clamping rings.
- - Push on universal joint (steering shaft) with the steering gear and steering wheel or airbag contact unit (spiral spring) in center position. For ease of assembly, put steering-gear fastening screws just in place.
- - Comply with notes for sliding piece and airbag contact unit. Observe note on steering-gear center position in the section describing front track adjustment.
- After fitting the pressure lines, fill steering hydraulics with Pentosin CHF 11S and bleed steering system.
Important notes
When topping up or filling in Pentosin, make sure that it does not come into contact with the coolant hoses! Observe the specifications in order to avoid overfilling and thus overflowing.
If coolant hoses come into contact with Pentosin, thoroughly clean them with water IMMEDIATELY!
Replace visibly swollen coolant hoses!
- Tighten all screw connections with the prescribed tightening torque values.
- Check and/or adjust track.
Notes for sliding piece and airbag contact unit
1. If sliding piece No. 1 was pulled off steering shaft No. 4, notch No. 2 must point to the tooth gap (No. 3) on assembly.
2. If the steering wheel was not fixed before the steering gear was removed, the position of the contact unit (spiral spring) may no longer be correct. In this event, remove steering wheel and move contact unit to center position.
If this is not done, the spiral spring may be damaged.
Center position: First move contact unit against the end stop. Turn contact unit two revolutions back from the end stop and then continue turning as far as the center position mark.
The exact center position is indicated by the two arrows (No. 1).
Turn front wheels to straight-ahead position before fitting the steering wheel (steering shaft mounted on steering gear).
3. 1 = Center position mark (arrows)
4. 2 = Drivers that engage in the steering wheel
5. 3 = Locking (securing against turning), which becomes effective after removal of the steering wheel.