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Steering Gearbox Installation

  1. Before installing the steering gearbox, make sure that no power steering fluid is on the mating surface of the steering gearbox and the front suspension subframe. To prevent the gearbox mounting bolts from loosening after the installation, remove any power steering fluid from the mount cushions and bolt holes.
  2. Wrap vinyl tape (A) over the splines on the pinion shaft.
    Fig 1: Wrapping Vinyl Tape Over Splines On Pinion Shaft
    G07363116Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  3. Apply a mild soap and water solution to both sides of the mount cushion mating surfaces (A).
    Fig 2: Applying Mild Soap And Water Solution To Both Sides Of Mount Cushion Mating Surfaces
    G07363117Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  4. Lift and pass the passenger's side of the steering gearbox (B) through the wheelwell opening on the driver's side.
  5. Carefully move the steering gearbox toward the passenger's side until the pinion shaft clears the wheelwell opening on the body.
    Fig 3: Lifting Passenger's Side Of Steering Gearbox
    G07363118Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  6. Rotate the steering gearbox so the pinion shaft points upward, then move the steering gearbox to the driver's side.
    Fig 4: Rotating Steering Gearbox
    G07363119Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  7. Install the 4-way brake line joint (A). Then reconnect the brake pressure sensor connectors (B) (with ACC).

    With ACC: 

    Fig 5: Connecting Brake Pressure Sensor Connectors With Acc With Torque Specifications
    G07363120Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

    Without ACC: 

    Fig 6: Connecting Brake Pressure Sensor Connectors Without Acc With Torque Specifications
    G07363121Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  8. Install a new steering gearbox mounting bolt (A) and washer (B) on the left front gearbox mount, then tighten the steering gearbox mounting bolt to the specified torque.
    Fig 7: Installing Steering Gearbox Mounting Bolt And Washer On Left Front Gearbox Mount With Torque Specifications
    G07363122Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  9. Install a new steering gearbox mounting bolt (A) and washer (B) on the right front gearbox mount, then tighten the steering gearbox mounting bolt to the specified torque.
    Fig 8: Installing Steering Gearbox Mounting Bolt And Washer On Right Front Gearbox Mount With Torque Specifications
    G07363123Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  10. Install the gearbox stiffener (A) and the dynamic damper (B), then tighten new mounting bolts (C) to the specified torque.
    Fig 9: Installing Gearbox Stiffener And Dynamic Damper With Torque Specifications
    G07363124Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  11. Install new steering gearbox mounting bolts (D), then tighten the steering gearbox mounting bolts to the specified torque.
  12. Install the P/S heat shield (A).
    Fig 10: Installing P/S Heat Shield With Torque Specifications
    G07363125Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  13. Install the return line joint (A) in the steering gearbox, then tighten it to the specified torque.
    Fig 11: Installing Return Line Joint In Steering Gearbox With Torque Specifications
    G07363126Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  14. Connect the inlet line (A), and tighten the 14 mm flare nut to the specified torque.
    Fig 12: Connecting Inlet Line With Torque Specifications
    G07363127Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  15. Connect the return hose (B) securely, and tighten the adjustable hose clamp (C) (see POWER STEERING HOSE, LINE, AND PRESSURE SWITCH REPLACEMENT  ).
  16. Connect the ECPS valve motor connector (A).
    Fig 13: Connecting ECPS Valve Motor Connector
    G07363128Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  17. Install the inlet line holder mounting bolt (A) and return line holder mounting bolt (B) on the gearbox.
    Fig 14: Installing Inlet Line Holder Mounting Bolt And Return Line Holder Mounting Bolt On Gearbox With Torque Specifications
    G07363129Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  18. Install the inlet line holder mounting bolt (A) and A/T shift cable holder mounting bolt (B) on the gearbox stiffener.
    Fig 15: Installing Inlet Line And A/T Shift Cable Holder Mounting Bolts On Gearbox Stiffener With Torque Specifications
    G07363130Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  19. Install the return hose in the clamp (C).
  20. Connect the engine mount vacuum hose (A) in the rear engine mount.
    Fig 16: Connecting Engine Mount Vacuum Hose In Rear Engine Mount With Torque Specifications
    G07363131Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  21. Install the rear engine mount (B), then tighten new mounting bolts and the engine mount vacuum hose holder mounting bolt (C) on the gearbox stiffener to the specified torque.
  22. Install the nuts (A) on the rear engine mount, then tighten them to the specified torque.
    Fig 17: Installing Nuts On Rear Engine Mount With Torque Specifications
    G07363132Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  23. On both sides, wipe off any grease contamination from the ball joint tapered section and threads, then reconnect the tie-rod end ball joint (A) to the knuckle.
    Fig 18: Connecting Tie-Rod End Ball Joint To Knuckle With Torque Specifications
    G07363133Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  24. Install the tie-rod end ball joint nut, and tighten it to the specified torque, then install a new cotter pin (B), and bend it as shown.
  25. Install the front wheels, and set them in the straight ahead position.
    NOTE: Before installing the wheel, clean the mating surfaces between the brake disc and the inside of the wheel.
  26. Center the steering rack within its stroke.
  27. Remove the vinyl tape from the pinion shaft, and install the pinion shaft grommet (A). Align the slot in the pinion shaft grommet with the lug portion (B) on the valve housing.
    Fig 19: Aligning Slot In Pinion Shaft Grommet With Lug Portion On Valve Housing
    G07363134Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  28. Loosen the upper steering joint bolt (A), then slip the lower end of the steering joint (B) onto the pinion shaft (C) taking care to align the gap (D) within the angle.
    Fig 20: Loosening Upper Steering Joint Bolt With Torque Specifications
    G07363135Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  29. Install a new cover seal (A) all the way around in steering joint cover B. Make sure there are no wrinkles in the seal, then install steering joint cover B.
    Fig 21: Installing Cover Seal
    G07363136Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  30. Align the bolt hole (A) on the steering joint with the groove (B) around the pinion shaft, then loosely install the lower steering joint bolt (C).
    Fig 22: Aligning Bolt Hole On Steering Joint With Groove With Torque Specifications
    G07363137Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  31. Pull on the steering joint to make sure that the steering joint is fully seated, then tighten the lower joint bolt to the specified torque.
  32. Tighten the upper steering joint bolt (D) to the specified torque.
  33. Install steering joint cover A.
    Fig 23: Installing Steering Joint Cover
    G07363138Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  34. Remove the steering wheel holder tool (A).
    Fig 24: Removing Steering Wheel Holder Tool
    G07363139Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  35. Install the relay box (A), then connect the wire harness clips.
    Fig 25: Installing Relay Box With Torque Specifications
    G07363140Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  36. Install the front strut brace (see FRAME BRACE REPLACEMENT ).
  37. Do the battery terminal reconnection procedure (see RECONNECTION ), and do these tasks:
    • Make sure the horn and the turn signal switches work properly.
    • Make sure the steering wheel switches work properly.
    • Turn the ignition switch to ON (II) and check that the ECPS indicator does not come on.
  38. Fill the system with power steering fluid, and bleed air from the system (see FLUID CHECK/REPLACEMENT  ).
  39. After installation, do the following checks.
    • 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 gearbox for leaks (see FLUID LEAKAGE INSPECTION  ).
    • Check the steering wheel spoke angle. If the 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 serrations.
    • Set the steering column to the center tilt position, then do the front toe inspection (see FRONT TOE INSPECTION/ADJUSTMENT ).
    • Do the VSA neutral position memorization procedure (see VSA SENSOR NEUTRAL POSITION MEMORIZATION ).
  40. Install the left and right upper fender trim and left upper trim (see UPPER FENDER TRIM REPLACEMENT ).
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