Power Steering Gear: Disassembly
- Drain fluid from steering gear. Remove adjusting lock nut. Remove side cover bolts. Screw in adjusting bolt 2 or 3 turns to separate cover.
- With gear in neutral position, tap bottom of cross shaft with plastic hammer to remove cross shaft. Do not damage cross shaft splines and oil seal.
- Mount valve housing in vise. Using Spanner Wrench (MB990852 ) to hold rack piston stationary, remove valve housing and rack piston assembly. Do not hold housing with rack pointing down as rack may slide from housing.
- Place valve housing in vise. Move rack piston up and down to check backlash between circulator balls and rack piston gutter. Turn the rack piston fully into the valve housing.
- Loosen 2 turns to measure backlash. Service limit is .008" (.20 mm). If backlash exceeds limit, replace ball screw unit and rack piston as an assembly.
- Remove rack piston by turning counterclockwise. Do not lose circulator balls. Remove "O" ring, seal ring, steel balls, circulators and circulator holder from rack piston (4WD pickups use only "O" ring and seal ring).
- Do not disconnect end cap. Using Spanner Wrench (MB990853 ), loosen top cover. Remove top cover and input worm shaft from valve housing.
- Remove thrust plates, needle roller bearings, seal rings and "O" rings from input worm unit and valve housing. Screwing in adjuster bolt at tip of cross shaft, remove side cover.
- Do not lose 33 rollers of roller bearing. Remove "O" ring, needle bearing, adjusting bolt and adjusting plate. Do not remove seal at rear of needle bearing unless fluid leaks from adjusting bolt.
- Do not remove bleeder plug unless necessary. Remove seal ring and "O" ring from valve housing. Remove bearing and oil seal from top cover. Remove oil seal and seal ring from steering gear. Do not disassemble needle bearing.