Steering Gear: Service and Repair

Removal and Installation





All vehicles

Note:
^ 2.0L Zetec shown, 3.0L (4V) similar.

1. Remove the rear transaxle insulator.
1 Remove the bolts and nuts.
2 Remove the rear transaxle insulator.





Vehicles equipped with automatic transaxle
2. Remove the bolts and the rear transaxle insulator bracket.





All vehicles
3. Remove the power steering pressure and return line bracket bolts.
4. Remove the front wheels.





Vehicles equipped with manual transaxle
5. Remove the bolts and the rear transaxle insulator bracket.





All vehicles

Note:
^ LH side shown, RH similar.

6. Remove the tie rod end nut.
1 Remove the cotter pin.
2 Remove the nut.

Note:
^ LH side shown, RH similar.





7. Using the special tool, separate the tie rod end from the knuckle.

Note:
^ Record the number of turns required to remove the tie rod end.





8. Remove the tie rod ends and the tie rod end jam nuts.





9. Remove the steering gear coupling pinch bolt.
1 Slide the boot up.
2 Remove the steering gear coupling pinch bolt.

Note:
^ Drain the excess power steering fluid into a suitable drain pan.

Note:
^ Do not drop the O-ring seals.





10. Disconnect the power steering pressure and return lines.
1 Remove the bolt.
2 Disconnect the power steering pressure and return lines.
11. Lower the vehicle on the hoist.





12. Remove the steering shaft.





13. Remove the steering shaft boot.

Note:
^ LH shown; RH similar.





14. Remove the two steering gear mounting bolts.
15. Raise the vehicle on the hoist.

Note:
^ With the mounting bolts removed, slide the gear forward to separate the steering coupling from the steering gear shaft.

16. Remove the steering gear.

Installation

All vehicles

Note:
^ With the mounting bolts removed, slide the gear rearward to connect the steering coupling to the steering gear shaft.

1. Position the steering gear in the vehicle.
2. Lower the hoist.





3. Install the two steering gear mounting bolts.





4. Install the steering shaft boot.





5. Install the steering shaft.





6. Install the power steering pressure and return line bracket bolts.
7. Raise the vehicle on the hoist.

Note:
^ Make sure the O-ring seals are on the power steering pressure and return lines.





8. Connect the power steering pressure and return lines to the steering gear and install the bolt.





9. Install the steering gear coupling pinch bolt and slide the boot down.
10. Thread the tie rod end jam nuts onto the front wheel spindle tie rods.

Note:
^ Use the numbers recorded from removal to install the tie rod ends.

11. Thread the tie rod ends onto the front wheel spindle tie rods.





12. Tighten the tie rod end jam nuts.

Note:
^ LH side shown, RH similar.





13. Connect the tie rod end to the knuckle.
1 Install the nut.
2 Install the cotter pin.





Vehicles equipped with manual transaxle
14. Install the rear transaxle insulator bracket and the bolts.

All vehicles
15. Install the front wheels.





Vehicles equipped with automatic transaxle
16. Install the rear transaxle insulator bracket and the bolts.





All vehicles

Note:
^ 2.0L Zetec shown, 3.0L (4V) similar.

17. Install the rear transaxle insulator.
18. Fill, bleed and leak check the power steering system.
19. Align the front wheels to specifications.