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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 front 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 over the splines on the pinion shaft (A).

    Without ECPS 

    Fig 1: Wrapping Vinyl Tape Over Splines On Pinion Shaft With Torque Specifications (Without ECPS)
    G08075967Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

    With ECPS 

    Fig 2: Wrapping Vinyl Tape Over Splines On Pinion Shaft With Torque Specifications (With ECPS)
    G08075968Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  3. Install the return line joint (B) if removed.
  4. Without ECPS: Install the pinion shaft grommet (C) on the top of the valve housing.
  5. With ECPS: Install the pinion shaft grommet (D). Align the square holes (E) in the pinion shaft grommet with the lug portions (F) on the top of the valve housing. The grommet must not have a gap at the mating surface of the grommet and valve housing.
  6. Slide the steering gearbox (A) between the front subframe and body from the driver's side.
    Fig 3: Sliding Steering Gearbox
    G08075969Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  7. Carefully move the steering gearbox (A) toward the passenger's side until the pinion shaft clears the wheelwell opening on the body.
    Fig 4: Identifying Steering Gearbox
    G08075970Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  8. Continue moving the steering gearbox toward the passenger's side until the steering gearbox is in position.
  9. Raise the front subframe up to the body. Loosely install the new subframe mounting bolts (A) and the front stiffener mounting bolts (B), and the new rear stiffener mounting bolts (C).
    Fig 5: Identifying Subframe Mounting Bolts, Front Stiffener Mounting Bolts And Rear Stiffener Mounting Bolts
    G08075971Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  10. Align the front subframe with the subframe alignment pin (see FRONT SUBFRAME ALIGNMENT ).
  11. Tighten the lower transmission mount mounting bolts (A) and the ground cable bolt (B).
    Fig 6: Lower Transmission Mount Mounting Bolts And Ground Cable Bolt With Torque Specifications
    G08075972Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  12. Lower the transmission jack supporting the subframe.
  13. Position the cutout (A) of the mounting cushion (B) as shown in illustration, and install it on the passenger's side of the steering gearbox.
    Fig 7: Positioning Cutout Of Mounting Cushion With Torque Specifications
    G08075973Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  14. Install the gearbox mounting bracket (C) over the mounting cushion, and loosely install the mounting bolts.
  15. Install the gearbox stiffener bracket (A) on the driver's side of the front subframe, and tighten the bolts and nut to the specified torque.
    Fig 8: Gearbox Stiffener Bracket Bolts And Nut With Torque Specifications
    G08075974Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  16. Loosely install the new steering gearbox mounting bolts (A) on the driver's side of the steering gearbox.
    Fig 9: Steering Gearbox Mounting Bolts On Driver's Side Of Steering Gearbox With Torque Specifications
    G08075975Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  17. Tighten the steering gearbox mounting bolts on both sides to the specified torque alternately in two or more steps.
  18. Install the rear engine mount base bracket (A) with new mounting bolts (B) and the mounting bolts (C).
    Fig 10: Rear Engine Mount Base Bracket And Mounting Bolts With Torque Specifications
    G08075976Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  19. Install the rear engine mount (A) with new mounting bolts (B), and tighten to the specified torque.
    Fig 11: Rear Engine Mount With Mounting Bolts With Torque Specifications
    G08075977Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  20. Install the rear mount stop (C) and the heat shield (D) with new mounting nuts (E), and tighten to the specified torque.
  21. Install the inlet line clamp bolts (A), and tighten to the specified torque.
    Fig 12: Inlet Line Clamp Bolts With Torque Specifications
    G08075978Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  22. Install exhaust pipe A (see EXHAUST PIPE AND MUFFLER REPLACEMENT ).
  23. Install the propeller shaft onto the transfer shaft flange (see step 1 on PROPELLER SHAFT INSTALLATION ).
  24. Install the front subframe stiffener plate (A) with new mounting bolts (B), and tighten to the specified torque.
    Fig 13: Front Subframe Stiffener Plate And Mounting Bolts With Torque Specifications
    G08075979Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  25. Install the engine undercover (see ENGINE UNDERCOVER REPLACEMENT ) and the front splash shield (see FRONT SPLASH SHIELD REPLACEMENT ).
  26. Install the new front engine mount mounting bolts (A), then connect the front engine mount control solenoid valve tube (B).
    Fig 14: Front Engine Mount Mounting Bolts And Front Engine Mount Control Solenoid Valve Tube With Torque Specifications
    G08075980Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  27. Lower the vehicle.
  28. Install the new front engine mount mounting bolt (A), and install the front engine mount stop (B) and the vacuum hose bracket (C) with new mounting nuts (D).
    Fig 15: Front Engine Mount Mounting Bolt, Front Engine Mount Stop, Vacuum Hose Bracket And Mounting Nuts With Torque Specifications
    G08075981Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  29. Remove the engine support hanger, the engine hanger balance bar, and engine hanger adapter set, then install service caps to the cowl cover.
  30. Install the engine mount control solenoid valve bracket (A) to the rear cylinder head.
    Fig 16: Engine Mount Control Solenoid Valve Bracket And Bolt With Torque Specifications
    G08075982Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  31. Install the connector bracket (A) to the front cylinder head.
    Fig 17: Front Cylinder Head Connector Bracket With Torque Specifications
    G08075983Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  32. Connect the stabilizer link (A) to the stabilizer bar on both sides (see BUSHING REPLACEMENT ).
    Fig 18: Connecting Stabilizer Link To Stabilizer Bar On Both Sides With Torque Specifications
    G08075984Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  33. On both sides, wipe off any grease contamination from the ball joint tapered section and threads. Connect the tie-rod end ball joint (A) to the knuckle. Install the new nut (B), and tighten it to the specified torque.
    Fig 19: Connecting Tie-Rod End Ball Joint To Knuckle With Torque Specifications
    G08075985Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  34. Install a new cotter pin (C), and bend it as shown in illustration.
  35. Connect the return hose (A) securely, and tighten the adjustable hose clamp (B) (see POWER STEERING HOSE, LINE, AND PRESSURE SWITCH REPLACEMENT  ).
    Fig 20: Return Hose And Adjustable Hose Clamp With Torque Specifications
    G08075986Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  36. Connect the inlet line (C), and tighten the 16 mm flare nut (D) to the specified torque.
  37. With active damper system: Install the suspension stroke sensor harness clips (A) on both sides.
    Fig 21: Identifying Suspension Stroke Sensor Harness Clips On Both Sides
    G08075987Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  38. With ECPS: Connect the ECPS valve motor connector (A).
    Fig 22: Identifying ECPS Valve Motor Connector
    G08075988Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  39. Remove the hood prop bar (07AAZ-SZNA100), then reattach the hood support strut on the pivot bolt (see step 2 on HOOD SUPPORT STRUT REPLACEMENT ).
  40. Install the passenger's side front fender trim (see FRONT FENDER TRIM REPLACEMENT ).
  41. Install the front wheels, then set the wheels in the straight ahead position.
    NOTE: Before installing the wheel, clean the mating surfaces between the brake disc and the inside of the wheel.
  42. Center the steering rack within its stroke.
  43. Remove the vinyl tape around the splines on the pinion shaft.
  44. Loosen the steering joint upper 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 23: Identifying Steering Joint Upper Bolt, Steering Joint And Pinion Shaft Angle
    G08075989Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  45. Remove the steering wheel holder tool (A).
    Fig 24: Identifying Steering Wheel Holder Tool
    G08075990Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  46. Align the bolt hole (A) on the steering joint with the groove (B) around the pinion shaft, then loosely install the steering joint lower bolt (C).
    Fig 25: Steering Joint Lower And Upper Bolt With Torque Specifications
    G08075991Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  47. Pull on the steering joint to make sure that the steering joint is fully seated, then tighten the steering joint lower bolt to the specified torque.
  48. Tighten the steering joint upper bolt (D) to the specified torque.
  49. Install the steering joint cover (A).
    Fig 26: Identifying Steering Joint Cover Screws
    G08075992Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  50. Set the carpet (B) in place.
  51. Do the battery terminal reconnection procedure (see BATTERY TERMINAL DISCONNECTION AND RECONNECTION ), and check these items:
    • Make sure the horn and turn signal switches work properly.
    • Make sure the steering wheel switches work properly.
  52. Fill the system with power steering fluid, and bleed air from the system (see FLUID CHECK/REPLACEMENT  ).
  53. Install the engine cover (see step 57 on ENGINE INSTALLATION ).
  54. Install the front bulkhead cover (see FRONT BULKHEAD COVER REPLACEMENT ).
  55. Remove the hood prop bar (07AAZ-SZNA100), then reattach the hood support strut on the pivot bolt (see step  2 on STEERING GEARBOX REMOVAL ).
  56. Install the passenger's side front fender trim (see FRONT FENDER TRIM REPLACEMENT ).
  57. After installation, check these items:
    • 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 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 and to the center telescopic position, then do the front toe inspection (see WHEEL ALIGNMENT ).
    • Do the VSA sensor neutral position memorization (see YAW RATE-ACCELERATION SENSOR REPLACEMENT ).
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