Steering Gear: Disassembly
- Cap all openings in gear. Clean gear exterior completely. Mount gear in vise so that pitman shaft points downward. Rotate housing end plug retainer ring until one end of plug is over hole in housing.
- Force end of ring from groove in housing. Remove ring. Rotate stub shaft counterclockwise to force housing end plug from housing. Rotate stub shaft 1/2 turn clockwise to draw rack piston inward.CAUTION: DO NOT rotate stub shaft more than necessary to remove plug, as ball bearings will fall out of worm and rack piston assembly.
- Remove rack piston end plug. Remove lock nut from pitman shaft adjuster. Remove pitman shaft cover. Remove and discard "O" ring or gasket from cover. Turn stub shaft until pitman shaft teeth are centered in housing.
- Using a soft-faced hammer, tap end of pitman shaft to free shaft from housing. Remove pitman shaft. Remove adjuster plug lock nut. Using a spanner wrench, remove adjuster plug.
- Insert Rack Piston Arbor (J-21552) into end of rack piston assembly until arbor just contacts worm shaft. Threaded arbor will keep recirculating balls from falling out of rack piston. Turn stub shaft counterclockwise to force rack piston onto arbor. Remove rack piston and arbor as an assembly.
- Ensure arbor is fully inserted so recirculating balls will not fall out. Remove stub shaft and control valve assembly from housing. Remove worm, wormshaft lower thrust bearing, and races from housing.