Solved: How to replace Power Rack and Pinion Steering Gear on Acura Car Models?

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The procedure is as follows :----

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

The radio may have a coded theft protection circuit. Make sure you have the code from the owner before disconnecting the battery, removing the radio fuse, or removing the radio.

2.2CL, 2.3CL, 3.0CL and Integra

Lift the power steering reservoir and disconnect the return hose that goes to the oil cooler.

Connect a hose of suitable diameter to the disconnected return hose and place the end of the hose in a container to collect the power steering fluid.

CAUTION

Take care not to spill the fluid on the body and engine assembly. Wipe off any spilled fluid at once.

Start the engine, let it run at idle, and turn the steering wheel from lock to lock several times. When fluid stops running out of the hose, promptly shut the engine OFF . Connect the return hose to the reservoir. Properly dispose of the used fluid.

Disconnect the negative battery cable.

Using cleaning solvent and a brush, wash any oil and dirt off the valve body unit and its lines, and the end of the rack.

Remove the steering joint cover.

Remove the ignition key, locking the steering wheel in the straight ahead position.

Remove the steering joint lower bolt and pull the joint toward the column.

Raise and safely support the vehicle, then remove the front wheels.

Remove the cotter pins and unscrew the tie rod end ball joint nuts halfway. Discard the cotter pins.

Break the tie rod ball joints loose from the steering knuckles, using a suitable tie rod end removal tool.

Remove the nuts and lift the tie rod ends out of the steering knuckles.

If equipped with a manual transaxle, disconnect the extension rod and the shift rod by performing the following:
1. If equipped with a VTEC engine, remove the heat shield.
2. Disconnect the shift extension rod from the transaxle case.
3. Slide the boot on the shift rod back to expose the clip and spring pin. Remove the clip from the shift rod.
4. Drive out the spring pin with a punch and disconnect the shift control rod. Note that on reassembly, install the clip back into place after driving the spring pin in.

If equipped with an automatic transaxle, disconnect the shift cable from the transaxle by performing the following:
1. Remove the shift cable holder from the vehicle.
2. Remove the shift cable cover from the transaxle.
3. Remove the bolt attaching the control lever to the control shaft, then remove the control lever from the control shaft. Discard the lockwasher.
4. Position the cable out of the way without bending the cable.

Detach the Oxygen (O ₂ S) sensor electrical connector.

Remove the catalytic converter front attaching nuts and bolts, then remove the rear attaching nuts. Remove the catalytic converter from the vehicle. Discard the locknuts and old exhaust gaskets.

Remove the return clamp from the left side of the rear beam, and move the return pipe above the rack and pinion.

Remove the rear beam brace.

Remove the left tie rod end, then slide the inner tie rod all of the way to the right.

Disconnect the two lines from the valve body unit on the rack and pinion. Place the pipe and hose to the rear side of the rack and pinion, so they do not hinder removal of the rack and pinion.

WARNING

After disconnecting the hose and pipe, plug or cap the hose and pipe to prevent foreign materials from entering the valve body unit.

Do not loosen the cylinder pipes between the valve body unit and the cylinder.

Remove the gearbox mounting bolts.

Pull the rack and pinion all the way down to clear the pinion shaft from the bulkhead, and remove the pinion shaft grommet.

Holding the rack and pinion assembly, slide the rack all of the way to the right, then place the left rack end below the rear beam.

Move the rack and pinion assembly to the left, and tilt the left side down to remove it from the vehicle.

To install:

Gently push the left inner tie rod end into the rack and pinion assembly until it reaches the end of its travel.

Place the right side of the rack and pinion over the rear beam and move the assembly completely to the right. Lift the left side of the rack and pinion over the rear beam.

Install the pinion shaft grommet, then slide the rack and pinion to the left and up into position. Be sure the pinion shaft fits the pinion shaft grommet properly by aligning the tab on the grommet with the slot in the valve body.

With the rack and pinion properly positioned install the mounting bolts. Tighten the left side mounting bolts to 28 ft. lbs. (38 Nm), and the right side mounting bolts to 43 ft. lbs. (58 Nm).

After installing the rack and pinion, check the air hose connections for interference with adjacent parts.

Center the steering rack within its stroke.

If applicable, be sure that the cable reel in the steering column is cantered by performing the following:
1. Turn the steering wheel left approximately 150 degrees, to check the cable reel position with the indicator.
2. If the cable reel is centered, the yellow gear tooth lines up with the alignment mark on the cover.
3. Return the steering wheel right approximately 150 degrees, to position the steering wheel in the straight ahead position.

CAUTION

Do not connect the steering joint to the pinion without the cable reel being centered. Damage to the SRS system components and personal injury may occur.

Slip the lower end of the steering joint onto the pinion shaft (line up the bolt hole with the groove around the shaft), and tighten the lower bolt. Tighten the bolt to 16 ft. lbs. (22 Nm).

Be sure that the lower steering joint is securely in the groove in the steering pinion. If the steering wheel and rack and pinion are not centered, reposition the serration's at the lower end of the steering joint.

Install the steering joint cover with the clamps and clips.

Connect the feed pipe to the rack and pinion valve body unit, tighten the fitting to 27 ft. lbs. Connect the return hose to the rack and pinion valve body unit and tighten the hose clamp.

Install the rear beam brace rod and the return pipe clamp on the rear beam. Tighten the rear beam brace rod bolts to 28 ft. lbs. (38 Nm).

Install the catalytic converter with new gaskets and new locknuts. Tighten the rear nuts to 25 ft. lbs. (33 Nm). Tighten the front nuts and bolts to 16 ft. lbs. (22 Nm). Connect the O ₂ S sensor electrical connector.

If equipped with a manual transaxle connect the shift linkage by performing the following:
1. Install the shifter rod and install the spring pin to attach the shifter rod to the transaxle.
2. Install the clip over the spring pin, then cover the clip and spring pin with the boot.
3. Install the extension rod and tighten the bolt to 16 ft. lbs. (22 Nm).
4. Install the heat shield, if equipped and tighten the bolts to 7.2 ft. lbs. (9.8 Nm).

If equipped with an automatic transaxle, connect the shift cable by performing the following:
1. Install the shift control lever to the control shaft, use a new lockwasher to secure the bolt. Tighten the bolt to 120 inch lbs. (14 Nm).
2. Install the shift cable cover and tighten the bolts to 16 ft. lbs. (22 Nm).
3. Attach the shift control cable holder, tighten the bolt to 104 inch lbs. (12 Nm).

Thread the right and left tie rod ends on to the rack and pinion an equal number of turns.

Connect the tie rods to the steering knuckles and install the castle nuts. Tighten the castle nuts to 29-35 ft. lbs. (39-47 Nm), tighten the nuts enough to install new cotter pins. Do not loosen the castle nuts to install the cotter pins.

Install the front wheels.

Fill the power steering reservoir with the recommended lubricant to the upper line.

Connect the negative battery cable and enter the radio security code.

Start the engine and run at a fast idle, then turn the steering lock to lock several times to bleed the air from the system.

Check the power steering fluid again and add, if necessary. Check the system for leaks.

Check and adjust the front end alignment.

2.5TL, 3.2TL, 3.5RL, Legend and Vigor

Disconnect the fluid return hose from the rack and put the end in a container. Start the engine and turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock several times. When fluid stops coming out, stop the engine.

Disconnect the negative battery cable, then disconnect the positive battery cable.

Raise and safely support the vehicle and remove the front wheels.

Remove the cotter pins and disconnect the tie rod end joints using a separator tool. Be careful to not damage the threads on the joints.

Loosen the steering joint bolt but do not remove it yet.

Remove the splash guard. The 2 long bolts also hold the rack in place, and the rack will now be partially hanging on the steering joint.

Carefully clean all the hydraulic fitting connections with solvent and a brush and blow them dry.

For 2.5TL and Vigor, disconnect the 8mm sensor line from the valve body by removing the 14mm flare nut.

Disconnect the hydraulic fittings and hoses.

Remove the hydraulic line mounting clamps from the rack.

Place a jack under the rack and remove the steering joint bolt. Remove the rack assembly from the vehicle.

To install:

Several bolts thread into aluminum. When replacing fasteners, be sure to use bolts that have a Dacro® coating specifically designed for such applications. Using normal steel bolts could cause corrosion and loosening of the bolt.

WARNING

Use ONLY genuine Honda power steering fluid. Using any other type or brand of fluid will damage the power steering system.

For 2.5TL and Vigor, loosely install the right mounting bracket to hold the rack in the vehicle. The arrow stamped on the bracket should face the front of the vehicle. Install the 8mm sensor line in its clip to secure it to the rack cylinder tube.

For Legend and 3.2TL, fit the pinion into the steering joint and install the right side mounting rubber and bracket. Do not tighten the bolts yet.

Loosely connect the hydraulic lines. Install the hydraulic line cushions and clamps, then tighten the line connections.

Connect the four lines to the control unit. Tighten the bolts to 96 inch lbs. (11 Nm)

Connect the 6mm return line to 104 inch lbs. (13 Nm) and the 10mm line to 21 ft. lbs. (29 Nm)

Install the hoses and the hose clamps.

Be sure that the air bag system cable reel is centered. Turn the steering wheel left until the yellow gear tooth is visible through the lower left inspection hole. The yellow gear tooth should align with the mark on the inspection cover. Do not bolt the steering joint until the mark match.

Install the steering joint bolts, be sure the joint does not bind when turned, then tighten the bolts to 16 ft. lbs. (22 Nm).

Tighten the right side mount bolts to 28 ft. lbs. (39 Nm).

Install the splash guard and tighten the short bolts to 28 ft. lbs. (39 Nm). Tighten the long bolts to 43 ft. lbs. (60 Nm).

For 2.5TL, connect the feed line, the inlet hose, and the outlet hose to the valve body unit. Tighten the bolts to 96 inch lbs. (11 Nm). Install the 8mm sensor line to the valve body unit. Tighten the line to 18 ft. lbs. (25 Nm).

Connect the tie rod ends and tighten the nuts to 36-43 ft. lbs. (50-60 Nm), then tighten them enough to install a new cotter pin.

When installation is complete, refill the hydraulic reservoir with new steering fluid, reconnect the battery, start the engine, and turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock several times to bleed the system. Check fluid level again.