Ford 7W1Z-3504-ARM
Steering Gear

The first step should be to disconnect electric power from air suspension before starting any rack and pinion service to avoid sudden changes in air spring pressure that might affect vehicle positioning during hoisting, jacking, or towing operations. To start service on the rack and pinion safely, disable the fire suppression system if present along with setting the air suspension switch to the OFF position. Place the vehicle in the NEUTRAL position on the hoist and use an appropriate steering wheel holder to keep the wheel directly facing front. Avoid any impact on the intermediate shaft when disconnected from the rack and pinion because damage to the Clock Spring will result from rotation; reinstall the Clock Spring if this occurs. The bolt should be extracted from the engine compartment to break the connection of the intermediate shaft from the rack and pinion, and this bolt requires a 30 Nm (22 lb-ft) torque setting for reinstalling stages. Your tool needs the hex holding feature to stop the stud from rotating as you unscrew the tie rod nuts from the wheel knuckles until you reach 80 Nm (59 lb-ft) tightness for reinstallation. New O-ring seals must be used in every instance where line connections with the rack and pinion occur. The clamp plate bolt should be removed before disconnecting the lines, and the old seals need disposal before tightening fresh seals to 18 Nm (13 lb-ft). The procedure requires disconnecting the variable assist electrical connector of the rack and pinion for removal of the rack and pinion-to-crossmember nuts, which need to be tightened to 103 Nm (76 lb-ft) before installation. Slacken the rack and pinion-to-crossmember studs, then unfasten the rack and pinion before retightening all the studs to 20 Nm during reinstallation. The removal steps should be reversed while testing for leaks within the filled system. The system can be repowered while enabling the air suspension service switch if present.

All rack and pinion maintenance work should start with powering off the air suspension electrical system to stop unpredictable pressure changes in the air springs because they may make the vehicle move unexpectedly during service. The service switch for air suspension should be set to the OFF position while deactivating the fire suppression system if it applies to the vehicle. Maintain vehicular NEUTRAL while hoisting the vehicle as you apply a proper holding device to secure the straight-ahead steering wheel position. Allowing rotation of the intermediate shaft without rack and pinion connection could damage the Clock Spring, so inspection and re-alignment of the Clock Spring will be necessary in case of shaft rotation. Detach the intermediate shaft from the rack and pinion by removing the bolt inside the engine compartment, then re-tighten the bolt to 30 Nm when reinstalling. Installation requires tightness of 80 Nm (59 ft. lbs.) when securing the tie rods to their respective wheel knuckles. The procedure for disconnecting rack and pinion lines requires fresh O-ring seals since removal of the clamp plate bolt allows access to disconnect the lines; discard existing seals before tightening new ones properly to 18 Nm (13 ft. lbs). A disconnect of the variable assist electrical connector must be performed on the rack and pinion followed by removal of rack and pinion-to-crossmember nuts which need to be tightened to 103 Nm (76 ft. lbs.) during installation. Install the rack and pinion along with its studs by securing them with a torque of 20 Nm (15 ft. lbs.) when complete. Perform the reinstallation steps while checking for leaks within the system after completion. When the vehicle contains fire suppression, the system needs repowering, then the air suspension service switch can be activated if present.

Allowing the intermediate shaft to rotate, as this may damage the clockspring.

The clockspring must be removed and recentered.