Ford 8C3Z-3504-ARM
Steering Gear

New O-ring seals need installation before disconnecting the pressure and return lines at any time. The Hunter(R) 28-75-1 steering wheel holding device should be used to maintain a straight steering wheel position. The vehicle should be placed in NEUTRAL gear before setting it upon a hoist. You should be mindful to keep the steering column from rotating as you disconnect the steering column shaft because such movement can damage the Clock Spring. Moving the column requires a full Clock Spring removal and recentering operation. The steering column shaft requires bolt detachment from the rack and pinion and should get tightened to 55 Nm (41 lb-ft) for commercial chassis or 25 Nm (18 lb-ft) for non-commercial chassis during installation. Perform the pressure and return line fitting removal on the rack and pinion then discard the O-ring seals and apply new ones using a torque of 20 Nm (177 lb-in). Interchange the drag link-to-sector shaft arm cotter pin and remove its nut retainer followed by the nut. Dispose of the cotter pin then install the nut at 90 Nm (66 lb-ft). Use the Steering Arm Remover to divide the sector shaft arm from the drag link before removing the three rack and pinion bolts as well as the rack and pinion that requires tightening to 165 Nm (122 lb-ft) upon installation. Secure the rack and pinion in a vise because you will need to remove its sector shaft arm nut with its lock washer before tightening the new nut to 275 Nm (203 lb-ft). The conductor installs the Steering Arm Remover tool to separate the rack and pinion sector shaft arm from its position. Ensure to install fresh O-ring seals before joining pressure and return line fittings while you must install a new cotter pin. The power steering system needs its fluid added as the last step.

The initial steps for rack and pinion replacement in 5.4L and 6.8L vehicles require removing the air cleaner outlet pipe and hoisting the vehicle with neutral transmission and straight front wheels. Detach the rack and pinion shield from its line fitting position before shifting it up the bottom steering column shaft. Maintain the steering column shaft stationary when connecting or disconnecting the intermediate shaft because any rotation could harm the Clock Spring. If rotation occurs, the Clock Spring needs to be extracted before readjustment. The lower steering column shaft-to-rack and pinion bolt removal allows for disconnecting the lower steering column shaft from the rack and pinion. Secure the bolt with a 48 Nm (36 lb-ft) torque setting during reinstallation. The return hose-to-rack and pinion fitting gets disconnected while discarding the O-ring seal, then torquing the new fitting to 35 Nm (26 lb-ft). Follow the same procedure for the pressure line-to-rack and pinion fitting while discarding its O-ring seal, then applying 35 Nm (26 lb-ft) torque. You should remove the cotter pin, retainer cap, and inner drag link-to-sector shaft arm nut before tightening the nut to 175 Nm (129 lb-ft). The inner drag link needs disconnection from the sector shaft arm using the Steering Arm Remover tool. Professionals should detach the three rack and pinion securing bolts on F-250/350 models before reinstalling new bolts tightly secured at 165 Nm (122 lb-ft). Remove the three bolts from F-450/550 vehicles and replace them with new bolts, which should be tightened to 300 Nm (221 lb-ft). The sector shaft arm-to-sector shaft nut requires immediate disposal before the addition of a new nut, which needs to be torqued to 475 Nm (350 lb-ft). The F-250/350 vehicles need the Steering Arm Remover to separate the sector shaft arm, but F-450/550 vehicles require the Differential Bearing Remover with two Grade 8 bolts measuring 90 mm (3.54 inches) for this task. Proper installation of new O-ring seals on pressure and return line/hose fittings will stop fluid leaks before completing the installation procedure for new components and filling the power steering system.

Fill the power steering system.

Use the Steering Arm Remover.