Ford 9R3Z-3504-BRM
Steering Gear

The repair of the power steering system requires complete prevention of foreign material entry because it leads to power steering component failure. The Clock Spring gets damaged if the intermediate shaft rotates when disconnected from the rack and pinion. The Clock Spring needs to be removed first before recentering it. Start the maintenance on the 5.4L engine vehicle by taking off four nuts and the strut tower cross brace followed by the air cleaner outlet pipe. The Engine Lifting Bracket should be installed while technicians remove the LH engine mount nut which needs a torque of 63 Nm (46 lb-ft) when reinstalling. The Engine Lifting Bracket in combination with the Engine Support Bar lets you access sufficient space for removing the power steering pressure line clamp plate bolt and rack and pinion mounting bolt from the LH engine side. All vehicles require tire and wheel removal and subsequent disposal of tie-rod end nuts before using a Tie-Rod End Remover to free the ends from the wheel knuckles while tightening the replacement nuts to 80 Nm (59 lb-ft) torque setting. Cut off the steering column coupling from the rack and pinion by unfastening the coupling-to-rack and pinion bolt while removing the old bolt then reinstall the new bolt with 25 Nm (18 lb-ft) torque. Install pressure and return lines to the rack and pinion only after making sure all lines have proper seating before applying the clamp plate free from unusual materials without exceeding specified torque values. It is mandatory to install brand-new O-ring seals whenever power steering lines require disconnecting. Detaching the power steering line clamp plate bolt lets you rotate the plate before cutting the pressure and return lines apart while you discard old O-rings and apply new ones with torque set at 23 Nm (17 lb-ft). Following disconnection of the power steering pressure line install the bolt that connects the bracket to the rack and pinion using 9 Nm (80 lb-in) force while also tightening the pressure line bracket-to-crossmember bolt with equivalent torque before placing the tubing aside. To complete the installation you must first reverse all steps of removal while tightening rack and pinion bolts to 115 Nm (85 lb-ft) and filling the power steering system and testing front toe before finishing.