OEM Ford Explorer Sport Trac Rack And Pinion

Ford Explorer Sport Trac Rack And Pinion Parts and Q&A

• Steering Gear
  8A2Z-3504-ARM
  Q: How to service and repair the front rack and pinion steering gear on Ford Explorer Sport Trac?

  A:

  Welding and servicing the rack and pinion system should start with eliminating foreign material from entering the power steering system to stop component failure. You should use Hunter(R) 28-75-1 as a Steering Wheel holding device to maintain the wheel in a straight-ahead position. The service and repair of the rack and pinion begins with wheel removal followed by a clean-up of the 2 bolts, pin-type retainer, and oil shield as well as proper torque specification to 15 Nm (133 lb-in) when replacing them. Replace the lower steering column shaft-to-rack and pinion bolt with a new one while securing it at 48 Nm (35 lb-ft). After disconnecting the lower steering column shaft from the rack and pinion, it is necessary to remove the steering line clamp plate nut while tightening it to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft) prior to reinstalling it. When disconnecting the power steering pressure line and fluid cooler through rotating the steering line clamp plate, users must replace both O-rings. Replace the existing 2 tie-rod end nuts with new ones which should be tightened to 103 Nm (76 lb-ft). The procedure requires using a C-Frame and Screw to detach the 2 tie-rod ends from the wheel knuckle before removing the 2 rack and pinion-to-crossmember nuts and bolts which should be retightened at 350 Nm (258 lb-ft). The shock absorber lower bolt needs to be removed together with the flagnut from 4WD vehicles before tightening a new bolt to 350 Nm (258 lb-ft). Wait until the repair procedure is done and the vehicle sits on its wheels to tighten the LH lower arm nuts and bolts because this avoids incorrect clamp load or bushing damage. The installation process begins by throwing away both lower arm forward and rearward flag bolt and nut. Finally, new replacement bolts receive 400 Nm (296 lb-ft) and 200 Nm (148 lb-ft) torques when installing them. The stabilizer bar link nut acts as disposable material during installation because technicians must discard this component while tightening the new nut to 35 Nm (26 lb-ft). First, remove the rack and pinion from the LH side of the vehicle while analyzing the decision to replace it with a new rack and pinion. The removal step includes elimination of 4 rack and pinion bushings and 2 nuts. To reinstall, use the opposite order of steps while installing two new O-ring seals and new flag nuts along with filling the power steering system and checking setting the front toe.