Q: What Precautions Should Be Taken Before Beginning Service on the Rack and Pinion Steering Gear on Ford Crown Victoria?
A: 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.
Q: How to service and repair the front rack and pinion steering gear on Ford Expedition?
A: The first step of rack and pinion repair requires hoisting the vehicle with the gear placed in NEUTRAL position. Maintain the steering column shaft in its original position throughout removal from the rack and pinion assembly because ambiguity of the Clock Spring can lead to damage. Therefore, check for Clock Spring orientation when necessary. Position the steering wheel exactly in its center position. The service starts with discarding the outer tie-rod end nuts before employing a Ball Joint Tool Separator to disconnect the tie-rod ends from wheel knuckles while attending to the tie-rod end boot. The lower cooling fan shroud tab must be freed before rotating the shroud upward. First remove the rack and pinion-to-crossmember bolts followed by disconnecting the oil drip shield along with these two bolts. Remove the steering column shaft-to-rack and pinion bolt then disconnect the shaft but prevent the shaft from rotating. The procedure to disconnect power steering lines includes removing the power steering line clamp plate bolt followed by rotating the clamp plate and discarding both O-ring seals. Unfasten the two bolts that hold rack and pinion to crossmember then proceed to remove rack and pinion discarding bolts. When installing the rack and pinion ensure the distinct seating position of the LH bushing because the RH bushing lacks locking tabs. Place the rack and pinion into position before installing two new rack and pinion-to-crossmember bolts which need to be tightened to 440 Nm (325 lb-ft). Screw in the steering column shaft before securing the bolt with a torque value of 30 Nm (22 lb-ft). Fully install O-ring seals into position before joining the steering lines through a process of clamp plate rotation followed by clamp plate bolt tightening to 23 Nm (17 lb-ft). Authenticate the oil drip shield and adjust its two bolts to 7 Nm torque level (62 lb-in). Secure the cooling fan shroud downward and connect the tie-rod ends to the wheel knuckles by tightening new nuts to 115 Nm (85 lb-ft). Complete the power steering system filling and check the front toe measurement for adjustment if required.
Q: How to Service and Repair the Rack and Pinion Steering Gear on Ford Focus?
A: A suitable device should be used to maintain the steering wheel in direct position before servicing the rack and pinion. Steer clear of steering column rotation before you detach the steering column shaft by not touching the Clock Spring. You must reinstall and recenter the Clock Spring after any steering column rotations. The upper steering column shaft-to-lower steering column shaft bolt needs removal along with its disposal. Loosen the two outer tie-rod end nuts just enough using the hex-holding feature after setting the wheels and tires aside but keeping the ball studs protected by the remaining outer tie-rod end nuts. The ball joint seal requires protection while a Tie-Rod End Remover operates to disconnect outer tie-rod ends from wheel knuckles before discarding the outer tie-rod end nuts. The stabilizer bar links need to be disconnected from the struts by removing the two stabilizer bar link upper nuts and discarding these nuts. Unfasten the engine support insulator-to-transaxle bracket bolt followed by the steering line-to-rack and pinion retainer bolt and its retainer. The pressure and return lines that connect to the rack and pinion need removal for discarding the O-ring seals. A jack should be used to support the subframe while you remove the two upper and four lower subframe bolts until you can lower the subframe without breaking the lower ball joints attached to the wheel knuckle. Sever the dash seal from the rack and pinion before putting it to the side. Disconnect the lower steering column shaft from the rack and pinion through bolt removal and discarding before taking out the two rack and pinion bolts and rack and pinion while discarding the bolts. New O-ring seals must be installed onto pressure and return lines before setting the rack and pinion into position and tightening two new rack and pinion bolts to 63 Nm (46 lb-ft). Fasten the lower steering column shaft to the rack and pinion with a new bolt which needs 28 Nm (21 lb-ft) torque. Attach the dashboard seal to the rack and pinion while making sure it lies precisely in the center point and remains well-secured. Loosely install first the two upper then the four lower subframe bolts before tightening the lower ones to 175 Nm (129 lb-ft) along with the upper ones to 103 Nm (76 lb-ft) when raising the front subframe. Reinstall the power steering rack and pinion pressure and return lines before you tighten the steering line clamp plate bolt to 23 Nm (17 lb-ft) and position the steering line retainer by fastening its bolt to 4 Nm (35 lb-in). Use a new bolt to install the transaxle roll restrictor while torquing it to 50 Nm (37 lb-ft). Then connect the stabilizer bar links to the struts by installing two new nuts which need tightening to 55 Nm (41 lb-ft). New outer tie-rod end nuts should be installed after which technicians should torque them to 35 Nm (26 lb-ft). The sequence continues with wheels and tires installation. Fuse the upper steering column shaft to the lower steering column shaft with one new bolt which should be tightened to 28 Nm (21 lb-ft). The power steering system requires fluid addition before performing the front toe adjustment tests if needed.