OEM 2007 Dodge Caravan Rack And Pinion

2007 Dodge Caravan Rack And Pinion Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Service and Repair a Rack and Pinion Steering Gear on 2007 Dodge Caravan?

  A: To begin servicing and repairing the rack and pinion, open the power steering fluid reservoir cap and use a siphon pump to remove most of the fluid carefully so as not to ruin the filter. Lock the steering wheel center so that the Clock Spring does not accidentally move after you detach it from the intermediate steering coupler. Place the steering wheel in front and attach it to a steering wheel lock to secure it. Lift the carpet aside from the dash seal base at the steering column and take out the screws that hold the cover fast to the lower dash panel, then raise the cover to view the intermediate shaft coupler roll pin. To remove the roll pin, place Special Tool 6831A on top of the knurled nut, securing the threaded rod and turn the nut while keeping the threaded rod still. Pull the coupler away from the pinion shaft, after which lift and support the vehicle. Take off the front wheel and tire sets and, if you're keeping the outer tie rods, loosen the jam nut on the inner side of the tie rods as well. Loosen the nut that links the upper segment of the steering tie rod to the steering knuckle on both sides by holding down the stud with a socket and wrenching off the nut. Both the driver's side and passenger's side can have the outer tie rod released from the steering knuckle using Puller and Special Tool C-3894-A. Move to the right and pull on the tie rods until you stop at the internal stop which is imperative for removing gears later. Remove both the NVLD assembly and the emissions vapor canister, then separate a single hose on the power steering cooler to let the fluid drain. Get rid of the two bolts holding the power steering cooler to the cradle crossmember reinforcement, as well as the screws attaching the pressure and return hoses to the rear of the cradle crossmember. Take off the power steering pressure and return tubes from the rack and pinion, then remove the two hoses from the tubes. Extract the three bolts and nuts connecting the rack and pinion to the front suspension cradle crossmember, then slide the rack and pinion enough to allow the pinion shaft to drop below the cradle crossmember and push the rack and pinion toward the passenger side so the left outer tie rod end enters through the hole in the cradle reinforcement. At last, drop the rack and pinion down into the opening in the center of the cradle crossmember reinforcement and if needed, remove the outer tie rod ends from the inner tie rod threads, counting how many times you turned them to set up the toe properly before the wheel alignment.