OEM Dodge Neon Rack And Pinion

Dodge Neon Rack And Pinion Parts and Q&A

• Steering Gear
  5272500AG
  Q: How to Remove and Install a Rack and Pinion Steering Gear on Dodge Neon?

  A:

  Before taking off the power rack and pinion, put the Steering Wheel in the straight-ahead position and lock it so it doesn't turn, keeping the Clock Spring in its correct place. Remove the retainer pin that holds the steering column together, back off the pinch bolt nut and unfasten the steering column coupling pinch bolt in the passenger compartment so that you can separate both couplings. Lift the vehicle and take off both front wheel assemblies. Shut the wheel to one side and disconnect the nuts binding the outer tie rods to the Steering Knuckles. Make use of Remover, Special Tool MB991113, to get rid of the outer tie rod at the steering knuckles and take away the tie rod heat shield. Release the hold on the power steering fluid pressure switch's connector and separate it. Take out the tube nut, unclamp the hose from the rack and pinion and release the fluid cooler hose. Open up the routing clips on the front of the power rack and pinion and remove the hose for the power steering fluid pressure. Remove the cooling tube from the right routing clip too. Lift off the two screws aligning the cooler with the front suspension crossmember and let it hang freely. Loosen and take away the fasteners of the drive-belt splash shield and take out the shield. Remove the pencil strut from the right front corner of the crossmember and body, then remove the washer behind the strut bolt from the torque strut. Get rid of the bolts joining the torque strut and then lift out the strut itself. His job is to mark the front suspension crossmember location on the body so that the component is put back in the correct place. Roll a transmission jack beneath the front suspension crossmember's center and raise it for support. Untighten and take out the two front bolts holding the crossmember to the rails and unscrew the rear bolts until they just come out of the body threads, keeping them inside the isolator bushing in the lower control arm. Drop the front suspension crossmember far enough that the power rack and pinion can go out the back. With a roll pin punch, push the roll pin out of the coupling on the steering column and then push the coupling down off the pinion shaft. Loosen the pinion shaft dash cover seal around the power rack and pinion housing and take it out. With four bolts loose, pull out the power rack and pinion from the crossmember under the front suspension. The rack and pinion must be attached to the front suspension crossmember and connected using the four bolts until they reach a tightness of 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.). Over the power pinion shaft, attach the dash cover seal with the holes fitting the tabs on the housing. If you match the flat on the lower coupling with the one on the pinion shaft, you can slide the coupling onto the shaft, slide the roll pin in and install it. Keep the rack in the center of its range and raise the crossmember and power rack and pinion until it contacts the mounting spot. Place two rear crossmember bolts into the tapping plates and set the front bolts loosely with approximately 2 Nm of force. Misalign the crossmember with the previous marks guided by a soft face hammer, then tighten both the front and rear bolts securely. Place the engine torque strut and mounting bolts where they should be and tighten them when required. Place the washer on the torque strut bolt, snap in the pencil strut and fasten with two nuts to 58 Nm (43 ft. lbs.). Screw the drive-belt splash shield and tighten all the fasteners. Thoroughly clean the powder-coated surfaces of the open Power Steering Hose and rack and pinion ports and insert a new O-ring for the pressure hose that is lubricated with power steering fluid. Attach the pressure tube for power steering to the rack and pinion and turn the nuts in place without tightening them. If you have a cooler line installed, attach it, remove the routing clips and then fasten the pressure hose into the clips. Attach the cooler to your car and ensure the cooler tube is routed as recommended; then snap the clips shut after you're done. Use a wrench to tighten the hose tube nut to 34 Nm (25 ft. lbs.) and then join the cooler to the front suspension crossmember with the two screws. Secure the hose clamp to the hose, so the steel fitting won't block it and then attach the hose to the fitting, sealing the clamp. Separate the front of the rack and pinion to access the back of the power steering pump and then run the return hose to the left of the rod. For every outer tie rod, place the heat shield on it, bolt the outer tie rod end to the steering knuckle, begin the nut on the tire rod and clamp it down to 55 Nm (40 ft. lbs.). Fix the wheel and tire back to the vehicle, tightening those nuts to 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.) and then bring back the vehicle. Put the dash-to-lower coupling seal over the lower coupling's plastic collar, making sure there is grease on its lip. Friction-fit the lower coupling into the upper coupling, attach the coupling pinch bolt and tighten it down to 28 Nm (250 inch lbs.), putting in the retainer pin last. Take out the steering wheel holder, roll the steering wheel to check that the bumper-to-coupling seal isn't squeaking against the lower coupling, run the system initial operation service technique to fill and bleed all the parts, make sure there are no leaks and adjust the front toe.