Steering Gearbox Removal/Installation
Steering Gearbox Removal and Installation
*Available through the Honda Tool and Equipment Program 888-424-6857
Removal
1. Vehicle Lift
1. Raise the vehicle on a lift, and make sure it is securely supported.
2. Wide - Hood Open Position
1. Open the hood, and secure it with hood support rod (A) in the wide-open position (B).
3. Front Wheel
1. Remove both front wheels.
4. Steering Joint Cover
1. Remove the steering joint cover (A).
5. Steering Column Lower Slide Shaft - Hold
1. Set the steering column to the center tilt position, and to the center telescopic position.
2. Hold the lower slide shaft (A) on the column with a piece of wire (B) between the joint yoke (C) of the lower slide shaft and the joint yoke (D) of the upper shaft to prevent the lower slider shaft from pulling out.
6. Steering Joint Bolt - Loosen
1. Loosen the steering joint bolt (A).
7. Steering Wheel Hold
1. Center the steering wheel spoke angle.
2. Install a commercially available steering wheel holder tool (A).
8. Steering Joint - Disconnection
1. Remove the steering joint bolt (A).
2. Disconnect the steering joint (B) from the pinion shaft.
NOTE:
* If the center guide (C) is in place and has not moved, leave it in place.
* If the center guide has come off, discard it.
9. Ball Joint - Removal
NOTICE:
Always use a ball joint remover to disconnect a ball joint. Do not strike the housing or any other part of the ball joint connection to disconnect it.
1. Install a hex nut (A) or the ball joint thread protector.
NOTE: When using a hex nut, make sure the nut is flush with the ball joint pin end to prevent damage to the threaded end of the ball joint pin.
2. Apply grease to the ball joint remover on the areas shown (A).
3. Install the ball joint remover as shown.
NOTE:
* Fasten the safety chain (A) securely to a suspension arm or the subframe (B).
* Making sure not to damage the ball joint boot.
4. Tighten the pressure bolt until the ball joint pin pops loose from the ball joint connecting hole.
NOTE: Do not use pneumatic or electric tools on the pressure bolt.
5. Remove the ball joint remover.
6. Remove the hex nut or the ball joint thread protector.
7. Pull the ball joint out of the ball joint connecting hole.
10. Tie-Rod End Ball Joint - Disconnection, Both Side
1. Remove the cotter pin (A) from the tie-rod end ball joint.
2. Remove the nut (B).
3. Disconnect the tie-rod end ball joint.
NOTE: Be careful not to damage the ball joint boot when installing the remover.
11. Front Stabilizer Ball Joint - Disconnection, Both Lower Arm Side
1. Remove the flange nut (A) while holding the respective joint pin (B) with a hex wrench (C).
2. Remove the stabilizer link (D).
12. Engine Undercover
1. Remove the engine undercover (A).
13. Splash Shield
1. Remove the splash shield (A).
14. Power Steering Gearbox Peripheral Assembly
1. Disconnect the connector.
2. Remove the ground terminal (A).
3. Remove the EPS harness (A).
4. Remove the harness bracket (B).
Driver's side
Passenger's side
5. Remove the steering gearbox mounting bolts (A).
6. Remove the stiffener mounting bolts (B).
7. Remove the steering gearbox stiffeners (C).
15. Subframe Jack and Support (Using Subframe Adapter)
1. Attach the subframe adapter to the front subframe (A) by looping the belt (B) over the front of the front subframe.
2. Secure the belt with its stop (C).
3. Raise the transmission jack.
4. Line up the slots in the front subframe adapter arms with the bolt holes on the transmission jack base.
5. Securely attach the front subframe adapter and the transmission jack with four bolts.
16. Lower Torque Rod - Disconnection
1. Remove the lower torque rod mounting bolts (A).
17. Front Subframe - Move
1. Remove the mid-stiffener mounting bolts (A) on both sides.
2. Loosen the subframe mounting bolts (A) so they are about 25 mm (0.98 in) from the mounting surface.
NOTE: Do not loosen the front subframe mounting bolts more than necessary.
3. Remove the subframe mounting bolts (A) on both sides.
4. Lower the jack slowly until the front subframe has dropped about 80 mm (3.15 in).
18. Power Steering Gearbox Assembly
1. Remove the steering gearbox (A).
NOTE:
* Be careful not to damage the EPS motor connector when placing it on the floor.
* The EPS motor connector must face up.
19. Pinion Shaft Grommet
1. Remove the pinion shaft grommet (A).
Installation
1. Pinion Shaft Grommet
1. Install the pinion shaft grommet (A).
NOTE:
* Be careful not to damage the EPS motor connector when placing it on the floor.
* The EPS motor connector must face up.
2. Align the cutout portions with the lug portions (B).
3. The grommet must not have a gap at the mating surface of the grommet and torque sensor.
2. Power Steering Gearbox Assembly
1. Install the steering gearbox (A).
2. Raise the front subframe (B) up to the body.
3. Front Subframe - Move
Front side
Rear side
1. Loosely install the new front subframe mounting bolts (A) on both sides.
4. Front Subframe - Tighten
1. Loosely tighten the front subframe mounting bolts (A).
2. Insert the subframe alignment pin through the positioning hole (B) on the right front subframe, and into the positioning hole (C) on the body, then loosely tighten the subframe right front mounting bolt.
3. Insert the subframe alignment pin through the positioning slot on the left front subframe, and into the positioning hole on the body, then loosely tighten the subframe left front mounting bolt.
4. Tighten the subframe mounting bolts to the specified torque values starting with the right front subframe mounting bolt. Use the subframe alignment pin when tightening the front side subframe mounting bolts.
5. Check all of the subframe mounting bolts, and retighten if necessary.
NOTE: Tighten the bolts in the sequence shown.
6. Tighten the new mid-stiffener mounting bolts on both sides.
5. Lower Torque Rod - Connection
1. Loosely install the new lower torque rod mounting bolts (A).
6. Lower Torque Rod - Tighten
1. Loosen the lower torque rod bolt.
2. Tighten the lower torque rod mounting bolts in the numbered sequence shown.
7. Subframe Jack and Support (Using Subframe Adapter)
1. Lower the transmission jack (A) supporting the front subframe (B).
8. Power Steering Gearbox Peripheral Assembly
Driver's side
Passenger's side
1. Install the steering gearbox stiffeners (A).
2. Loosely tighten the steering gearbox mounting bolts (B).
3. Loosely tighten the stiffener mounting bolts (C).
4. Tighten the steering gearbox mounting bolts and the stiffener mounting bolts to the specified torque in the sequence shown.
5. Install the harness bracket (A).
6. Install the EPS harness (B) in the sequence shown.
7. Connect the connector.
8. Install the ground terminal (A).
9. Splash Shield
1. Install the splash shield (A).
10. Engine Undercover
1. Install the engine undercover (A).
11. Front Stabilizer Ball Joint - Reconnection, Both Lower Arm Side
1. Install the stabilizer link (A) on the stabilizer bar (B) with the joint pins set at the center of their range of movement on both sides.
2. Install the new self-locking nut (C) on both sides.
3. Tighten it to the specified torque while holding the respective joint pin (D) with a hex wrench (E) on both sides.
12. Tie-Rod End Ball Joint - Connection, Both Side
1. Wipe off any grease contamination from the ball joint tapered section and threads.
2. Connect the tie-rod ball joint (A) to the knuckle.
3. Install the nut (B).
4. Install a new cotter pin (C).
NOTE: Bend the cotter pin as shown.
13. Steering Column Lower Slide Shaft - Release
1. Cut the wire (A).
14. Steering Wheel Release
1. Remove the steering wheel holder tool (A).
15. Steering Joint - Reconnection
1. Set the rack in the straight ahead driving position.
2. Slip the lower end of the steering joint (A) onto the pinion shaft (B).
NOTE:
* Pinion shaft with center guide: Install the steering joint by aligning the center guide (C).
* Pinion shaft without center guide: Position the steering column by aligning the gap (D) within the angle.
3. Align the bolt hole (A) on the steering joint with the groove (B) around the pinion shaft.
4. Loosely install the steering joint bolt (C).
5. Be sure that the joint bolt is securely in the groove in the pinion shaft.
6. Pull on the steering joint to make sure that the steering joint is fully seated.
16. Steering Joint Bolt - Tighten
1. Tighten the steering joint bolt (A) to the specified torque.
17. Steering Joint Cover
1. Install the steering joint cover (A) in the sequence shown.
18. Front Wheel
1. Install both front wheels.
NOTE: Before installing the wheel, clean the mating surfaces between the brake disc and the inside of the wheel.
19. Steering Gearbox - After Install Symptom Check
1. With the tires raised off the ground, check for the following symptoms by turning the steering wheel fully to the right and left several times.
20. Steering After Install - Check
1. After installation, check these items:
* Start the engine, allow it to idle, and turn the steering wheel from lock to lock several times.
* Check that the EPS indicator does not come on.
* Check the steering wheel spoke angle. If steering spoke angles to the right and left are not equal (steering wheel and rack are not centered), correct the engagement of the joint/pinion shaft splines.
21. Pre-Alignment Checks
For proper inspection and adjustment of the wheel alignment, do these checks:
1. Release the parking brake to avoid an incorrect measurement.
2. Make sure the suspension is not modified.
3. Make sure the fuel tank is full, and that the spare tire, the jack, and the tools are in place on the vehicle.
4. Check the tire size and tire pressure according to tire information.
22. Caster - Inspection
Use commercially available computerized four wheel alignment equipment to measure wheel alignment (caster, camber, toe, and turning angle). Follow the equipment manufacturer's instructions.
1. Check the caster angle.
* If the measurement is within specifications, measure the front camber angle.
* If the measurement is not within specifications, check for bent or damaged suspension components.
23. Camber - Inspection
Use commercially available computerized four wheel alignment equipment to measure wheel alignment (caster, camber, toe, and turning angle). Follow the equipment manufacturer's instructions.
1. Check the camber angle.
* If the measurement is within specification, measure the toe-in.
* If the measurement for the front camber is not within the specification, go to front camber adjustment.
* If the measurement for the rear camber is not within the specification, check for bent or damaged suspension components.
24. Front Toe - Inspection
Use commercially available computerized four wheel alignment equipment to measure wheel alignment (caster, camber, toe, and turning angle). Follow the equipment manufacturer's instructions.
1. Set the steering column to the middle tilt position and telescopic positions.
2. Center the steering wheel spokes, and install a steering wheel holder tool.
3. Check the toe with the wheels pointed straight ahead.
Front toe-in: 0±2 mm (0±0.08 in)
* If adjustment is required, go to the front toe adjustment.
* If no adjustment is required, remove the alignment equipment.
25. Turning Angle - Inspection
Use commercially available computerized four wheel alignment equipment to measure wheel alignment (caster, camber, toe, and turning angle). Follow the equipment manufacturer's instructions.
1. Turn the wheel right and left while applying the brake, and measure the turning angle of both wheels.
2. If the measurement is not within the specifications, even up both sides of the tie-rod threaded section length while adjusting the front toe.
3. If it is correct, but the turning angle is not within the specifications, check for bent or damaged suspension components.
26. HDS DLC - Connection
1. Connect the HDS to the data link connector (DLC) (A) located under the driver's side of the dashboard.
2. Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
3. Make sure the HDS communicates with the vehicle. If it does not communicate, go to the DLC circuit troubleshooting.
27. EPS Torque Sensor Neutral Position - Memorizing
NOTE:
* The torque sensor neutral position must be memorized whenever the steering gearbox, the EPS motor, or the EPS control unit is replaced. Note that the torque sensor neutral position is not affected when erasing the DTC.
* The torque sensor is temperature sensitive. When memorizing the torque sensor neutral position, the ambient temperature must be above 68 °F (20 °C).
1. Select EPS ADJUSTMENT, then select TORQUE SENSOR LEARN with HDS, and follow the screen prompts.
NOTE: See the HDS Help menu for specific instructions.
28. VSA Sensor Neutral Position - Memorization
1. Park the vehicle on a flat and level surface, with the steering wheel in the straight ahead position.
2. Select VSA ADJUSTMENT, then select ALL SENSORS with the HDS, and follow the screen prompts.
NOTE: See the HDS Help menu for specific instructions.
29. Steering Angle Sensor Neutral Position - Clear
1. Select EPS ADJUSTMENT, then select EPS STEERING ANGLE SENSOR VALUE CLEAR and follow the screen prompts on the HDS.
NOTE: See the HDS Help menu for specific instructions.