Dodge RAM TRUCK 1500 1995 Service Manual page 1244

B R
STEERING
STEERING 1 9 - 1
C O N T E N T S
page page
GENERAL INFORMATION . 1
POWER STEERING PUMP 12
POWER STEERING SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS 3
RECIRCULATING BALL POWER STEERING
GEAR 20
STEERING COLUMN . . 35
STEERING LINKAGE . . . . . . . . . . . .18
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS 40
G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N
STEERING SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Dodge Trucks use a power assisted recirculating-
ball type steering gear (Fig. 1). The gear is used with
four wheel drive and two wheel drive vehicles.
. Power steering systems use:
• Steering gear
• Steering linkage
• Pressure and return fluid hoses, fittings and some­
times a power steering cooler
• Hydraulic steering pump with fluid reservoir
J9219-65
Fig. 1 Power Steering Systems
The 4X2 steering linkage consists of a pitman arm,
idler arm, tie rods, steering damper and center link.
The 4X4 steering linkage consists of pitman arm,
drag link, steering damper and tie rods. Adjustment
sleeves are used on the tie rods for toe and steering
wheel alignment. For additional wheel alignment in­
formation refer to Group 2, Front Suspension.
REGMCULATING-BALL POWER STEERING
GEARS
The recirculating ball system acts as a rolling
thread between the worm shaft and rack piston. The
input and output shafts are supported by a thrust
bearing at the lower end and a bearing assembly at
the upper end. When the worm shaft is turned the
rack piston moves. The rack piston teeth mesh with
the pitman (sector) shaft. Turning the worm shaft
turns the pitman shaft, which turns the steering
linkage.
Two different type steering gears are used, variable
ratio and fixed ratio. The fixed ratio is used on all
Dodge Ram Trucks 8,800 lbs. GVW to 11,000 lbs.
GVW. The variable ratio gear is used on 6,010 lbs.
GVW to 7,500 lbs. GVW trucks. The steering gears
can be adjusted and internally serviced.
An identification code HF on the upper adjustment
cover designates 16-13:1 variable ratio. The identifi­
cation code BN designates 17.5:1 fixed ratio.
POWER STEERING PUMP '
The Saginaw P-Series pump (Fig. 1) is used on
Dodge Ram Truck vehicles.
On the gas engine hydraulic pressure is provided
by a belt driven power steering pump. The power
steering pump is a constant flow rate and displace­
ment, vane-type pump. The internal parts that are
inside the housing operate submerged in fluid. The
flow control orifice is part of the pressure line union.
The pressure relief valve inside the flow control valve
limits the pump pressure.
The power steering pump is connected to the steer­
ing gear via the pressure hose and the return hose.
The pump shaft has a pressed-on pulley that is belt
driven by the crankshaft pulley.