Dodge ram truck 3500 1996 Service Manual page 1377

B R STEERING 19 -11
POWER STEERING GEAR
page
INDEX
page
ADJUSTMENTS
1 STEERING GEAR 12
SPECIFICATIONS
1 POWER STEERING GEAR SPECIFICATION . . . 14
TORQUE CHART 14
SPECIAL TOOLS
1 POWER STEERING GEAR 14
GENERAL INFORMATION
FRAME COATINGS INFORMATION . 1
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
POWER STEERING GEAR 1
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
POWER STEERING GEAR LEAKAGE
DIAGNOSIS 1
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION
POWER STEERING GEAR 11
G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N
FRAME COATINGS INFORMATION
CAUTION: Depending on the vehicle build location,
there are two different coatings applied to BR
frames:
VEHICLE BUILD
LOCATION
11th POSITION
VIN CHARACTER
FRAME
COATING
St. Louis North J
E-Coat
Dodge City
S Wax Coat
Saltillo Mexico
G Wax Coat
Lago Alberto
Mexico
M Wax Coat
Replacement fasteners and torque values for
frame attached components may vary depending on
frame coatings. Ensure the replacement fastener is
designed for the specific frame coating. Refer to the
Torque Specifications Chart at the end of each
group to determine the correct torque value.
D E S C R I P T I O N A N D O P E R A T I O N
POWER STEERING GEAR
The power steering gear is a recirculating ball type
gear. The gear acts as a rolling thread between the
worm shaft and rack piston. The worm shaft is sup­
ported 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 pis­
ton teeth mesh with the pitman shaft. Turning the
worm shaft turns the pitman shaft, which turns the
steering linkage.
The steering gear can be adjusted,but i t is serviced
as an assembly, no internal parts are serviced.
D I A G N O S E S A N D
TESTING
POWER STEERING GEAR LEAKAGE DIAGNOSIS
R E M O V A L A N D I N S T A L L A T I O N
POWER STEERING GEAR
REMOVAL
(1) Place the front wheels in a straight-ahead posi­
tion.
(2) Disconnect and cap the fluid hoses from steer­
ing gear.
(3) Remove coupler pinch bolt at the steering gear
and slide shaft off gear (Fig. 1).
(4) Mark the pitman shaft and pitman arm for
installation reference. Remove the pitman arm from
the shaft with Puller C-4150A (Fig. 2).
(5) Remove steering gear retaining bolts and nuts.
Remove the steering gear from the vehicle.
INSTALLATION
(1) Position the steering gear on the frame rail and
install the bolts. Tighten mounting bolts to specifica­
tions.
(2) Align steering coupler on gear shaft. Install
pinch bolt and tighten to 49 N-m (36 ft. lbs.) torque.
(3) Align and install the pitman arm.
(4) Install the washer and retaining nut on the pit­
man shaft. Tighten the nut to 251 N-m (185 ft. lbs.).
(5) Connect fluid hoses to steering gear, tighten to
31 N-m (23 ft. lbs.). Add fluid, refer to Power Steer­
ing Pump Initial Operation.