Dodge RAM 1500 1998 Owner's Manual page 1675

19 - 20 GEAR - LINK/COIL
GEAR - LINK/COIL
DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
ADJUSTMENTS
ADJUSTMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
SPECIFICATIONS
POWER STEERING GEAR
TORQUE CHART . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
SPECIAL TOOLS
POWER STEERING GEAR
PITMAN SHAFT SEAL
REMOVAL
REMOVAL - GAS ENGINE
GEAR - LINK/COIL
DESCRIPTION
The power steering gear is a recirculating ball type
gear (Fig. 1). The gear ratio's used are 12.5:1.
OPERATION
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 from input from the steering column
the rack piston moves. The rack piston teeth mesh
with the pitman shaft. Turning the worm shaft, turns
the pitman shaft, which turns the steering linkage.
REMOVAL
(1) Place the front wheels in a straight-ahead posi-
tion.
NOTE: The steering column on vehicles with an
automatic transmission may not be equipped with
an internal locking shaft that allows the ignition key
cylinder to be locked with the key. Alternative meth-
ods of locking the steering wheel for service will
have to be used.
(2) Lock the steering wheel.
(3) Siphon out as much power steering fluid as
possible.
GEAR - LINK/COIL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
REMOVAL - DIESEL
INSTALLATION
INSTALLATION - GAS ENGINE
INSTALLATION - DIESEL
STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT SEAL
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
PITMAN SHAFT
REMOVAL
REMOVAL - GAS
REMOVAL - DIESEL
INSTALLATION
INSTALLATION - GAS
INSTALLATION - DIESEL
Fig. 1 STEERING GEAR
1 - INPUT SHAFT
2 - OUTLET
3 - INLET
4 - VALVE ASSEMBLY HOUSING
5 - PITMAN SHAFT COVER BOLTS
6 - STEERING GEAR
7 - MESHLOAD ADJUSTER NUT
8 - PITMAN SHAFT
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
. . . . . . . . . . . 26
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
DR
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