Pontiac FIREBIRD 1972 Service Manual page 1213

1972 PONTIAC SERVICE MANUAL
BEA
Fig.
9-75
Install Wormshaft Bearing Race in Housing Using
Tool
J 5755
DISASSEMBLE
1. Remove screws and clamp retaining the ball guides
in nut. Draw guides out of nut.
2. Turn the nut upside down and rotate the wormshaft
back and forth until all the balls have dropped out of
the nut into a clean pan. With the balls removed, the
nut can be pulled endwise off the worm.
3. Wash all parts in cleaning solvent and dry them
thoroughly with air.
4. Using a magnifying glass inspect the worm and nut
grooves and the surface of all balls for signs of inden-
tation.
5. Check all ball guides for damage at ends where they
deflect or pick-up the balls from the helical path. Any
parts that show signs of damage should be replaced.
ASSEMBLE
1. Slip the nut over the worm with the ball guide holes
up and the shallow end of the ball nut teeth to the left
from the steering wheel position. Align the grooves in
the worm and nut by sighting through the ball guide
holes.
2. Place two ball guide halves together and insert them
into the upper circuit in the ball nut.
3. Place the remaining two guides together and insert
them in the lower circuit (Fig. 9-76).
4. Count 25 balls into a suitable container. This is the
proper number of balls for one circuit.
5. Load the balls into one of the guide holes while turn-
ing the wormshaft gradually away from that hole.
Fig.
9-76
Filling Ball Circuits
When all 25 of the balls have been installed, the
circuit is complete.
6. Fill the remaining ball circuit in the same manner as
described for the first circuit in steps 4 and 5 above.
7. Assemble the ball guide clamp to the ball nut and
tighten the screws to 10 lb. ft. torque.
CAUTION: Check the assembly by rotating the
nut on the worm to see that it moves freely. Do
not rotate the nut to the end of the worm
threads as this may damage the ball guides. I f
there is any 'ktickiness" in the motion of the
nut, some slight damage to the ends of the ball
guides or to other gear components may have
been o verlooked.
STEERING GEAR
ASSEMBLE
NOTE: After a major service overhaul where all
of the onginal factory installed lubricant has
been washed out of the steenng gear assemblx
the threads of the adjusterplug, side cover bolts
and lash adjuster may be coated with a suitable
non-drying, oil resistant sealing compound.
This is toprevent leakage ofgear lubricant from
the steenng gear assembly. The compound
shouki not
be
amlied to female threads and
extreme care shoul'd be exercised in applyhg
this compound to the bean'ng adjuster, as the
compound must be kept a way from the worm-
shaft baring. Also, apply steering gear lubri-
cant (Part No. l0510.52 or equivalent) meeting
GM Speaifiation GM 4673-M to the wom-
shaft beanngs, pitman shaft bushings, and side
cover bushing.