Steering Gear; Checking Steering Gear Adjustment; Overcenter Or Pitman Shaft Adjustment - Pontiac Grand Prix Service Manual

STEERING 9-25
and turn adjuster to bring torque within limits.
6. Retighten lock nut to 85 lb. ft. torque when
adjustment is correct and recheck as in step 4 above.
OVERCENTER OR PITMAN SHAFT ADJUST-
MENT
1. When worm bearing preload has been adjusted
correctly, pitman shaft adjusting screw should be
turned clockwise until a pull equal to worm bearing
preload plus 7 lb. in. is required to turn the wheel
through center.
Total thrust bearing adjustment, pitman shaft adjust-
ment, and dragnot to exceed 16 lb. in.
2.
Tighten pitman shaft adjusting screw lock nut to
23
lb. ft. torque and recheck adjustment.
3.
Reassemble steering intermediate rod to pitman
arm. Set spokes of steering wheel in straight ahead
position. If road wheels are not straight ahead, adjust
steering tie rods.
Fig. 9-47 Checking Steering Gear Adjustment
STEERING GEAR
REMOVE
1.
Raise car and disconnect pitman arm from pitman
shaft, using tool 5504- 1.
2. Disconnect lower steering shaft flange from flexible
coupling.
3. Remove three steering gear housing to frame bolts
and withdraw gear from car.
DISASSEMBLE
Disassemble and assemble steering gear and subassem-
blies (Fig. 9-48) on a clean work bench, preferably while
the assembly is mounted on holding fixture (J 5205 or J
6448-1).
CAUTION: DO NOT clamp housing in vise. Cleanli-
ness is of utmost importance; therefore bench, tools, and
parts must. be kept clean at all times.
-,ADJUSTING SCREW
Before disassembling gear, thoroughly clean exterior
with suitable solvent and dr$n as much fluid aspossible.
1. Mount steering gear on holding future J 5205.
2. Rotate wormshaft with flexible coupling until
coupling is in center of travel. Remove three side cover
screws and adjusting screw nut.
3. Remove side cover and gasket by turning adjusting
screw clockwise through cover (Fig.
9-49).
4. Remove adjusting screw from slot in end of pitman
shaft. Make sure shim found on adjusting screw
remains with screw (Fig.
9-50).
5. Remove pitman shaft from housing using care that
threads do not damage seal in housing.
6. Loosen worm bearing adjuster lock nut with brass
drift and remove adjuster and lower bearing.
7. Scribe a mark on flexible coupling and worm shaft.
Remove coupling from shaft.
8.
Push worm and shaft assembly, with ball nut
assembly, through bottom of housing and remove
upper bearing.
9. Clean grease from worm and shaft assembly and
also from inside gear housing.
10. Remove ball nut return guide clamp by removing
three screws. remove guides. turn ball nut over and
remove balls. ~ o t a t i n i s h a f t ' slowly from side to side
Fig. 9-46 Overcenter or Pitman Shaft Adjustment will aid in removing balls.