Gear Housing; Rack-Piston Nut And Worm - Pontiac Grand Prix Service Manual

STEERING
9-35
PITMAN SHAFT GEAR AND SlDE COVER
INSPECT
1. Inspect pitman shaft bearing surface in side cover
for excessive wear or scoring. If badly worn or scored,
replace side cover and bushing assembly.
2. Check pitman shaft sector teeth, bearing and seal
surfaces and replace if badly worn, pitted or scored.
3. Check lash screw for end play.
NOTE: If end play is noticed in step 3, replace pitman
shaft gear assembly.
RACK-PISTON NUT AND WORM
INSPECT
1. Inspect worm and rack-piston nut grooves and all of
the balls for excessive wear or scoring. If either the
worm or rack-piston nut needs replacing, both must be
replaced as a matched assembly.
2. Inspect ball return guides, making sure that ends
where balls enter and leave guides are not damaged.
3. Inspect lower thrust bearing and races for excessive
conditions of wear, pitting, scoring or cracking. If any
of these conditions are found, replace the thrust
bearing and races.
4. Inspect rack-piston nut teeth for pitting, wear, and
scoring.
5. Inspect outside surface of rack-piston nut for wear,
scoring or burrs.
6. Inspect thrust bearing rollers and races for excessive
conditions of wear, pitting, scoring, cracking, or
brinelling. If any of these conditions are found, replace
the thrust bearing assembly.
GEAR HOUSING
INSPECT
1. Inspect gear housing for any defects in the piston
bore or the rotary valve bore. Inspect all retaining ring
grooves and seal surfaces for scratches or nicks. If any
major defects are found, the housing should be
replaced.
NOTE: A slight polishing of the cylinder bore by the
piston is not uncommon and does not affect the
operation of the gear.
2. Inspect ball plug in the housing, if leaking or raised
above the housing surface, drive in flush to 1/16"
below surface. The ball plug can be tightened by
staking housing. Housing should be replaced only if
leaks in this area cannot be properly sealed.
NOTE: Clean area of leak with solvent andor a wire
b m h . Dry thoroughly and apply a liquid sealairt which
will flow into the area between the ball plug and ,the
housing and then harden. Devcon " B or equivalent
(commercially available products) should seal such
leaks.
3. lnspect the connectors.,If badly brinelled or scored,
replacement will be necessary.
4. Inspect pitman shaft gear needle bearing; if worn or
pitted, replace.
PITMAN SHAFT GEAR AND SlDE COVER
ASSEMBLE
1. Screw lash adjuster through side cover until cover
bottoms on pitman shaft gear.
2. Install lash adjuster lock nut while holding lash
adjuster with 7/32" Allen wrench. Do not tighten lock
qut.
ROTARY VALVE
ROTARY VALVE
ASSEMBLE
INSPECT
1. If there was evidence that the torsion bar to stub
shaft O-ring seal has been leaking (oil leak between
the stub shaft and torsion bar at the stub shaft
coupling flange), the entire rotary valve assembly
should be replaced.
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2. If any part of parts of the rotary valve assembly
(including stub shaft assembly) are badly worn,
cracked, pitted or broken, the entire rotary valve
assembly should be replaced. A slight polishing on the
valving surfaces is normal.
1. Assemble one valve body teflon ring back-up O-ring
seal in each groove on valve body. Do not allow seals to
become twisted.
2. Assemble valve Teflon rings in ring groove over 0
ring seals by carefully slipping rings over valve body.
Rings may appear loose or twisted in grooves, but heat
of oil after assembly will cause them to straighten.
3. Install valve spool dampener O-ring seal in valve
spool groove, then lubricate seal in Type A hydraulic
fluid. Do not allow seal to twist in groove.