Ford 8L5Z-3504-B Steering Gear Assembly

To pull out the rack and pinion assembly, the front wheels turned straight ahead and the vehicle supported adequately by jackstands. Connect the cable or jumper wire to the negative terminal of the battery, then return the steering wheel to its straight ahead position, without locking the steering column unless for 2011 models the column should be locked. The hose connections to the power steering fluid cooler for V6 2WD are to be removed, fluid drained into a suitable receptacle and the cooler removed. For 4WD models depending on variants, there are screws and retaining pins; therefore, at the side, the air deflector screws should be unscrewed and the air deflector clips must be unlocked. Detach the tie-rod ends from the spindle/steering knuckle, and, on 4WD cars, undo the front stabiliser bar. On early 4WD models, take out the bolts holding the power steering fluid cooler to the cross member, disconnect the hose for the fluid return line, let the fluid to drain and then detach the return hose and finally, the cooler. Remove the pressure and return hoses from the rack and pinion, caping the hoses and the rack and pinion ports for pressure and return to minimise on the entry of dirt and moisture into the power steering system. Loosen the steering column lower intermediate shaft pinch bolt connecting the rack and pinion input shaft, turn the key to the LOCK position and disconnect the lower intermediary from the rack and pinion then make sure not to twist the steering wheel while doing so in order not to tear the airbag sliding contact. Take out the nuts and mounting stud and nut, washer and stop also. On the 2WD models only, take off the rack and pinion assembly, and on the 4WD models only, take off the insulator bushings from the rack and pinion. Turn the rack and pinion control valve housing clockwise and rotate it forward simultaneously, turn the input shaft clockwise until it cannot be turned anymore, shift the rack and pinion as far to the right as you can, move the left tie-rod forward to get over the crossmember and then pull out the rack and pinion. For removal, reverse the installation steps including if any, replace any cracked, torn, or deteriorated insulators, tighten all the bolts to the recommended torque, use a special seal installation tool to install new seals on the power steering fluid pressure and return hose fittings, and get the alignment checked after the process.

For the models ranging from 1993 and 1997 ensure that the front wheels are aligned to the forward direction and then remove the negative battery terminal cable and the positive if the model is fitted with an air bag. To lock the steering wheel turn the ignition key to the Lock position. Put a pan underneath the Rack And Pinion, then unscrew the fittings of the power steering hose and seal the ends to avoid spilling of the fluid. Unbolt the coupling cover and the U-joint shaft coupling shield and take off the coupling to the Rack And Pinion. You have to, first of all, set the car on jack stands, block the rear wheels; then, loosen the front wheel lug nuts, lift the car on the jack stands, and finally, remove both front wheels. Take off the nut and washer fixing the Pitman arm, they can be removed without hammering by pulling off the arm as depicted below. Now, this is done by removing the bolts applied to the frame whereby the Rack And Pinion box is fixed on, the gear is then supported and then followed by the extraction of the gear. For installation, centre the Rack And Pinion by rotating the input shaft to the right and left lock then back off half a turn. Align the front wheels, fit the input shaft lower shield and correctly position the flex coupling. Bolt and torque the Rack And Pinion box bolting's, correctly position Pitman arm and tighten the nut. Screw in the flex coupling bolt and the shield also the front wheels and the lug nuts then lower the car and tighten the lug nuts. Join the pressure and return lines, battery cables and fill the fluid replenisher. For models from 1998 and later: turn the front wheels to the ahead position, lift the car and remove the negative battery terminal. Loosen the steering wheel but do not lock it, disconnect the hoses which will be in the power steering fluid cooler on the V6 2WD models, and remove the air deflector on the 4WD models. Disconnect the tie-rod ends from the spindle if possible and take out the stabilizer bar if present together with the power steering that must be plugged to avoid entry of dirt. Disconnect the intermediate shaft from the Rack And Pinion input shaft with the steering wheel in the straight ahead position and using a wrench, take off the pinch bolt. Third, eliminate the prior requisite nuts and mounting assemblies, and follow up by removing the Rack And Pinion assembly on the 2WD models or the insulator bushings in the 4WD models. In installation, do the following in a reverse order to the removal process, check and replace any bad insulator, tighten all the nuts and bolts, fit new seals on the listed power steering fittings and do an alignment check on the vehicle.