Cleaning and Inspection

1. Clean all remaining parts in solvent to remove oil, dirt, and grease. Blow dry with compressed air. Do not expose new parts and seals to solvent.

2. Inspect sealing surface of pinion shaft. If sealing surfaces are noticeably damaged, the steering gear and linkage assembly must be replaced.

NOTE: It is normal to have discoloration on the bore of the pinion housing to match the four teflon sealing rings on the pinion. Do not replace the gear because of these discolorations.

3. CAUTION: The condition of the sealing surface of the rack is critical.

Shown below is a cross-section drawing of the steering gear and the location of the oil seals. The sealing surfaces of the rack are ONLY those surfaces that pass through the oil seals as the rack moves from left lock to right lock. The area on the back side of the rack, opposite the gear teeth, is NOT a sealing surface. Scratches, score marks, or discoloration in that area will not affect the sealing performance of the gear.
Hold the clean, dry rack under a strong light and examine the surface of the rack shaft within 7 inches of the piston. Look for score marks along the length of the shaft, scratches, or corrosion pitting. Hold your thumbnail against the shaft while rotating the rack. Let your thumbnail trace a spiral path along the shaft. If you can feel any imperfections, the steering gear and linkage assembly must be replaced.