Steering Gear Replacement Procedure?

[kazam]

I've got to replace the power steering gear, and I got a rebuilt replacement from RockAuto (a  Lares 1353, I think).

 

I'll give the # on the tag a call before I do the installation.

 

The Question I have is: do I have to go through an alignment process to get all the linkage and gears to 

be oriented with each other correctly.

 

For example, with the steering components installed as they are now I get so many turns of the steering wheel to the 

right and so many to the left (those should be even) before the gears and or stops reach their limits.  

 

I would GUESS that the steering gear is set from the factory to where it should be just bolted in, and I suppose I'd just straighten out the steering

wheel, pitman arm, and wheels and bolt in the part.

 

I'm not sure so I'm wondering if there is a procedure to go through to get everything aligned and set in place evenly.

 

Thanks.

[Eagle]

The pitman arm can only go onto the output shaft of the new box one way. No alignment should be necessary.

[hassyfoto]

There are numerous ways, so, I'll just give a brief overview to your question(s).

 

Do you need an alignment after install. Usually yes,( to set the toe) but not always,

To quote you, align everything to "center" and install. Yes, it's possible, sometimes it may work, many cases it does not.

The steering gear is "usually" not set. You will need to center the steering gear manually before install.

 

How I did many of the cars I work on.

Center the wheels, with motor running, turn wheels left & right a few times until I have the wheels centered. Not the steering wheel. If I have a proper alignment to start, I will use a 18 foot straight pole or hook a string to the suspension behind the rear wheels, pull the string taught over the rear wheel at horizontal center ( remove center cap is needed). Holding the string in front of the front tire, the string pulled taught until the string is barely touching the front of the rear wheel. You have a reference point to to verify the front wheels are centered forward. 

I will mark the steering column with a marker on the very top surface of the very bottom of the column. Usually at the rag joint. This will come in handy later on.

I will mark the pitman arm and old steering gear with the mark as well. I do this so that I can check the old gear and location of pitman arm, ( for cars that do not have a keyway spline)( some older cars without a keyway spline allow you to install a pitman arm at any location.)

 

Center the steering. I turn the gear left & right, count the exact turns 2x and then center. 

 

Remove pitman arm, remove gear.  Check old gear, turn side to side to verify pitman arm location, reviewing my marks.

 

Install gear, install steering rack, using my mark to verify column is still in the exact same location

Install pitman, exactly same location as old unit. 

 

After everything is install, use my 18 foot straight edge or taught string to verify tire location ( toe-in or toe out).  Inspect steering wheel to see if centered in relation to the tires being centered & forward.