1996 ACURA RL KA9 boot

Removal
NOTE: Usin g solven t an d a brush , was h an y oi l an d dir t
of f th e valv e bod y uni t it s lines , an d th e en d i f th e gear -
box . Blo w dr y wit h compresse d air .
1 . Drai n th e powe r steerin g flui d a s describe d o n pag e
17-16 .
2. Rais e th e fron t o f vehicle , an d suppor t i t o n safet y
stand s in th e prope r location s (se e sectio n 1 ).
3 . Remov e th e fron t wheels .
4 . Remov e th e driver' s airba g assembl y an d steerin g
whee l (se e pag e 17-18 ).
5 . Remov e th e cotte r pi n fro m th e tie-ro d bal l join t nut ,
an d remov e th e nut .
Powe r Steerin g Gearbo x
6. Instal l th e 1 2 m m he x nu t o n th e bal l joint .
B e sur e tha t th e 1 2 m m he x nu t i s flus h wit h th e bal l
join t pi n end , o r th e threade d sectio n o f th e bal l
join t pi n migh t b e damage d b y th e specia l tool .
NOTE : Remov e th e bal l join t usin g th e specia l tool .
Refe r t o sectio n 1 8 fo r ho w to us e th e bal l join t
remover .
7. Separat e th e tie-ro d bal l join t an d knuckl e usin g th e
specia l tool .
CAUTION : Avoi d damagin g th e bal l join t boot .
BALL JOIN T REMOVER ,28 m m07MA C - SL0020 0
ProCarManuals.com

5. Remove the boot bands and tie-rod clips. Pull the

boots away from the ends of the gearbox.

6. Hold the steering rack with one wrench ('99 - 01

models: left end only), and unscrew the rack end with

another wrench.

NOTE: '96 - 98 models shown.

CAUTION: Be careful not to damage the rack sur-

face with the wrench.
7. Loosen the locknut, then remove the rack guide

screw and O-ring ('96 - 98 models only).

8. Remove the spring and rack guide from the gearbox

housing.

9. Remove cylinder lines A and B from the gearbox.

10. Drain the fluid from the cylinder fittings by slowly

moving the steering rack back and forth.ProCarManuals.com

65. Install the new lock washer in the groove in the

steering rack.

66. Install the steering rack ends into the rack.

67. Hold the steering rack with a wrench ('99 - 01 mod-

els: left end only), and tighten the rack ends with

another wrench.
69. Apply steering grease to the circumference of the

rack end housing.

70. Apply a light coat of silicone grease to the boot

grooves on the rack ends.

71. Install the boots in the rack end with the tube clamps.

NOTE: Install the boots with the rack in the straight

ahead position (right and left tie-rods are equal in

length).
68. After tightening the rack ends, stake the four section

of lock washer with a commercially-available roll

pin drift and mallet.

• Place the wood block, then set the lock washer

section of rack end securely on the wood block.

• Be sure the tool is aligned with the stake point

(four dents) of the steering rack end before stak-

ing.ProCarManuals.com

75. Slid e th e rac k righ t an d lef t t o b e certai n tha t th e
boot s ar e no t deforme d o r twisted . 78
. Loosel y instal l th e tie-ro d locknut s an d tie-ro d end s
o n th e rac k ends .
73
. Ben d bot h set s o f lockin g tabs .
74 . Lightl y ta p o n th e doubled-ove r portion s t o reduc e
thei r height .
CAUTION : Stak e th e ban d lockin g tab s firmly . 76
. Instal l th e thre e line s ( 6 m m retur n line , 1 0 m m
retur n lin e an d senso r inle t line ) t o th e valv e bod y
uni t a s shown .
77 . Instal l th e lin e mountin g cushion s b y alignin g th e
mark s o n th e 1 0 m m retur n lin e (larg e diamete r
line).
Reassembl y (cont'd )
72. Instal l th e ne w boo t band s o n th e boot s a s shown .
Power Steerin g Gearbo x
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Ball Join t Boo t Replacemen t
CAUTION: D o no t contaminat e th e boo t installatio n sec -
tio n wit h grease .
1 . Remov e th e boo t fro m th e tie-ro d end , an d wip e th e
ol d greas e of f th e bal l pin .
2 . Pac k th e lowe r are a o f th e bal l pi n wit h fres h grease .
3 . Pac k th e interio r o f th e ne w boo t an d li p wit h fres h
grease .
CAUTION :
• Kee p greas e of f th e boo t installatio n sectio n an d
th e tapere d sectio n o f th e bal l pin .
• D o no t allo w dust , dirt , o r othe r foreig n material s
t o ente r th e boot .
4 . Instal l th e ne w boo t usin g th e specia l too l a s show n
below .
NOTE : Th e boo t mus t no t b e a ga p a t th e boo t instal -
latio n sections .
CAUTION : Afte r installin g th e boot , chec k th e bal l
pi n tapere d sectio n fo r greas e contamination , an d
wip e it i f necessary .
FRONT HU B
DIS/ASSEMBL Y TOO L
0796 5-SA5050 0
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Front Toe Inspection/Adjustment

NOTE: Use commercially-available computerized four

wheel alignment equipment to measure wheel align-

ment (caster, camber, toe, and/or turning angle).

Follow the equipment manufacturer's instructions.

1. Check the tire pressure.

2. Center the steering wheel spokes.

3. Check the toe with the wheels pointed straight

ahead.

Front toe: 0 ± 2 mm (0±1/16 in)

— If adjustment is required, go on to step 4.

— If no adjustment is required, remove the align-

ment equipment.

4. Loosen the tie-rod locknuts, then turn both tie-rods

in the same direction until the front wheels are

pointed straight ahead.

TIE-ROD LOCKNUT

14 x 1.5 mm

44 N-m (4.5 kgf-m, 33 Ibf-ft)
TIE-ROD

5. Turn both tie-rods equally until the toe reading on

the turning radius gauge is correct.

6. After adjusting, tighten the tie-rod locknuts, and

reposition the tie-rod boot if it is twisted or dis-

placed.
Rear Toe Inspection/Adjustment

NOTE: Use commercially-available computerized four

wheel alignment equipment to measure wheel align-

ment (caster, camber, toe and/or turning angle). Follow

the equipment manufacturer's instructions.

1. Release the parking brake.

NOTE:

• Measure the difference in toe measurements

with the wheels pointed straight ahead.

• If the parking brake is engaged, you may get an

incorrect reading.

Rear toe-in: 2 ± 2 mm (1/16 ± 1/16 in)

— If adjustment is required, go to step 2.

— If no adjustment is required, remove the align-

ment equipment.

2. Hold the adjusting bolt on the rear lower arm B and,

loosen the self-locking nut.

SELF-LOCKING NUT

12 x 1.25mm

54 N-m (5.5 kgf-m, 40 Ibf-ft)

Replace.

LOWER ARM B

ADJUSTING BOLT

3. Adjust the rear toe by turning the adjusting bolt

until toe is correct.

4. Install the self-locking nut, and tighten it while hold-

ing the adjusting bolt.ProCarManuals.com

Front Suspensio n
Knuckle/Hu b Replacemen t (cont'd )
8. Remov e th e 6 m m brak e dis c retainin g screws .
9.8 N- m(1.0 kgf-m , 7. 2 Ibf-ft )
CAUTION : B e carefu l no t t o damag e th e bal l join t boot .
9 . Scre w tw o 8 x 1 2 m m bolt s int o th e dis c t o pus h i t
awa y fro m th e hub .
NOTE : Tur n eac h bol t tw o turn s a t a tim e t o preven t
cockin g th e dis c excessively .
10 . Clea n an y dir t o r greas e of f th e bal l joint .
11 . Remov e th e cotte r pi n fro m th e bal l join t castl e nut ,
and remov e th e nut .
12. Instal l a 12 m m he x nu t o n th e bal l joint . Mak e sur e
the 1 2 m m he x nu t i s flus h wit h th e bal l join t pi n en d
to preven t damag e t o th e threade d en d o f th e bal l
joint .
13. Appl y greas e t o th e specia l too l o n th e area s
shown . Thi s wil l eas e installatio n o f th e too l an d
preven t damag e t o th e pressur e bol t threads .
Apply greas e here .
ADJUSTIN G BOL T
NOTE : Afte r makin g th e adjustmen t t o th e adjustin g
bolt , mak e sur e th e hea d o f th e adjustin g bol t i s i n
thi s positio n to allo w th e ja w to pivot .
16. Wit h a wrench , tighte n th e pressur e bol t unti l th e
bal l join t shaf t pop s loos e fro m th e steerin g arm .
Wea r ey e protection . Th e bal l join t ca n
brea k loos e suddenl y an d scatte r dir t o r othe r debri s
i n you r eyes .
Remov e th e tool , the n remov e th e nu t fro m th e en d
o f th e bal l joint , an d pul l th e bal l join t ou t of the
steering/suspensio n arm . Inspec t th e bal l join t boot ,
an d replac e it i f damaged .
17
HE X NU TREMOVER , 2 8 m m
07MA C - SL0020 0
14. Instal l th e specia l too l a s shown . Inser t th e jaw s
carefully , makin g sur e yo u d o no t damag e th e bal l
join t boot . Adjus t th e ja w spacin g b y turnin g th e
pressur e bolt .
NOTE : I f necessary , appl y penetratin g typ e lubrican t
to loose n the bal l joint . BALL JOIN T
HEX NU T('99 - 0 1 models )
5 4 N- m (5. 5 kgf-m ,
4 0 Ibf-ft )
COTTE RPINReplace .On reassembly ,
ben d th e cotte r pi n a s shown .
CASTL
E NU T
('9 6 - 9 8 models )
49 - 5 9 N- m(5. 0 - 6. 0 kgf-m ,36-43 Ibf-ft )
PRESSUR E BOL T
8 x 1 2 m mBOL T BRAK
E DIS C
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Front Suspensio n
Ball Join t Boo t Replacemen t
1. Remov e th e se t rin g an d th e boo t
CAUTION : D o no t contaminat e th e boo t installatio n
sectio n wit h grease .
2 . Pac k th e interio r o f th e boo t an d li p wit h grease .
BALL PI N TAPERE D SECTIO N
3. Wip e th e greas e of f th e slidin g surfac e o f th e bal l
pin , an d pac k wit h fres h grease .
CAUTION :
• Kee p greas e of f th e boo t installatio n sectio n an d
th e tapere d sectio n o f th e bal l pin .
• D o no t allo w dust , dirt , o r othe r foreig n materi -
al s to ente r th e boot .
4 . Instal l th e boo t i n th e groov e o f th e boo t installatio n
sectio n securely , the n blee d air . 5
. Instal l th e uppe r an d lowe r bal l join t boo t se t ring s
usin g th e specia l tool s a s follows :
Adjus t th e specia l too l wit h th e adjustin g bol t unti l
th e en d o f th e too l align s wit h th e groov e o n th e
boot . Slid e th e se t rin g ove r th e too l an d int o posi -
tion.
BAL L JOIN T
BOO T CLI P
GUID E
07GA G - SD4070 0 ADJUSTIN
G BOL TAdjust th e dept h b yturnin g th e bolt .
SET RIN G
CAUTION : Afte r installin g th e boot , chec k th e bal l
pi n tapere d sectio n fo r greas e contamination , an d
wip e it i f necessary .
BOOT INSTALLATIO N SECTIO N
Wip e of f th e grease . BOO
T INSTALLATIO N SECTIO NWipe of f th e grease .
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