1996 ACURA RL KA9 steering

5. Submerge the valve in a container of power steering

fluid or solvent, and blow in the hose. If air bubbles

leak through the valve at less than 98 kPa

(1.0 kgf/cm2,14.2 psi), repair it as follows.

6. Hold the bottom end of the valve with a open end

wrench.

7. Unscrew the seat in the top end of the valve, and

remove any shims, the relief check ball, relief valve

and relief valve spring.

8. Clean all the parts in solvent, dry them off, then

reassemble and retest the valve. If the flow control

valve tests OK, reinstall it in the pump. If the flow con-

trol valve still leaks air, replace the pump as an assem-

bly. The flow control valve is not available separately.

NOTE: If necessary, relief pressure is adjusted at

the factory by adding shims under the check ball

seat. If you found shims in your valve, be sure you

reinstall as many as you took out.

3. Install the new ball bearing using a press as shown.
2. Remove and discard the ball bearing using a press

as shown.
Ball Bearing Inspection/Replacement:

1. Inspect the ball bearing by rotating the outer race

slowly. If you feel any play (axial or radial) or rough-

ness is felt, replace the ball bearing.ProCarManuals.com

8. Remove the steering joint bolts, then disconnect the

steering joint by moving the joint toward the column.
10. Disconnect the feed line from the valve body unit

upper side.

CAUTION: After disconnecting the feed line, plug or

seal the line fitting with a piece of tape or equivalent

to prevent foreign materials from entering the valve

body unit.

11. Remove the clamps from the line mounting cush-

ions, then remove the feed line from the cushions.
9. Remove the splash guard.ProCarManuals.com

Power Steering Gearbox

Removal (cont'd)

12. Disconnect the three lines (sensor inlet line, 10 mm

return line and 6 mm return line) from the hoses.

CAUTION: After disconnecting the line, plug or

seal the line with a piece of tape or equivalent.

13. Remove the mounting brackets and steering gear-

box.

NOTE: Before removing the steering gearbox, place

a jack stand under the gearbox to support it.

CAUTION: Be careful not to bend or damage fluid

lines when removing the steering gearbox.ProCarManuals.com

Disassembly
Steering Rac k Disassembl y
NOTE:
• Befor e disassemblin g th e gearbox , was h i t of f wit h
solven t an d a brush .
• D o no t di p seal s an d 0-ring s i n solvent .
1 . Remov e th e steerin g gearbo x (se e pag e 17-30 ).
2 . Remov e th e bot h tie-ro d ends .
3 . Remov e th e thre e line s (senso r inle t line , 1 0 m m
retur n lin e an d 6 m m retur n line ) fro m th e valv e bod y
unit.
4. Remov e th e lin e mountin g cushions .
Power Steerin g Gearbo x
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

Wheel Alignment

Caster

NOTE: For proper inspection/adjustment of the wheel

alignment, check and adjust the following before check-

ing the alignment:

Check that the suspension is not modified.

Check the tire size and tire pressure.

Check the runout of the wheels and tires.

Check the suspension ball joints. (Hold a wheel with

your hands, and move it up and down and right and

left to check for wobbling.)

Inspection

NOTE: Use commercially available computerized four

wheel alignment equipment to measure wheel alignment

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

equipment manufacturer's instructions.

1. Check the steering wheel angle; if significantly off

center, it may be necessary to remove the steering

wheel and reposition it on the splines. Turn the

steering wheel to the straight ahead position.

2. Check the caster angle.

Caster angle: 2°50'±1°

3. If out of specification, check for damaged suspen-

sion components.
Camber

Inspection

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 camber angle.

Camber angle:

Front: 0°00'±1°

Rear: -0°30'±1°

2. If out of specification, check for bent or damaged sus-

pension components.ProCarManuals.com

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