1996 HONDA CIVIC steering rack

Inspection and Adjustment
Steering Operation
Steering Wheel Rotational Play
Place the front wheels in a straight ahead position andmeasure the distance the steering wheel can be turnedwithout moving the front wheels.
ROTATIONAL PLAY: 0 - 10 mm (0 - 0.4 in)
lf the play exceeds the service limit, perform rack guide
adjustment (see page lT-5).
lf the play is still excessive after rack guide adjustment,inspect the steering linkage and gearbox as descrjbed
Detow.
Steering Linkage and Gearbox
TIE.ROO LOCKNUTCheck for loose locknut.
BOOTInspect for damage and deterioration.
STEERING JOINTSCheck for loose joint
END BALL JOINTInspect for faulty movementano oamage.
GEABBOX MOUNTINGInspect f or deterioration.GEABBOX ASSEMBLY
Ste€ring Effort Check
Raise the front wheels off the ground.
Turn the steering wheel with a spring scale and check itsreaorng,
Standard: 15 N (1.5 kgf, 3.3 lbll maximum
lf it reads more. perform rack guide adjustment (see
page 17-5).
COLUMNInspect for loose columnmounting bolts and nuts.
PINION SHAFT GROMMETfor damage and deterioration.
BALL JOINT BOOTInspect for damage and deterioration.See pago 17-68 tor replacement.
ao-\---------U
17-4
Inspect for loose mounting bolts.

Steering Gearbox
l.r
Rack Guide Adjustment
NOTE: Perform the rack guide adjustment with the
wheels in the straight ahead position.
1. Loosen the rack guide screw locknut with the spe-
cial tool, then loosen the rack guide screw.
LOCKNUT WRENCH, 40 mm07916 - SA5000r
Tighten the rack guide screw until it compresses the
spring and seats against the rack guide, then loosen
rt.
Retighten the rack guide screw to 4 N'm (0.4 kgf m,
2.9 lbf.ft), then back it off to specified angle.
Specilied Return Angle: 30' max.
Tighten the locknut while holding the rack guide
Check for tight or loose steering through the com-
plete turning travel.
Recheck steering effort (see page 17-4).
4.
RACK GUIDE SCREW
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Removal
NOTE: Using solvent and a brush, to wash any oil and
dirt off the gearbox. Blow dry with compressed air.
1. Raise the front of vehicle, and support it on satety
stands in the proper locations (see section I ).
2. Remove the front wheels.
3. Remove the steering wheel (see page 17-35).
4. Remove the steering loint cover
Remove the steering joint lower bolt, and discon-
nect the steering joint by moving the joint toward
the column.
(cont'd)
17-5
STEERING JOINT COVER
LOWER BOLT
STEERING JOINT

Steering Gearbox
Removal(cont'd)
Remove the cotter pin from the castle nut ('96 - '97
models) or nut ('98 - '00 models) and remove the nut.
Installthe 10 mm hex nut on the ball joint.
Be sure that the 10 mm hex nut is flush with the balljoint pin end, or the threaded section of the ball joint
pin might be damaged by the balljoint remover.
NOTE: Remove the ball joint using the special tool,
Refer to section 18 for how to use tho ball joint
remover.
Separate the tie-rod ball joint and knuckle using the
specialtool.
CAUTION: Avoid damaging the ball ioint boot.
Remove the left tie-rod end, then slide the rack all
the way to the right.
Separate the exhaust pipe A or TWC (see section g).
Disconnect the shift linkage (see section 13 or sec-
tion 14).
Remove the stiffener plate.
7.
'10.
11.
12.
Replace.
17-6
13. Remove the mounting bracket,
Pull the steering gearbox all the way down to clear
th€ pinion shaft from the bulkhead, then remove thepinion shaft grommet,
Move the steering gearbox to right so the left rack
end clears the rear beam, then tilt the left side down
to remove it from the car.
t5.
STEENING GEARBOX
PINION SHAFT GROMMET

)
Disassembly
'1.
2.
Place the gearbox in a vise with a soft jaws, then
clamp the gearbox at the mount bracket or gear
housing.
CAUTION: Be carcful not to distort the gear hous-
in9 by clamping it too iight in the vise incorrectly.
Remove the tie-rod end and locknut.
Remove the boot bands and tie-rod clips. Pull the
bogts away from the ends of the gearbox.
/
TIE.ROD CLIP
4. Hold the steering rack with one wrench, and
unscrew the rack end with another wrench.
CAUTION: Be caleful not to damagc the rack sur'
facs with the wrench.
STEERING RACK ENO
l,
17-7
7.
Push the right end of the rack back into the cylinder
housing so the smooth surface that rides against
the seal won't be damaged.
Loosen the locknut, and remove the rack guide
screw.
Remove the disc washer, spring and rack guide
from the gear housing.
RACK GUIOE
SPRING
8.
9.
LOCKNUT RACK GUIDE SCREW
Remove the pinion dust seal and the 35 mm snap
nng.
Hold the pinion shatt with a vise securely
Remove the pinion by tapping evenly around the
flanged section of the gearbox with a plastic ham-
met.
CAUTION: Do not tap on tho steering rack.
NOTE| Do not reuse the removed pinion.
9._
ViF=\_
PINION DUST SEALReplace.
SNAP RING,35 mm
STEERING PINIONFeplace.
DISC WASHER

Steering Gearbox
Disassembly (cont'dl
10. Slide the steering rack out of the cylinder housing.
CAUTION: Be carelul not to damage the bushing in
the cylinder housing.
11. Remove the rack end bushing.
GEARBOX MOUNTING CUSHION
Inspect inner wall tor wear or damage.
17-8
12. Replace the gearbox mounting cushion if necessary:
. To remove the cushion, use a sharp knife and make
a cut down the length of the cushion. Be careful not
to damage the paint on the outside of the cylinder
housing. Remove the old cushion.. Apply weatherstrip adhesive to the inside of the
new cushion. Install the cushion onto the cylinder
housing and position it 20 - 22 mm (0.79 - 0.87 in)
from the end of the cylinder housing as shown.
NOTE: After installing the cushion, wipe off any
excess adhesive that may have dripped into the
inside of the cylinder housing.
20 - 22 mm 10.79 - 0.87 in)

Reassembly
NOTE:
. Clean the disassembled parts with solvent, and dry them with compressed air. Do not dip the rubber parts in solvent.
. Alwavs replace the non reuseable parts with new ones before assembly
. Do not allow dust, dirt, or other foreign materials to enter the steering gearbox.
-6,1
PINION OUST SEALReplace.RACK ENO BUSHING
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GEARBOX MOUNTING CUSHIONS
V."^pR,NG,3smm
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DISC WASHER
RACK GUIDE
(cont'd)
17-9
tJ

Steering Gearbox
Reassembly (cont'dl
LApply a thin coat of grease to the inside surface of
the rack end bushing.
Grease quantity: 1 - 3 S 10.04-0.1 ozl
CAUTION: Do not till the slots with greas€; th€y
must remain open to serve as air passages,
Install the rack end bushing by aligning the round
projection on the bushing with the hole in the cylin-
der housing
4.
Grease the steering rack teeth.
Install the steering rack into the cylinder housing
carefully to avoid damaging the rack end bushing.
CYLINDER HOUSING
17-10
11. Adjust the rack guide screw (see page 17-5).
Drive in the steering pinion in the gear housing with
the soecial tools.
ORIVER.22 mm l.D.o7716-qr20100SNAP RING, 35 mm
PINION DUSTSEALReplace.
Vinyltape
STEERINGPINION
7.
Install the 35 mm snap ring securely in the gear
housing groove.
Apply vinyl tape to the pinion shaft, then coat the
vinyltape with grease.
Install the pinion dust seal on the gear housing until
it seats properly, then remove the tape.
Grease the sliding surface of the rack guide, and
install it on to the gear housing.
Install the spring, disc washer and rack guide screw
on the gear housing.
NOTE: Install the disc washer with its convex side
facing in.
LOCKNUT
SPRING RACK GUTDE
RACK GUIOE SCREW
10.
Dtsc w,
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It
12.
13.
lnstall the new lock washer in the groove in the
steering rack.
Installthe steering rack end into the rack
LOCK WASHER RACK END 54 N m ts.s kgf'm, 40 lbtft)
Replace.
TAB
(l*v
14.
15.
RACK END
Hold the steering rack with a wrench and tighten
the rack end with another.
CAUTION: Be careful not to damage the tack sur-
fac€ with the wrench.
After tightening the rack ends, stake the four sec-
tions of the lock washer with a roll pin drift and a
mallet.
. Place the wood block on the press table. then set
the lock washer section of the rack end on the
wood block securelY.
. Be sure the tool is aligned with the flat sections
of the steering rack end before pressing
. Stake the lock washer in the center of the flat
section of the steering rack end.
ROLL PIN DnlFTl(Commorci.lly .Yril.blolSnap-On No. PPRS or oquival.nt
NOTE: This drift has a flat
tip, to prevent puncturing
of metal washer.
srEEatruG nlCr/rl,WOODEN BLOCK
TIE.ROO CLIP
16. Apply grease around the outside ot the rack end
housing.
Apply a light coat of silicone grease to the boot
grooves on the rack ends.
lnstall the boots in the rack end with the tie-rod
clips.
NOTE: Install the boot band with the rack in the
straight ahead position (right and left tie-rods are
equal in length).
=-..r=-q!q!!.n
SILICONE GREASE
17.
(cont'd)
17-11
NOTE| WiPe grease off
the thread sectlon