1997 HONDA CIVIC 17-33

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Steering
Speciaf Tools ....."'.....17-2
Manual Steering
Component Locations
lndex ................ ....... 17-3
Inspection and Adiustment
Steering Operation "'......"............... 17-4
Rack Guide Adiustment ................... 17-5
*Steering Wheel
(See power steering section)
*Steering Column
(See power steering sectionl
Steering Gearbox
Removal ................. 17-5
Disassembly ......."" 17-7
ReassemblY ..'......... 17-9
lnstallation ............. 17-13
Power Steering
Component Locations
lndex "......."..... """' 17-15
System DescriPtion
Fluid Flow Diagram .........""............. 17'16
Steering Pump ............'... "........"'...-- 17 -17
Steering Gearbox .".................'...'.'.' 17-20
Troubleshooting
Generaf Troubleshooting ..........--.... 17'22
Noise and Vibration ......................... 17 -26
Ffuid Leaks .............17-28
Inspection and Adiustment
Steering Operation'......."'........'...... 1 7-30
Power Assist Check
With Vehicle Parked .."................ 17-30
Steering Linkage and Gearbox ....." 17-31
Pump Beft ...--.""".. 17-32
Rack Guide Adiustment .'.......'.......'. 17'33
Fluid Replacement .....'.."................. 17-33
Pump Pressure Check .............'....-. " 17 -34
'Steering Wheel
Removal .."'........'... 17-35
lnstallation ............. 17-35
Disassembly/Reassembly ......'.....'.' 17-36
*Steering Column
Removal/lnstallation ....'........... ---.... 17'37
lnspection .............. 17'38
Power Steering Hoses, Lines
Fluid Leakage Inspeetion ............'.... 17-39
Replacement ......".. 17-39
Power Steering PumP
Removal/lnstallation .'.'..'..'............. 17-40
Disassembly ".........17-41
fnspection .......---'." 17'42
Reassembly ..'.........17-44
Steering Gearbox
Removal ....'........."' 17'47
DisassemblY ..........' 17-49
Reassembly '........... 17-55
lnstallation ............. 17-65
Ball Joint Boot Replacement .......'.. 17-68
Ir/
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I
AbnormalDeformed
Faulty cylinder lines
Adiustment OK
Faulty valve body unit
Normal
IICompair the steering to another alike
vehicle.
/
Check the force required to turn
the wheel (see Page 17 30i
Start the engine and measure the
force required to turn the wheel
to the right and left. Difference of
the lorce required to turn the
wheel to the right and to the Ieft
should be 2.9 N 10 3 kgf, 0.7 lbf)
or below.
Check for bent rack shaft
Check rack guide adiustment (see
page 17-33).
(cont'd)
17 -23
1,,

Troubleshooting
General Troubleshooting (cont'd)
Assist (excessively light steering) athigh speed.
Shock or vibration when wheel isturned to {ull lock.
Steering wheelwill not returnsmoothly.
lf the problem is not corrected byadiusting the rack guide, adjustthe front wheel alignment lseesection 181.
Check the rack guide for properadiustment (see page 17 33).
Check the rack guide for properadjustment (see page 17-33).
Rack guide is adjusted properly.
lfthe problem is not corrected byadjusting the rack guide, replacethe gearbox.Check the belt for slippage andaolust as necessary {see page11 32).
A and B cylinder lines are nor-mal, check wheel alignment (seesection 18).
Wheel alignment is abnormal,adjust as needed.
Wheel alignment is normal.Check the steering wheel opera-tion and power assist check {seepage lT-30).
It the measurements are out ofspecifications, adjust the ra ckguide.
lf the problem is not corrected byadjusting the rack guide, replacethe gearbox.
17-24

Inspection and Adjustment
Steering Operation
Place the front wheels in the straight ahead position,
and measure the distance the steering wheel can beturned without moving the front wheels.
ROTATIONAL PLAY: 0 - 10 mm l0 - 0.39 inl
lf the play exceeds the service limit. perform rack guide
adjustment (see page 17-33).
lf the play is still excessive after rack guide adjustment.inspect the steering linkage and gearbox as describedon the nel(t pag€.
ROTATIONAL PLAY
17-30
Power Assist Gheck with
Vehicle Parked
1. Check the power steering fluid level (see page 17-33) and pump belt tension (see page 17-32).
2. Start the engine, allow it to idle. and turn the steer-ing wheel from lock-tolock several times to warm
up the fluid.
3. Attach a spring scale to the steering wheel. With theengine idling and the vehicle on a clean, dry floor,pull the scale as shown and read it as soon as thetires begin to turn.
The scale should read no more than 29 N (3.0 kgf.
6.6 lbf). lf it reads more, check the gearbox andpump,
D0

IRack Guide Adjustment
NOTE: Perform rack guide adjustment with the wheels
in the straight ahead Position.
1. Loosen the rack guide screw locknut with the
cialtool.
'96 - '97 models:
Loosen the rack guide screw
'98 - '00 models:
Remove the rack guide screw and remove the old
sealant off of the threaded section.
Apply new sealant all around the threads. Loosely
installthe rack guide screw
Tighten the rack guide screw to 25 N'm (2.5 kgf'm.
18 lbf.ft), then loosen it.
Retighten the rack guide screw to 3 9 N'm (0.4 kgim,
2.9 lbf.ft), then back it off to specified angle.
Specified Return Angle: 20" max.
Tighten the locknut while holding the rack guide
screw.
Check for tight or loose steering through the com-
plete turning travel.
Perform following insPections:
. Steering operation (see page 17-30).
. Power assist with vehicle parked.
4.
LOCKNUT WRENCH, 40 mm
lr
17-33
Fluid Replacement
Check the reservoir at regular intervals, and add fluid as
necessary.
CAUTION: Always us€ Genuine Honda Power Stearing
Fluid-V or S. Using any other type of power sto€ring
tluid or automatic transmission lluid can cause
increased wear and poor steering in cold weathor.
SYSTEM CAPACITY:
0.85 liter 10.90 US' qt,0.75 lmp'qt)
at disassembly
RESERVOIR CAPACITY:
0.4 liter (0.42 US. qt, 0.35 lmP.qt)
LEVEL LINE
LOWER LEVEL LINE
1. Raise the reservoir, then disconnect the return nose.
2. Connect a hose of suitable diameter to the discon-
nected return hose, and put the hose end in a suit-
able container.
CAUTION: Take care not to spill tho fluid on the
body and parts. Wipe off any spill€d fluid at oncs'
3. Start the engine, let it run at idle, and turn the steer-
ing wheel from lock-to-lock several times When
fluid stops running out of the hose, shut off the
engine, Discard the fluid.
4. Reinstall the return hose on the reservoir'
5. Fill the reservoir to the upper level line.
6. Start the engine and run it at fast idle, then turn the
steering trom lock-to-lock several times to bleed air
trom the system.
7. Recheck the fluid level and add some it necessary.
CAUTION: Do not fill the reservoir beYond the
upper l€vel line.
HOSE

)
55. Installthe cylinder lines A and B.
NOTE:
. Clean the joints of the cylinder lines A and B
thoroughly. The joints must be free of foreign
materlal.
. Install the cylinder lines A and B by tighting the
flare nuts by hand first, then tighten the flare
nuts to the specified torque.
56.
57.
Grease the sliding surface of the rack guide, and
install it onto the gear housing
36 - '97 models:
Apply a thin coat of grease to the new O-ring, and
install it on the rack guide screw.
38 - '00 models:
Remove the old sealant off of the threaded section,
then apply new sealant all around the threads
Install the spring, rack guide screw and locknut on
the gear housing.
Adjust the rack guide screw (see page 17-33)'
NOTE: After adjusting, check that the rack moves
smoothly by sliding the rack right and left'
'1 l:.r1
58.
-GlO.BINGReplace.
17 N.m {1.7 kgt'm, 12 lbl.ft)
28 N.m (2.7 kgf m,20 lbf ftl
CYLINDER LINE 8 CYLINDER LINE A
l/LOCKNUTS
60, lnstall the new lockwasher in the groove in the
steering rack.
61. Screw each rack ends into the rack'
62. Hold the steering rack with a wrench ('98 -'00 mod-
els: left end onlY), and tighten the rack ends'
CAUTION: Bo cateful nol to damage ihe rack sur-
face with the wranch.
NOTE: '96 -'97 model is shown.
STEERING RACK END
54 N'm t5 5 kgt m' 40 lbl'ft)
STEERING RACK
After tightening the rack ends, stake the four sec-
tions of lock washer with a 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 flst sections
of the steering rack end belore pressing.
Stake the lock washer in the center ot the flat
section of the steering rack end.
LOCK WASHER
NOTE: This drift has a flat,
to prevent puncturing
WOODEN BLOCK
{cont'd}
17-63

)
1?
12, Install the steering joint cover with the clamps and a
clrp.
Reconnect the tie-rod ends to the steering knuckles,
tighten the castle nut ('96 -'97 models) or nut ('98 -
'OO models) to the specified torque, and install new
cotter plns.
NOTE: Before connecting the tie-rod ends, wipe off
any grease contamination from the ball joint tapered
section and threads.
CAUTION: Torquo the castle nut to the lower torque
sp€cification, then tighten it only tar enough to align
the slot with the pin hole. Do not align the nut by
loosening {,96 -'97 models only).
COTTER PINSReplace.On reassembly, bend
the cotter Pin 6s shown.'96 -'97 models:'98 -'00 mod€ls:
tr
CASTLE NUT40 - a8 N'm(4.0 - 4.8 kgf'm,29 - 35 lbf.ftl
NUT&l N.m{a.5 kgf'm, 33 lbl'ftl
NE-ROD END
(l-,
17-67
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Install the exhaust pipe A or TWC (see section 9).
Connect the shift linkage (see section 13 or section
14).
lnstall the front wheels
Fill the system with power steering fluid, and bleed
air from the system (see page 17-331
After installation, perform the following checks
. Start the engine, allow it to idle, and turn the
steering wheel from lock-tolock several times to
warm up the fluid. Check the gearbox for leaks
(see page 17-39).
. Adjust the front toe (see section 18).
. Check the steering wheel spoke angle. Adjust by
turning the right and left tie-rods, if necessary.
NOTE: Turn the right and left tie-rods equallv