1998 HONDA CIVIC steering inspection and adjustment

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.

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

Inspection and Adjustment
Pump Belt
NOTE: When using a new belt, first adjust the deflection
or tension to the values for the new belt, then readjust
the deflection or tension to the values for the used beltafter running engine for five minutes.
Inspection
Attach the special tool to the belt and measure the ten-sion of the belt.
Tension:'99 -'00 mod€ls: B1642 Engin. Type onlyUsed Bsh: 390 - 540 N lao - 55 kgt.88 - 120 tbf)New Belt:740 - 880 N {75 - 90 kgf, 170 - 200 tbt}'96 - '00 models: Other Engine Types
Used Beh: 340 - 490 N (35 - 50 kgf, 77 - ilO tbflNew Belt:640 - 780 N 165 - 80 ksf, 1& - 176 tbf)NOTE:
. lf there are cracks or any damage evident on the belt,reDlace it with a new one.. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the tensiongauge.
BELT TENSION GAUGE07JGG _ 001010A
Inspect the pump belt for cracks or any damage.Replace the belt with a new one if necessary.
Measuremont without Beh Tension Gauga:
Apply a force of 98 N (10 kgt,22 lbfl and measure thedeflection between the power steering pump and thecrankshaft pulleys.
Dsflectior:'99 -'00 model3: 816A2 Engine Typ€ ontyUsed Beh: 7.5 - 11.0 mm t0.30 - 0.43 inlNew Beh:5.0 - 7.0 mm (0.20 - 0.28 in)'96 - '00 models: Othor Engine Typos
Used Behi 10.5 - 14.0 mm (0.ial - 0.59 inlNow Beh:7.5 - 10.0 mm (0.30 - 0.39 inl
POWER STEERING PULUY
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY
17-32
Adiustment
1. Loosen the power steering pump mounting bolts.
2. Adjust the belt tension.
'99 - '00 mod€ls: 816A2 Engin€ Typo only
. Turn the adjusting bolt by hand to get the proper belttension, then retighten the mounting bolts,
ADJUSNNG BOLT
PUMP MOUNNNG BOLTS24 N.m (2.4 kgf'm, 17 tbtftlPOWER STEERINGPUMP
'96 -'00 modek: Othcr Engins Typos
. Pry power steering pump away from the engine witha wrench to get the proper belt tension, then retight-en the mounting bolts.
PUMP MOUNTING BOLT24 N.m (2,4 kgf.m, 17 lbl.ftl
PUMP MOUNTING BOLT24 N.m {2.a kgt m, 17 tbtftl
Start the engine and turn the steering wheel fromlock-to-lock several times, then stop the engine andrecheck the deflection of the belt,

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

?
Front Toe Inspection/Adiustment
NOTE: Use commercially-available computerized four
wheel alignment equipment to measure wheel align-
ment (caster, camber, toe, and turning angle). Follow
the equipment manufacturer's instructions.
1. Check the tire pressure.
Center steering wheel spokes.
Check the toe with the wheels pointed straight
a head.
Front toe: lN 1 1 2 mm llN l/16 r 1/16 inl
- lf adjustment is required, go on to step 4.
- lf no adjustment is required, remove alignment
equrpmenr.
Loosen the tie-rod locknuts, and turn both tie-rods
in the same direction until the front wheels are in
straight ahead position.
TIE.ROD LOCKNUT'14 x 1.5 mm
4.
tJ
6.
Turn both tie-rods equally until the toe readang on
the turning radius gauge is correct.
After adjusting, tighten the tie-rod locknuts.
NOTE: Reposition the tie-rod boot if it is twisted or
displaced.
4,1 N.m {4.5 kgf.m, 33 lb{.ft)
2.
Rear Toe Inspection/Adiustment
NOTE: Use commercially-available computerjzed Iour
wheel alignment equjpment to measure wheel align-
ment (caster, camber, toe, and turning angle). Follow
the equipment manufacturer's instructions.
1. Release parking brake.
NOTE:
a Measure difference in toe measurements wlth
the wheels pointed straight ahead.
. if the parking brake is engaged, you may get an
incorrect readang,
Rear toe-in: 2 11 mm ttltollllS int
- lf adjustment is required, go to step 2.
- lf no adjustment is required, remove alignment
equipment.
Before adjustment, note the locations of adiusting
bolts on the right and left compensator arms
Loosen the adjusting bolts, and slide the compen
sator arm in or out. as shown, to adjust the toe
ADJUSTING BOLT10 x 1.25 mm
In CoMPENSAToR ARM
4. Tighten the adiusting bolts
. Example:
After the rear toe inspection, the wheel is 2 mm
(0.08 in) out of the specification.- Move the arm so the adjusfing bolt moves 2 mm
(0.08 in) inward trom the position recorded before the
adjustment.- The distance the adjusting bolt is moved should be
equal to the amount out-of-specification.
64 N.m 16.5 ksf m, 47 lbtft)
18-5