1999 DODGE RAM gas type


STE ER IN G S YSTE M - P O W ER R EC IR CULA TIN G B ALL

1999 D odge P ic ku p R 1500
1998-99 STEERING
CHRY - Power Recirculating Ball - RWD Trucks
Dakota 4WD, Ram Pickup, Ram Van/Wagon
DESCRIPTION & OPERATION
The recirculating ball power steering system consists of
steering gear, steering linkage, pressure and return fluid hoses and
fittings, and a hydraulic steering pump with fluid reservoir.
The steering gear is a power assisted recirculating-ball type
that acts as a rolling thread between worm shaft and rack piston. See
Fig. 1 . When worm shaft is turned, the rack piston moves and piston
teeth mesh with sector shaft teeth, turning pitman arm, which turns
steering linkage.
The steering linkage consists of pitman arm, idler arm(s),
tie rods, center link and drag link (if equipped).
The power steering pump is a constant flow rate and
displacement, vane-type pump. Pump is connected to steering gear by
pressure and return hoses. On gasoline models, pump shaft has pressed
on belt-driven pulley.
On diesel models, power steering pump is bolted onto rear of
vacuum pump and is driven by a common shaft.
Fig. 1: Exploded View Of Saginaw Rotary Valve Power Steering Gear
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.
TESTING

Relief Pressure Test
1) Close gauge shutoff valve completely 3 times. Record
highest pressure attained each time. All 3 readings must be greater
than specifications and within 50 psi (3.5 kg/cm

) of each other. See
POWER STEERING PUMP PRESSURE TEST SPECIFICATIONS table. If pressures
are not as specified, replace pump. See POWER STEERING PUMP (GASOLINE)\
or VACUUM/POWER STEERING PUMP (DIESEL) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
CAUTION: DO NOT hold steering wheel against stops more than 4 seconds,
or pump damage may result.
2) Open test valve and turn steering wheel to left and right
stops. Record highest pressure attained at each stop. If output
pressures are not equal against each stop, gear is leaking internally
and must be replaced. See STEERING GEAR under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
Shut off engine, remove test gauge, and connect pressure hose.
LUBRICATION
CAPACITY
CAPACITY\
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Models Pts. (L)\
Dakota (4WD) ............................................. 2.5 (1.2\
)
Ram Pickup & Ram Van/Wagon ............................... 2.7 (1.3)\
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FLUID TYPE
CAUTION: DO NOT use Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF).
Use Mopar Power Steering Fluid (4318055).
FLUID LEVEL CHECK
Check fluid level with engine cold and not running. Remove
fluid level dipstick on pump reservoir. Dipstick should indicate FULL
COLD with fluid temperature of 70-80
F (21-27C). If needed, add fluid
through dipstick opening, and recheck. DO NOT overfill.
HYDRAULIC SYSTEM BLEEDING
Fill power steering pump reservoir to specified level. Start
engine and slowly turn steering wheel to left and right, but DO NOT
contact steering stops in either direction. Stop engine. Inspect
reservoir fluid level and add fluid if necessary. Bleeding process may
have to be repeated several times to completely purge all air from
system.
ADJUSTMENTS
POWER STEERING PUMP BELT
Vehicles are equipped with dynamic tensioner. No adjustment
is required.
POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY

Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.
Installation
1) To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure torque
converter is fully seated in transmission by measuring distance from
cylinder block surface on transmission housing to front edge on torque
converter bolt lug on front of torque converter. Distance should be .
50" (12.7 mm) if torque converter is fully seated.
CAUTION: Proper length torque converter bolts must be used. If
replacing any torque converter bolts, ensure proper length
bolt is used.
2) Tighten bolt/nuts to specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS. Ensure reference mark on torque converter and
flexplate, and drive shaft flanges are aligned. Adjust shift cable or
linkage, throttle valve cable and transfer case shift linkage if
necessary. See AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - TRUCKS & RWD VANS article.
3) Use NEW "O" ring when installing dipstick tube. Before
installing oil cooler lines on transmission, ensure all fittings are
clean. Install oil cooler line into quick-disconnect fitting. Push oil
cooler line inward until a click is heard. Pull on oil cooler line to
ensure oil cooler line is locked in place. Fill transmission with
Mopar ATF Plus Type 7176.
RAM PICKUP
Removal
1) Disconnect negative battery cable. Raise and support
vehicle. Disconnect and remove necessary skid plates and exhaust
components for transmission removal. Remove engine-to-transmission
struts (if equipped). These struts are located between front of
transmission and engine.
2) Ensure area around transmission oil cooler lines fitting
are clean. Disengage retainer on quick-disconnect cooler line fitting.
Pull cooler line from transmission oil cooler. Remove starter.
CAUTION: On 3.9L, 5.2L and 5.9L gasoline models, crankshaft position
sensor must be removed from transmission housing before
removing transmission to prevent damage to crankshaft
position sensor.
3) On 3.9L, 5.2L and 5.9L gasoline models, disconnect
electrical connector for crankshaft position sensor. Crankshaft
position sensor is mounted on passenger's side of transmission
housing. See Fig. 2.
4) Remove crankshaft position sensor bolts. Remove crankshaft
position sensor from transmission housing. Remove dipstick, dipstick
tube and "O" ring from transmission.
5) Remove torque converter cover. Place reference mark on
flexplate and torque converter for installation reference. Rotate
crankshaft clockwise and remove torque converter bolts.
6) Place reference mark on drive shaft flanges for
installation reference. Remove drive shaft from transmission. On 4WD
models, disconnect drive shaft from transfer case. Disconnect shift
rod for transfer case from transfer case shift lever.
7) On all models, disconnect necessary control cables, wiring
harnesses, and shift linkage from transmission. Support rear of engine
with jack stand. Using transmission jack, slightly raise transmission
to release pressure from rear mount and rear crossmember.
8) Remove bolts securing rear support and rear mount to
transmission and rear crossmember. Raise transmission slightly. Slide
exhaust hanger arm from bracket on rear support. Remove rear support

(1) - Approximate quantity listed.








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DRAINING & FILLING
Transmission
1) Raise and support vehicle. Loosen oil pan bolts, allowing
fluid to drain from oil pan. Remove oil pan bolts, oil pan and gasket.
Remove oil filter bolts and oil filter from valve body.
2) Adjust kickdown band and low-reverse bands if necessary.
See KICKDOWN BAND and LOW-REVERSE BAND under ADJUSTMENTS.
3) Clean oil pan, magnet and all sealing surfaces. Install
NEW oil filter. Install and tighten oil filter bolts to specification.
See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS.
4) Using NEW gasket, install oil pan. Install and tighten oil
pan bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS.
5) Add Mopar ATF Plus Type 7176 fluid until fluid level is at
MIN arrow mark on dipstick. Start engine and allow engine to idle.
With brakes applied, shift transmission through all gears and back to
Neutral.
6) Add additional fluid to bring fluid level to MIN mark on
dipstick. Recheck fluid level with transmission at normal operating
temperature. Adjust fluid level to MAX arrow mark on dipstick. DO NOT
overfill transmission.
Transfer Case
1) Ensure vehicle is parked on level surface. Remove transfer
case drain plug. Transfer case drain plug is located on rear of
transfer case at driver's side corner of transfer case. Allow fluid to
drain from transfer case.
2) Reinstall transfer case drain plug. Tighten transfer case
drain plug to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. Remove
transfer case fill plug from rear of transfer case. Transfer case fill
plug is located on rear of transfer case, just below identification
tag.
3) Fill transfer case with appropriate type of transfer case
fluid until fluid level is even with bottom of fill plug hole on
transfer case. See RECOMMENDED FLUID. Install and tighten transfer
case fill plug to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS.
Power Take-Off (PTO) Adapter (Ram Pickup 2WD 2500 & 3500)
1) Ensure vehicle is parked on level surface. Remove drain
plug from rear of PTO adapter. See Fig. 3. Allow fluid to drain from
PTO adapter.
2) Reinstall drain plug. Tighten drain plug to specification.
See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. Remove fill plug from rear of PTO adapter.
See Fig. 3 .
3) Fill PTO adapter with appropriate type of fluid until
fluid level is even with bottom of fill plug hole on PTO adapter. See
RECOMMENDED FLUID. Install and tighten fill plug to specification. See
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS.
ADJUSTMENTS
KICKDOWN BAND
1) Kickdown band is front band on transmission. Raise and
support vehicle. Loosen kickdown band adjusting screw lock nut while
preventing kickdown adjusting screw from rotating. Kickdown band
adjusting screw is located on side of transmission, near manual lever
shaft. See Fig. 4.
2) Back off kickdown band adjusting screw lock nut 5 turns.

1) Low-reverse band is rear band on transmission. Oil pan
must be removed from transmission to adjust low-reverse band. Raise
and support vehicle. Loosen oil pan bolts. Allow fluid to drain from
oil pan. Remove oil pan bolts, oil pan and gasket.
2) Loosen low-reverse band adjusting screw lock nut while
preventing low-reverse band adjusting screw from rotating. Low-reverse
band adjusting screw lock nut and low-reverse band adjusting screw are
located inside transmission, near low-reverse band. See Fig. 5.
3) Back off low-reverse band adjusting screw lock nut 5
turns. Ensure low-reverse band adjusting screw rotates freely in
transmission case.
4) Tighten low-reverse band adjusting screw to 72 INCH lbs.
(8.1 N.m). Back off low-reverse band adjusting screw specified amount
of turns. See LOW-REVERSE BAND ADJUSTMENT table. Hold low-reverse band
adjusting screw and tighten low-reverse band adjusting screw lock nut
to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS.
LOW-REVERSE BAND ADJUSTMENT









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Application Back Off Adjusting Screw
32RH ....................................................... 4 Turns
36H ........................................................ 2 Turns
42RE ....................................................... 4 Turns
44RE ....................................................... 4 Turns
46RE ....................................................... 2 Turns
47RE ....................................................... 3 Turns









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5) Clean oil pan, magnet and all sealing surfaces. Using NEW
gasket, install oil pan. Install and tighten oil pan bolts to
specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS.
6) Add Mopar ATF Plus Type 7176 fluid until fluid level is at
MIN arrow mark on dipstick. Start engine and allow engine to idle.
With brakes applied, shift transmission through all gears and back to
Neutral.
7) Add additional fluid to bring fluid level to MIN mark on
dipstick. Recheck fluid level with transmission at normal operating
temperature. Adjust fluid level to MAX arrow mark on dipstick. DO NOT
overfill transmission.
Fig. 5: Locating Low-Reverse Band Adjusting Screw & Low-Reverse
Band Adjusting Screw Lock Nut
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.
SHIFT CABLE

Application Front - In. (mm) Rear - In. (mm\
)
Gas Engine With
14" & 15" Wheels (1) ....... 29.04-29.82
(737.5-757.5) .......... 29.76-30.54\
(756.0-776.0)\
Gas Engine With 15",
16" & 17" Wheels ( 2) ....... 29.27-30.05
(743.5-765.5) ........... 30.0-30.78\
(762.0-782.0)\
CNG & Electric Vehicles ..... 30.46-31.24
(783.5-803.5) ........... 31.2-31.98\
(792.5-812.5)\
( 1) - With tire sizes P205/75R 15 and P215/65R 15.
( 2) - With tire sizes P215/70R 15, P215/65R 16 and 215/65R 17.









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HOIST
CAUTION: On Ram Van/Wagon, ensure there is adequate drive shaft
clearance while raising vehicle. DO NOT raise vehicle by
hoisting or jacking against front lower control arms. If rear
axle, fuel tank, spare tire and liftgate will be removed for
service, place additional weight on rear end of vehicle. This
will prevent tipping as center of gravity changes.
Caravan, Ram Van/Wagon, Town & Country, & Voyager
To raise vehicle on single and twin post type hoists, ensure
hoist pads contact vehicle frame behind front control arm pivots and
inside rear wheels on rear axle housing. Always use hoist adapters.
See Fig. 2 or 5.
Dakota & Ram Pickup
Vehicle may be raised on single or twin post swiveling arm,
or ramp-type drive hoists. If using swiveling arm hoist, ensure
lifting arms, pads or ramps are positioned evenly on frame rails, and
adequate clearance is maintained for transfer case (4WD models) or
skid plate. All hoists must be equipped with adapters to properly
support vehicle. See Fig. 3.
WHEEL ALIGNMENT PROCEDURES
FRONT WHEEL CAMBER & CASTER ADJUSTMENT
CAUTION: DO NOT adjust caster by heating or bending suspension
components. If caster angle is incorrect, replace
component(s) causing incorrect angle.
Caravan, Town & Country, & Voyager
1) Caster is factory preset and cannot be adjusted. Camber is
factory preset, but can be adjusted with a camber service kit. Raise
and support vehicle. While holding lower strut attaching bolts
stationary, loosen attaching nuts. See Fig. 6. Remove upper attaching
nut and bolt. Install camber service kit attaching/adjusting bolt and
nut. While holding bolt stationary, lightly tighten nut. Repeat
procedure for lower attaching nut and bolt.
2) Lower vehicle until vehicle weight is supported by
suspension. Bounce vehicle several times and allow suspension to
settle. Rotate new cam bolt to move top of wheel in or out to
specified camber. See WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS table. Tighten
through-bolt nuts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.