2001 INFINITI QX4 wheel

CAUTION:
Do not hold the steering wheel in a locked position for more
than 15 seconds.
4. If fluid leakage at connectors is noticed, loosen flare nut and
then retighten.
Do not overtighten connector as this can damage O-ring,
washer and connector.
5. Check rack boots for accumulation of power steering fluid.
Bleeding Hydraulic SystemNBST00131. Raise front end of vehicle until wheels are clear of the ground.
2. Add fluid into oil tank to specified level. Then, quickly turn
steering wheel fully to right and left and lightly touch steering
stoppers.
Repeat steering wheel operation until fluid level no longer
decreases.
3. Start engine.
Repeat step 2 above.
IIncomplete air bleeding will cause the following to occur. When
this happens, bleed air again.
a) Air bubbles in reservoir tank
b) Clicking noise in oil pump
c) Excessive buzzing in oil pump
Fluid noise may occur in the valve or oil pump. This is common
when the vehicle is stationary or while turning steering wheel
slowly. This does not affect performance or durability of the system.
SST491B
SST090B
Checking Steering Wheel Turning ForceNBST00141. Park vehicle on a level, dry surface and set parking brake.
2. Start engine.
3. Bring power steering fluid up to adequate operating tempera-
ture. [Make sure temperature of fluid is approximately 60 to
80ÉC (140 to 176ÉF).]
Tires need to be inflated to normal pressure.
4. Check steering wheel turning force when steering wheel has
been turned 360É from the neutral position.
Steering wheel turning force:
39 N (4 kg, 9 lb) or less
5. If steering wheel turning force is out of specification, check
rack sliding force.
a. Disconnect steering column lower joint and knuckle arms from
the gear.
b. Start and run engine at idle to make sure steering fluid has
reached normal operating temperature.
c. Pull tie-rod slowly to move it from neutral position to±11.5 mm
(±0.453 in) at speed of 3.5 mm (0.138 in)/s. Check that rack
sliding force is within specification.
Rack sliding force:
137 - 255 N (14 - 26 kg, 31 - 57 lb)
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ON-VEHICLE SERVICE
Checking Fluid Leakage (Cont'd)
ST-9

6. If rack sliding force is not within specification, overhaul steer-
ing gear assembly.
7. If rack sliding force is OK, inspect steering column. Refer to
ªInspectionº, ªSTEERING WHEEL AND STEERING
COLUMNº, ST-14.
SST834-F
Checking Hydraulic SystemNBST0015Before starting, check belt tension, driving pulley and tire pressure.
1. Set Tool. Open shut-off valve. Then bleed air.
Refer to ªBleeding Hydraulic Systemº, ST-9.
2. Run engine, at idle speed or 1,000 rpm.
Make sure fluid temperature in reservoir tank rises to 60 to
80ÉC (140 to 176ÉF).
WARNING:
Warm up engine with shut-off valve fully opened. If engine is
started with shut-off valve closed, fluid pressure in the power
steering pump increase to maximum. This will raise fluid tem-
perature abnormally.
3. Check pressure with steering wheel fully turned to left and right
positions with engine idling at 1,000 rpm.
CAUTION:
Do not hold the steering wheel in a locked position for more
than 15 seconds.
Power steering pump maximum operating pressure:
8,630 - 9,219 kPa
(88 - 94 kg/cm
2, 1,251 - 1,337 psi)
IIf pressure reaches maximum operating pressure, system is
OK.
IIf pressure increases above maximum operating pressure,
check power steering pump flow control valve. Refer to ST-28.
4. If power steering pressure is below the maximum operating
pressure, slowly close shut-off valve and check pressure
again.
CAUTION:
Do not close shut-off valve for more than 15 seconds.
IIf pressure increases to maximum operating pressure, gear
should be damaged. Refer to ªRemoval and Installationº,
ST-18.
IIf pressure remains below maximum operating pressure, pump
should be damaged. Refer to ªDisassemblyº, ST-28.
5. After checking hydraulic system, remove Tool and add fluid as
necessary. Then completely bleed air out of system. Refer to
ST-9.
ON-VEHICLE SERVICE
Checking Steering Wheel Turning Force (Cont'd)
ST-10

ComponentsNBST0016
SST843C
1. Air bag module
2. Steering wheel3. Spiral cable
4. Combination switch5. Steering column assembly
6. Column cover
CAUTION:
IThe rotation of the spiral cable (SRS ªAIR BAGº compo-
nent part) is limited. If the steering gear must be removed,
set the front wheels in the straight-ahead direction. Do not
rotate the steering column while the steering gear is
removed.
IRemove the steering wheel before removing the steering
lower joint to avoid damaging the SRS spiral cable.
SBF812E
Removal and InstallationNBST0017STEERING WHEELNBST0017S011. Remove air bag module and spiral cable. Refer to RS-17,
ªRemoval Ð Air Bag Module and Spiral Cableº.
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STEERING WHEEL AND STEERING COLUMN
Components
ST-11

SRS266
2. Align spiral cable correctly when installing steering wheel.
a. Set the front wheels in the straight-ahead position.
b. Make sure that the spiral cable is in the neutral position.
The neutral position is detected by turning left about 2.5 revo-
lutions from the right end position. Align the two marks (
).
CAUTION:
IThe spiral cable may snap due to steering operation if the
cable is installed in an improper position.
IAlso, with the steering linkage disconnected, the cable
may snap by turning the steering wheel beyond the limited
number of turns. The spiral cable can be turned to the left
about 2.5 turns from the right end position.
SST818C
3. Remove steering wheel with Tool.
SST329C
4. Remove key interlock cable.
SST844C
STEERING COLUMNNBST0017S02IWhen installing steering column, fingertighten all lower bracket
and clamp retaining bolts; then tighten them securely. Do not
apply undue stress to steering column.
IWhen attaching coupling joint, be sure tightening bolt faces
cutout portion.
STEERING WHEEL AND STEERING COLUMN
Removal and Installation (Cont'd)
ST-12

Disassembly and AssemblyNBST0018
SST845C
1. Combination switch
2. Lock nut
3. Jacket tube assembly4. Tilt lever
5. Tilt spring
6. Steering column shaft assembly7. Band
8. Jacket tube bracket insulator
assembly
9. Hole cover
SST490C
IWhen disassembling and assembling, unlock steering lock
with key.
IInstall lock nut on steering column shaft and tighten the nut to
specification.
: 25 - 34 N´m (2.5 - 3.5 kg-m, 18 - 25 ft-lb)
SST742A
ISteering lock
a) Break self-shear type screws with a drill or other appropriate
tool.
b) Install new self-shear type screws and then cut off self-shear
type screw heads.
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STEERING WHEEL AND STEERING COLUMN
Disassembly and Assembly
ST-13

SST606C
SST607C
InspectionNBST0019IWhen steering wheel does not turn smoothly, check the steer-
ing column as follows and replace damaged parts.
a) Check column bearings for damage and unevenness. Lubri-
cate with recommended multi-purpose grease or replace steer-
ing column as an assembly, if necessary.
b) Check steering column lower shaft for deformation and break-
age. Replace if necessary.
IWhen the vehicle comes into a light collision, check length ªL
1º,
ªL
2º and ªL3º.
Steering column length ªL
1º:
716.7 - 718.7 mm (28.22 - 28.30 in)
Steering column lower shaft length ªL
2º:
178 - 180 mm (7.01 - 7.09 in)
Steering column upper joint length ªL
3º:
430.7 - 432.7 mm (16.96 - 17.04 in)
If out of the specifications, replace steering column upper joint
or steering column as an assembly.
SST582BE
TILT MECHANISMNBST0019S01After installing steering column, check tilt mechanism operation.
STEERING WHEEL AND STEERING COLUMN
Inspection
ST-14

RemovalNBST0021
SST846C
1. Power steering gear assembly
2. Steering column lower joint3. Transfer gear assembly 4. Steering column upper joint
SST609C
1. Set wheels in the straight-ahead position.
2. Straight-forward position is indicated by a protrusion on the
power steering gear rear cover cap and matching mark on the
rear housing.
SST610C
3. Remove steering column upper and lower joint from transfer
gear.
4. Remove transfer gear assembly.
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STEERING TRANSFER GEAR
Removal
ST-15

SST847C
InstallationNBST00221. Set wheels in the straight-ahead position.
2. Install transfer gear assembly.
3. Install column lower joint while aligning groove with protrusions
on the steering gear rear cover cap.
4. Tighten bolt while aligning groove on steering gear. Before
tightening bolt, ensure it is inserted correctly.
SST848C
5. When attaching steering column upper and lower joint to trans-
fer gear, it must be positioned as shown in figure at left.
SST707CA
InspectionNBST0024Do not disassemble steering transfer gear assembly.
ICheck that steering transfer gear assembly operates smoothly.
Also check for grease leakage, deformation and damage.
Replace steering transfer gear assembly if necessary.
ICheck rotating torque at input shaft in 360É and in both direc-
tions.
Rotating torque:
0.25 - 0.69 N´m (2.5 - 7.0 kg-cm, 2.2 - 6.1 in-lb)
If rotating torque is out of specification, replace steering trans-
fer gear assembly.
STEERING TRANSFER GEAR
Installation
ST-16