2001 INFINITI QX4 power steering

ComponentsNBST0026
SST618CB
1. Rear cover cap
2. Rear housing assembly
3. Pinion seal ring
4. Pinion assembly
5. O-ring
6. Shim
7. Pinion oil seal
8. Lock nut
9. Adjusting screw
10. Spring11. Retainer
12. Gear housing assembly
13. Rack oil seal
14. Rack assembly
15. Rack seal ring
16. O-ring
17. O-ring
18. Rack bushing
19. Rack oil seal
20. Snap ring21. End cover assembly
22. Boot clamp
23. Dust boot
24. Boot clamp
25. Lock plate
26. Tie-rod inner socket
27. Tie-rod
28. Tie-rod outer socket
29. Cotter pin
30. Cylinder tube
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POWER STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE
Components
ST-17

Removal and InstallationNBST0027
SST614C
1. Gear and linkage assembly
2. Rack mounting insulator3. Gear housing mounting bracket 4. Cotter pin
SFA756B
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.
IDetach tie-rod outer sockets from knuckle arms with Tool.
SST615C
IInstall pipe connector.
IObserve specified tightening torque when tightening high-pres-
sure and low-pressure pipe connectors. Excessive tightening
will damage threads of connector or O-ring.
Connector tightening torque:
Low-pressure side ª1º
30 - 35 N´m (3.1 - 3.6 kg-m, 22 - 26 ft-lb)
High-pressure side ª2º
30 - 35 N´m (3.1 - 3.6 kg-m, 22 - 26 ft-lb)
IThe O-ring in low-pressure pipe connector is larger than that
POWER STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE
Removal and Installation
ST-18

in high-pressure connector. Take care to install the proper
O-ring.
SST616C
IInitially, tighten nut on tie-rod outer socket and knuckle arm to
64 to 69 N´m (6.5 to 7.0 kg-m, 47 to 51 ft-lb). Then tighten fur-
ther to align nut groove with first pin hole so that cotter pin can
be installed.
CAUTION:
Tightening torque must not exceed 108 N´m (11.0 kg-m, 80 ft-
lb).
SST819A
IBefore removing steering column lower joint from gear, set
gear in neutral (wheels in straight-ahead position). After
removing steering column lower joint, put matching mark on
pinion shaft and pinion housing to record neutral position.
ITo install, set left and right dust boots to equal deflection.
Attach steering column lower joint by aligning matching marks
of pinion shaft and pinion housing.
SST617C
ITighten gear housing mounting bracket bolts in the order
shown.
Secure tightening torque:
118 - 137 N´m (12 - 14 kg-m, 87 - 101 ft-lb)
SST718CA
DisassemblyNBST00281. Prior to disassembling, measure pinion rotating torque. Record
the pinion rotating torque as a reference.
IBefore measuring, disconnect cylinder tube and drain
fluid.
IUse soft jaws when holding steering gear housing. Handle
gear housing carefully, as it is made of aluminum. Do not
grip cylinder in a vise.
2. Remove pinion gear.
Be careful not to damage pinion gear when removing pinion
seal ring.
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POWER STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE
Removal and Installation (Cont'd)
ST-19

SST051C
3. Remove tie-rod outer sockets and boots.
4. Loosen tie-rod inner socket by prying up staked portion, and
remove socket.
5. Remove retainer.
6. Remove pinion assembly.
7. Usea2to2.5mm(0.079 to 0.098 in) diameter drill to com-
pletely remove staked portion of gear housing end.
SST652C
8. Remove gear housing end cover assembly with a suitable tool.
9. Draw out rack assembly.
10. Remove rack seal ring.
IUsing a heat gun, heat rack seal to approximately 40ÉC
(104ÉF).
IRemove rack seal ring.
Be careful not to damage rack.
SST644C
11. Remove rack bushing and rack oil seal using tape wrapped
socket and extension bar.
Do not scratch inner surfaces of pinion housing.
InspectionNBST0029Thoroughly clean all parts in cleaning solvent or Genuine Nissan
PSF II or equivalent. Blow dry with compressed air, if available.
BOOTNBST0029S01ICheck condition of boot. If cracked excessively, replace it.
ICheck boots for accumulation of power steering fluid.
RACKNBST0029S02Thoroughly examine rack gear. If damaged, cracked and worn,
replace it.
PINION ASSEMBLYNBST0029S03IThoroughly examine pinion gear. If pinion gear is damaged,
cracked and worn, replace it.
ICheck that all bearings roll freely. Ensure that balls, rollers and
races are not cracked, pitted and worn.
GEAR HOUSING CYLINDERNBST0029S04Check gear housing cylinder bore for scratches and other damage.
Replace if necessary.
POWER STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE
Disassembly (Cont'd)
ST-20

SST468C
TIE-ROD OUTER AND INNER SOCKETSNBST0029S05ICheck ball joints for swinging force.
Tie-rod outer and inner ball joints swinging force ªAº:
Refer to SDS, ST-33.
ICheck ball joint for rotating torque.
Tie-rod outer ball joint rotating torque ªBº:
Refer to SDS, ST-33.
ICheck ball joints for axial end play.
Tie-rod outer and inner ball joints axial end play ªCº:
Refer to SDS, ST-33.
ICheck condition of dust cover. If cracked excessively, replace
outer tie-rod.
SST083B
AssemblyNBST00301. Using a heat gun, heat new teflon rack seal ring to approxi-
mately 40ÉC (104ÉF). Then place it onto rack.
SBR132C
2. Using Tool, compress rack seal ring securely on rack.
Always insert Tool from the rack gear side.
SST201A
3. Insert new rack oil seal.
IPlace plastic film into rack oil seal to prevent damage by
rack teeth.
IDo not forget to remove plastic film after rack oil seal is
positioned properly.
IMake sure lips of rack oil seal face each other.
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POWER STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE
Inspection (Cont'd)
ST-21

SST645C
4. Install rack oil seal and rack bushing with rack assembly.
SST653C
5. Insert rack oil seal and end cover assembly to rack. Then
tighten end cover assembly.
SST654C
6. Fasten cylinder end cover assembly to gear housing by stak-
ing.
SST651C
7. Set rack gear in the neutral position.
Rack stroke ªSº:
Refer to SDS, ST-33.
SST381A
8. Coat seal lip of new pinion oil seal with multi-purpose grease.
Install it into pinion housing of gear with a suitable tool.
Make sure lip of oil seal faces up when installed.
POWER STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE
Assembly (Cont'd)
ST-22

SST074B
9. Install pinion bearing adjusting shim(s).
IWhenever pinion assembly, gear housing and rear housing are
disassembled, replace shim(s) with new ones. Always use the
same number of shim(s) when replacing.
SST085B
10. Install new pinion seal ring (made of Teflon) on pinion gear
assembly.
IUsing a heat gun, heat pinion seal ring to approximately 40ÉC
(104ÉF) before installing it onto pinion gear assembly.
IMake sure pinion seal ring is properly settled in valve groove.
SST075B
11. Apply a coat of multi-purpose grease to needle bearing roller
and oil seal lip.
SST552
12. Install pinion assembly to rear housing.
Be careful not to damage pinion oil seal.
SST133C
13. Apply a coat of multi-purpose grease to new rear oil seal lip
before installing rear housing.
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POWER STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE
Assembly (Cont'd)
ST-23

SST609C
14. Ensure that the rack is centered. Install rear cover cap so that
its protrusion is positioned as shown in figure.
Be careful not to damage worm ring and oil seal.
15. Install retainer, spring and adjusting screw temporarily.
SST135C
16. Install new lock plate.
IAttach lock plate 2 to side rod inner socket 1.
IApply locking sealant to inner socket threads 3.
Screw inner socket into rack 4 and tighten to specified torque.
IClinch two places of lock plate at rack's groove.
CAUTION:
To prevent scratching the boot, remove burrs from lock plate.
SST655C
17. Tighten outer socket lock nut.
Tie-rod length ªLº:
Refer to SDS, ST-33.
18. Measure rack stroke.
Rack stroke ªSº:
Refer to SDS, ST-33.
SST967A
19. Before installing boot, coat the contact surfaces between boot
and tie-rod with grease.
SST619C
AdjustmentNBST0031Adjust pinion rotating torque as follows:
1. Set rack to the neutral position without fluid in the gear.
2. Coat the adjusting screw with locking sealant and screw it in.
3. Lightly tighten lock nut.
4. Tighten adjusting screw to a torque of 4.9 to 5.9 N´m (50 to 60
kg-cm, 43 to 52 in-lb).
5. Loosen adjusting screw, then retighten it to 0.2 N´m (2 kg-cm,
1.7 in-lb).
POWER STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE
Assembly (Cont'd)
ST-24