Complete Steering Linkage Replacing Details?

Cadillac Model Steering Linkage.

In this section,complete Cadillac Steering removal details are provided.
The procedure is for 1990 to 1998 Cadillac car models.
It will work for following cadillac car models mentioned below:-----
GM Cadillac Deville/Fleetwood/ELDORADO/Seville And Catera car models:------

The complete set of procedure with details and diagrams is as follows:------

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

Pitman Arm
Catera

This vehicle utilizes a rear-steer, parallelogram type steering linkage to connect the wheels to the steering gear through the pitman arm.

The outer tie rods attach to the steering knuckle and the hub. The inner tie rods attach to the relay rod. The left end of the relay rod is supported by the steering gear and the right end by the idler arm which pivots on an idler arm support attached to the frame.

The pitman arm and idler arm are always parallel to each other. The pitman arm and idler arm move through symmetrical arcs.

WARNING

Do not attempt to disconnect a steering linkage joint by driving a wedge between the joint and the attached part. Seal damage may result which will cause premature failure of the joint.

NOTE

Some special tools may be necessary to perform this repair procedure. They include: J 6627-A, Tie rod/Wheel stud remover. J 42089 Linkage installer. J 42400 relay rod removal tool.

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle securely on jackstands.
2. Remove the relay rod to pitman arm ball stud nut.
3. Use the J 42400 to remove the relay from the pitman arm.
4. Mark the alignment of the pitman arm in relation to the splines on the steering gear.
5. Remove the pitman arm nut, and washer.
6. Note the rubber steering gear shaft protector.
7. Use the universal pitman arm puller to remove the pitman arm.

 

Fig. Diagram of the pitman arm assembly

To install:

8. Ensure the front wheels are in the straight ahead position.
9. Ensure the rubber steering gear shaft protector is in place.
10. Align the pitman arm with the marks previously scribed during the removal procedure on the steering gear. Install the pitman arm to the pitman arm shaft. To assist in the proper installation, the pitman arm and the steering gear are blind splined.
11. Install a new pitman arm washer and a new nut. Tighten the pitman arm nut to 118 ft. lbs. (160 Nm).
12. Install the relay rod to the pitman arm.
13. Install the J 42089 to the relay rod ball stud.
14. Tighten the J 42089 nut to 22 ft. lbs. (30 Nm) to allow the ball stud taper to seat.
15. Remove the special tool from the relay rod ball stud.
16. Install the relay ball stud to pitman arm nut, and tighten to 44 ft. lbs. (60 Nm).
17. Lower the vehicle. Check and adjust the toe to the proper specification if necessary.

Idler Arm
Catera

WARNING

Do not attempt to disconnect a steering linkage joint by driving a wedge between the joint and the attached part. Seal damage may result which will cause premature failure of the joint.

NOTE

Some special tools may be necessary to perform this repair procedure. They include: J 42089 Linkage installer. J 42400 relay rod removal tool.

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle securely on jackstands.
2. Remove the idler arm bolts and the relay rod-to-idler arm ball stud nut.
3. Use the J 42400 to remove the idler arm from the relay rod.

Fig. Diagram of the idler arm and attaching parts

4. Install the idler arm and bolts. Tighten the idler arm bolts to 44 ft. lbs. (60 Nm).
5. Attach the relay rod to the idler arm. Install the J 42089 to the relay rod ball stud and tighten it down to 22 ft. lbs. (30 Nm).
6. Remove the J 42089 from the relay rod ball stud.
7. Install the relay rod-to-idler arm ball stud nut to 44 ft. lbs. (60 Nm).
8. Lower the vehicle.

Outer Tie Rod
Catera

NOTE

Some special tools may be necessary to perform this repair procedure.

They include:

J 6627-A Tie rod/Wheel stud remover.

J 42089 Linkage installer

WARNING

Do not attempt to disconnect a steering linkage joint by driving a wedge between the joint and the attached part. Seal damage may result, which will cause premature failure of the joint.

NOTE

The tie rod adjuster parts often become rusted in service. Discard the rusted bolts and nuts if the torque to remove the tie rod clamp nut from the bolt after the breakaway exceeds 80 ft. lbs. (9 Nm). Apply penetrating oil between the tie rod clamp and the adjuster. Rotate the clamps until they move freely. Install the new bolts and nuts that are the same part number to ensure proper clamp at the specified torque.

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle securely.
2. Loosen the tie rod clamp bolt at the end of the tie rod adjuster.
3. Remove the tie rod ball stud nut.
4. Use the J 6627-A to remove the tie rod ball stud from the steering knuckle.
5. Inspect the threads on the ball stud. The ball stud may turn inside the outer tie rod when attempting to tighten the nut during the installation procedure if the threads are not clean if the threads are not smooth.

NOTE

Count the number of turns required removing the tie rod from the tie rod adjuster.

6. Inspect the ball stud taper for nicks.

Fig. Diagram of the tie rod design

To install:

7. Use EP chassis lubricant, GM P/N 1052356 or equivalent, to lubricate the tie rod adjuster threads.
8. Use the same number of turns counted in the removal procedure to thread the end of the inner tie rod into the tie rod adjuster.
9. Install the tie rod ball stud into the relay rod.
   1. Install the J42089 to the tie rod ball stud.
   2. Tighten the J 42089 to 22 ft. lbs. (30 Nm) to allow the tie rod ball stud taper to seat.
   3. Remove the J 42089 from the tie rod ball stud.
10. Install a new self-locking tie rod ball stud nut, and tighten it to 44 ft. lbs. (60 Nm).

NOTE

Ensure that the adjuster and the clamp are properly positioned before tightening the tie rod adjuster clamp bolt.

11. Tighten the tie rod adjuster clamp bolt to 11 ft. lbs. (15 Nm).
12. Lower the vehicle and adjust the toe to specification.

Deville, Fleetwood, Eldorado and Seville

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
3. Remove the cotter pin and nut from the tie rod ball stud.
4. Loosen the jam nut on the inner tie rod.
5. Separate the outer tie rod from the steering knuckle using tool J-24319-01 or equivalent.
6. Mark the position of the outer tie rod on the inner tie rod. Remove the outer tie rod from the inner tie rod.

NOTE

Counting the number of turns (revolutions) necessary to remove the outer tie rod and then duplicating that number will aid in re-assembly to the original position.

To install:

Fig. Outer tie rod installation

7. Thread the outer tie rod onto the inner tie rod to the position marked during the removal procedure. This will approximate the original toe setting.
8. Connect the outer tie rod to the steering knuckle and install the nut. Tighten the nut to 35 ft. lbs. (47 Nm).
9. Install a new cotter pin. If the cotter pin cannot be installed because the hole in the stud does not align, tighten the nut to the next slot, up to a maximum of 52 ft. lbs. (70 Nm) to allow for installation. NEVER loosen the nut to provide for cotter pin installation.
10. Install the wheel and tire assembly and lower the vehicle. Adjust the toe setting by turning the inner tie rod.

NOTE

Make sure the rack and pinion boot is not twisted during toe adjustment.

11. After the toe is set, tighten the jam nut against the outer tie rod to 40 ft. lbs. (54 Nm).

Inner Tie Rod
Catera

NOTE

Some special tools may be necessary to perform this repair procedure. They include: J 6627-A Tie rod/Wheel stud remover. J 42089 Linkage installer

WARNING

Do not attempt to disconnect a steering linkage joint by driving a wedge between the joint and the attached part. Seal damage may result, which will cause premature failure of the joint.

NOTE

The tie rod adjuster parts often become rusted in service. Discard the rusted bolts and nuts if the torque to remove the tie rod clamp nut from the bolt after the breakaway exceeds 80 ft. lbs. (9 Nm). Apply penetrating oil between the tie rod clamp and the adjuster. Rotate the clamps until they move freely. Install the new bolts and nuts that are the same part number to ensure proper clamp at the specified torque.

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle securely.
2. Loosen the tie rod clamp bolt at the end of the tie rod adjuster.

Fig. Ensure that both ends of the tie rod adjuster are threaded equally onto the inner and the outer tie rods

3. Remove the tie rod ball stud nut.
4. Use the J 6627-A to remove the tie rod ball stud from the relay rod.
5. Inspect the threads on the ball stud. The ball stud may turn inside the outer tie rod when attempting to tighten the nut during the installation procedure if the threads are not clean if the threads are not smooth.

NOTE

Count the number of turns required removing the tie rod from the tie rod adjuster.

6. Inspect the ball stud taper for nicks.

To install:

7. Use EP chassis lubricant, GM P/N 1052356 or equivalent, to lubricate the tie rod adjuster threads.
8. Use the same number of turns counted in the removal procedure to thread the end of the inner tie rod into the tie rod adjuster.
9. Install the tie rod ball stud into the relay rod.
   1. Install the J42089 to the tie rod ball stud.
   2. Tighten the J 42089 to 22 ft. lbs. (30 Nm) to allow the tie rod ball stud taper to seat.
   3. Remove the J 42089 from the tie rod ball stud.
10. Install a new self-locking tie rod ball stud nut, and tighten it to 44 ft. lbs. (60 Nm).

NOTE

Ensure that the adjuster and the clamp are properly positioned before tightening the tie rod adjuster clamp bolt.

11. Tighten the tie rod adjuster clamp bolt to 11 ft. lbs. (15 Nm).
12. Lower the vehicle and adjust the toe to specification.

Deville, Fleetwood, Eldorado and Seville

1. Remove the rack and pinion assembly from the vehicle.
2. Remove the outer tie rod.
3. Remove the jam nut from the inner tie rod.
4. Remove the tie rod end clamp. Remove the boot clamp using side cutters.
5. Mark the location of the breather tube on the steering gear before removing the tube or rack and pinion boot.
6. Remove the rack and pinion boot and breather tube.
7. Remove the shock dampener from the inner tie rod and slide it back on the rack.

WARNING

The rack must be held during removal of the inner tie rod to prevent rack damage.

8. Place a wrench on the flat of the rack assembly and another wrench on the flats of the inner tie rod housing. Rotate the housing counterclockwise until the inner tie rod separates from the rack.

To install:

WARNING

The rack must be held during inner tie rod installation to prevent internal gear damage.

9. Install the shock dampener onto the rack.
10. Position the inner tie rod on the rack. Place a wrench on the flat of the rack assembly and another wrench on the flats of the inner tie rod housing. Tighten the inner tie rod to 74 ft. lbs. (100 Nm).

NOTE

Make sure the tie rod rocks freely in the housing before staking the inner tie rod assembly to the rack.

11. Support the rack and housing of the inner tie rod and stake both sides of the inner tie rod housing to the flats on the rack. Check both stakes by inserting a 0.010 in. (0.25 mm) feeler gauge between the rack and tie rod housing. The feeler gauge must not pass between the rack and housing stake.
12. Slide the shock dampener over the inner tie rod housing until it engages.
13. Install a new boot clamp onto the rack and pinion boot.
14. Apply grease to the inner tie rod and gear assembly prior to boot installation, then install the boot onto the inner tie rod assembly.
15. Make sure the breather tube is aligned with the mark made during removal and the molded nipple of the boot is aligned with the tube.
16. Install the boot onto the gear assembly until it is seated in the gear assembly groove.

NOTE

The boot must not be twisted or out of shape in any way. If the boot is not shaped properly, adjust by hand before installing the boot clamp.

17. Install the boot clamp onto the boot-using tool J-22610 or equivalent, and crimp. Install the tie rod end and clamp on the boot using pliers.
18. Install the outer tie rod and install the rack and pinion assembly in the vehicle.

Drag Link And Relay Rod
Catera

NOTE

Some special tools may be necessary to perform this repair procedure. They include: J 6627-A, Tie rod/Wheel stud remover. J 42089 Linkage installer. J 42400 relay rod removal tool.

WARNING

Do not attempt to disconnect a steering linkage joint by driving a wedge between the joint and the attached part. Seal damage may result, which will cause premature failure of the joint.

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle securely.
2. Remove the inner tie rod ends from the relay rod.
3. Remove the relay rod ball stud nut from the pitman arm.
4. Use the J 42400 to remove the relay rod ball stud from the pitman arm.

To install:

Fig. Diagram of the relay rod and the connecting parts

5. Install the relay rod to the idler arm.
6. Install the J 42089 to the relay rod ball stud. Tighten the J 42089 to 22 ft. lbs. (30 Nm) to allow the ball stud taper to seat.
7. Remove the J 42089 from the relay rod ball stud.

NOTE

Install the relay rod ball stud-to-idler arm using a new self-locking nut. Tighten the nut to 44 ft. lbs. (60 Nm).

8. Install the relay rod to the pitman arm.
9. Install the J 42089 to the relay rod ball stud. Tighten the J 42089 to 22 ft. lbs. (30 Nm) to allow the ball stud taper to seat.
10. Remove the J 42089 from the relay rod ball stud.

NOTE

Install the relay rod ball stud-to-pitman arm using a new self-locking nut. Tighten the nut to 44 ft. lbs. (60 Nm).

11. Install the inner tie rods to the relay rod.
12. Lower the vehicle and adjust the toe to the proper specification.

These details will help.

Thanks.           

FOR MORE HELP GO TO: ---

Car repair guide?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/03/car-repair-guide.html