boot NISSAN ALMERA 2001 Owner's Guide

STEERING SYSTEM
SECTION
ST
CONTENTS
PRECAUTIONS...............................................................2
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)²AIR
BAG²and²SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER²...............2
Precautions for Steering System .................................2
PREPARATION...............................................................3
Special Service Tools ..................................................3
Commercial Service Tool .............................................4
NOISE, VIBRATION AND HARSHNESS (NVH)
TROUBLESHOOTING.....................................................5
NVH Troubleshooting Chart.........................................5
ON-VEHICLE SERVICE..................................................6
Checking Steering Wheel Play ....................................6
Checking Neutral Position on Steering Wheel ............6
PRE-CHECKING........................................................6
CHECKING...............................................................6
Front Wheel Turning Angle ..........................................6
Checking Gear Housing Movement ............................6
Checking and Adjusting Drive Belts ............................7
Checking Steering Gear and Linkage .........................7
STEERING GEAR......................................................7
STEERING LINKAGE.................................................7
Checking Fluid Level ...................................................7
Checking Fluid Leakage ..............................................7
Bleeding Hydraulic System..........................................8
Checking Steering Wheel Turning Force ....................8
Checking Hydraulic System.........................................9
STEERING WHEEL AND STEERING COLUMN......... 11
Components............................................................... 11
Removal and Installation ........................................... 11
STEERING WHEEL................................................. 11
STEERING COLUMN...............................................12
Disassembly and Assembly .......................................14
Inspection...................................................................15
TILT MECHANISM...................................................15
POWER STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE................16
Components...............................................................16
Removal and Installation ...........................................17
Disassembly...............................................................18
Inspection...................................................................19
BOOT.....................................................................19
RACK.....................................................................19
GEAR SUB-ASSEMBLY...........................................19
GEAR HOUSING CYLINDER....................................19
TIE-ROD OUTER AND INNER SOCKETS..................20
Assembly ...................................................................20
Adjustment .................................................................23
POWER STEERING OIL PUMP (QG ENGINE)...........25
Components...............................................................25
Pre-disassembly Inspection .......................................25
Disassembly...............................................................26
Inspection...................................................................27
Assembly ...................................................................27
POWER STEERING OIL PUMP (YD ENGINE)............29
Components...............................................................29
Pre-disassembly Inspection .......................................29
Removal and Installation ...........................................30
Disassembly...............................................................30
Inspection...................................................................31
Assembly ...................................................................32
SERVICE DATA AND SPECIFICATIONS (SDS).........33
General Specifications ...............................................33
Steering Wheel ..........................................................33
Steering Column ........................................................33
Steering Gear and Linkage .......................................34
Power Steering ..........................................................35

Checking and Adjusting Drive BeltsNJST0011Refer to EM-16, ªChecking Drive Beltsº.
SMA851B
Checking Steering Gear and LinkageNJST0037STEERING GEARNJST0037S01+Check gear housing and boots for looseness, damage or
grease leakage.
+Check connection with steering column for looseness.
STEERING LINKAGENJST0037S02+Check ball joint, dust cover and other component parts for
looseness, wear, damage or grease leakage.
YST003
Checking Fluid LevelNJST0012Check fluid level, referring to the scale on reservoir tank.
Use ªHOTº range for fluid temperatures of 50 to 80ÉC (122 to
176ÉF).
Use ªCOLDº range for fluid temperatures of 0 to 30ÉC (32 to 86ÉF).
CAUTION:
+Do not overfill.
+Recommended fluid is DEXRON
TMIII or equivalent. Refer
to MA-16, ªFluids and Lubricantsº.
YST006
YST007
Checking Fluid LeakageNJST0013Check the lines for improper attachment and for leaks, cracks,
damage, loose connections, chafing and deterioration.
1. Run engine between idle speed and 1,000 rpm.
Make sure temperature of fluid in oil tank rises to 60 to 80ÉC
(140 to 176ÉF).
2. Turn steering wheel right-to-left several times.
3. Hold steering wheel at each ªlockº position for five seconds
and carefully check for fluid leakage.
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. If fluid leakage from power steering pump is noticed, check
power steering pump. Refer to ST-25.
6. Check rack boots for accumulation of power steering fluid.
ON-VEHICLE SERVICE
Checking and Adjusting Drive Belts
ST-7

ComponentsNJST0021
SST997C
1. Rear cover cap
2. Gear sub-assembly
3. O-ring
4. Shim
5. Lock nut
6. Adjusting screw
7. Spring
8. Spring seat
9. Retainer10. Gear housing
11. Center bushing
12. Rack oil seal
13. Rack assembly
14. Rack seal ring
15. O-ring
16. Rack oil seal
17. End cover assembly
18. Boot band19. Dust boot
20. Boot band
21. Spacer ring
22. Lock plate
23. Tie-rod inner socket
24. Tie-rod outer socket
25. Cotter pin
26. Gear cylinder tube
POWER STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE
Components
ST-16

SST879C
+Install pipe connector.
+Observe 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:
1 Low-pressure side
27 - 39 N´m (2.8 - 4.0 kg-m, 20 - 29 ft-lb)
2 High-pressure side
15 - 25 N´m (1.5 - 2.5 kg-m, 11 - 18 ft-lb)
+The O-ring in low-pressure pipe connector is larger than that
in high-pressure connector. Take care to install the proper
O-ring.
SST824A
+Initially, tighten nut on tie-rod outer socket and knuckle arm to
29 to 39 N´m (3 to 4 kg-m, 22 to 29 ft-lb). Then tighten further
to align nut groove with first pin hole so that cotter pin can be
installed.
CAUTION:
Tightening torque must not exceed 49 N´m (5 kg-m, 36 ft-lb).
NOTE:
Only the dust boot, tie-rod inner socket and tie-rod outer socket can
be disassembled on models for Europe.
SST819A
+Before removing lower joint from gear, set gear in neutral
(wheels in straight-ahead position). After removing lower joint,
put matching mark on pinion shaft and pinion housing to record
neutral position.
+To install, set left and right dust boots to equal deflection.
Attach lower joint by aligning matching marks of pinion shaft
and pinion housing.
+Tighten gear housing mounting bracket bolts.
SST862CB
DisassemblyNJST00231. Prior to disassembling, measure pinion rotating torque. Record
the pinion rotating torque as a reference.
+Before measuring, disconnect gear housing tube and
drain fluid.
+Use 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 gear sub-assembly, O-ring and shim.
Gear sub-assembly cannot be disassembled. If it is faulty,
replace with a new one.
POWER STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE
Removal and Installation (Cont'd)
ST-18

SST051C
3. Remove tie-rod outer sockets and boots.
4. Loosen tie-rod inner socket by prying up staked portion, and
remove socket and spacer.
5. Remove retainer.
6. Usea2to2.5mm(0.079 to 0.098 in) diameter drill to com-
pletely remove staked portion of gear housing end.
SST052C
7. Remove end cover assembly with a suitable tool.
8. Draw out rack assembly.
9. Remove rack seal ring.
+Using a heat gun, heat rack seal to approximately 40ÉC
(104ÉF).
+Remove rack seal ring.
Be careful not to damage rack.
SST472A
10. Remove center bushing and rack oil seal using tape wrapped
socket and extension bar.
Do not scratch inner surfaces of pinion housing.
InspectionNJST0024Thoroughly clean all parts in cleaning solvent or DEXRONTMIII or
equivalent. Blow dry with compressed air, if available.
BOOTNJST0024S01+Check condition of boot. If cracked excessively, replace it.
+Check boots for accumulation of power steering fluid.
RACKNJST0024S02Thoroughly examine rack gear. If damaged, cracked or worn,
replace it.
GEAR SUB-ASSEMBLYNJST0024S03+Check pinion gear. If it is worn or damaged, replace as a gear
sub-assembly.
+Manually spin bearing. If torque variations or free play are
noted, replace as a gear sub-assembly.
GEAR HOUSING CYLINDERNJST0024S04Check gear housing cylinder bore for scratches or other damage.
Replace if necessary.
POWER STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE
Disassembly (Cont'd)
ST-19

SST967A
16. Before installing boot, coat the contact surfaces between boot
and tie-rod with grease.
SST868C
17. Install boot bands.
+Securely install boot band to boot groove and clinch the root
section of the trapezoidal area.
+Make sure that there is a clearance of 3.5 mm (0.138 in) or less
at the clinched section of the boot band. Refer to the Figure at
left.
SST869C
+After installing gear in vehicle, make sure that the clinched
section of boot band is positioned toward the rear of vehicle (to
prevent interference with adjacent parts).
SST719C
AdjustmentNJST0026Adjust 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).
SST862CB
6. Move rack over its entire stroke several times.
7. Measure pinion rotating torque within the range of 180É from
neutral position.
Stop the gear at the point of maximum torque.
8. Loosen adjusting screw, then retighten it to 4.9 N´m (50 kg-cm,
43 in-lb).
9. Loosen adjusting screw by 50É to 70É.
POWER STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE
Assembly (Cont'd)
ST-23

SFA449BB
+Install stabilizer bar with ball joint socket properly placed.
ARA027
+Check stabilizer for deformation or cracks. Replace if neces-
sary.
+Check rubber bushings for deterioration or cracks. Replace if
necessary.
+Check ball joint can rotate in all directions. If movement is not
smooth and free, replace stabilizer bar connecting rod.
SFA181A
Transverse Link and Lower Ball Joint
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATIONNJSU00181. Remove wheel bearing lock nut.
2. Remove tie-rod ball joint.
3. Remove strut lower bracket fixing bolts and nuts.
4. Separate drive shaft from knuckle by slightly tapping drive
shaft end.
Cover boots with shop towel so as not to damage them when
removing drive shaft.
SFA113AD
5. Separate lower ball joint stud from knuckle with suitable tool.
Refer to AX-5, ªFRONT AXLE Ð Wheel Hub and Knuckleº.
SSU033
6. Remove fixing bolts.
7. Remove transverse link and lower ball joint.
8. During installation, final tightening must be carried out at curb
weight with tires on the ground.
Tightening torque:
Refer to ªFRONT SUSPENSIONº, SU-9.
9. After installation, check wheel alignment. Refer to ªON-VE-
HICLE SERVICE Ð Front Wheel Alignmentº, SU-7.
FRONT SUSPENSION
Stabilizer Bar (Cont'd)
SU-12