How to: Rack & Pinion Removal

ExplorerDMB · 01-19-2006, 11:45 AM

Racks!!

Special Service Tool Required:
Pitman Arm Puller

-Start engine.
-ROTATE steering wheel from lock-to-lock (entire gear travel). Record number of rotations.
-DIVIDE the number of rotations by two . This gives the required number of turns to place system in the on-center position. NOTE: Verify the front wheels and steering wheel are in the straight-ahead position.
-From the lock position, ROTATE steering wheel the number of turns determined in Step 3. This places the gear in the ON-CENTER position.

NOTE: DO NOT ROTATE steering column when the intermediate shaft is disconnected or DAMAGE TO CLOCKSPRING will result.

-Remove bolt retaining the lower steering column shaft to the steering gear input shaft.
-Disconnect the lower steering column shaft from the steering gear.
-Remove stabilizer bar attachment from frame for clearance to remove gear.

-Unscrew the quick connect fittings for the power steering pressure hose and power steering return hoses at the steering gear housing.
-Plug ends of fluid lines removed and ports in gear to prevent damage and entry of dirt.
-Remove two (2) nuts from the Power Steering cooler.
-Remove the Power Steering cooler from vehicle.
-Remove and discard the cotter pin retaining the nut to tie rod end and remove nut.

-Separate tie rod ends from front wheel spindle using Pitman Arm Puller.
-Remove the two nuts, bolts, and washer assemblies retaining steering gear to front crossmember.

-Remove steering gear from vehicle. If required, remove steering gear mounting bracket housing insulators and steering gear insulators from steering gear housing.

That should do it! The above information was recieved from Alldata. Just reverse for installation!

-Drew

**section525** · 01-19-2006, 11:52 AM

Great job. These instructions make it sound so easy.

Mine was fun! :p

ExplorerDMB · 01-31-2006, 09:03 PM

I have only expierenced one Explorer having the "rough steering" as many people have. Who has it and did a new R&P fix it?

-Drew

bpearson · 02-03-2006, 01:36 AM

ok I followed the directions, everything is disconected. but I can not get the rack out of the truck. What am I missing?

bpearson · 02-03-2006, 02:25 AM

found what i was missing. This http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=124961 in 911 helped. I also wanted to add that you need to turn the steering gear so that the passanger side is all the way in (power steering fluid goes everywhere if you are not carefull. Then fish the passanger side throught the frame with the steering gear pointing downward then pull the driver side out the front and pull it the rest of the way out.

After pulling the tie rods off this was possable.

Thanks for the best explorer knowledge base on the web.

Skibug · 02-03-2006, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExplorerDMB

I have only expierenced one Explorer having the "rough steering" as many people have. Who has it and did a new R&P fix it?

-Drew

I will be doing this as soon as money allows. I have a rough shudder/shake when turning at low speeds and it also shudders when I turn my wheels when at a stop. Just need to get the funds to do this. It's not easy when my little baby girl is due any day now.

96ExplorerSport · 07-26-2007, 01:28 PM

Removed my rack last night. It was a major effort trying to wrestle it out. I did not remove tie rod end, only unscrewed them from inner tie rods on both sides. That was enough. It took me 4 hour after that trying to wrestle the rack out. I did it, but I an sore today

Ford manual makes it sound so much easier than it is.

robertoa1a · 11-11-2009, 10:34 AM

On mine it looks like you should remove the sway bar and pull it out from the front.

kzmedic · 01-06-2010, 06:29 PM

Hi All,

I just pulled the rack out of my '95 explorer. I want to thank those who posted their experience. Made my job easier.

kz

Electrohacker · 01-06-2010, 06:32 PM

once the rack is removed throw it out and start riping out the rest of the front suspension and SAS it.

lol

jcasey007 · 01-18-2010, 05:57 AM

Are the pictures missing from this post? or is it my browser playing silly buggers?

*svt4cam* · 01-18-2010, 06:30 AM

Yep just the dreaded small boxes with x's in them

mr_valingo · 05-28-2012, 03:43 PM

By by sway bar brackets

Then tie rod ends

Driver side inner

Lines, intermediate shaft, and cooler

Flip rack upside down and pull

Took me and a friend 3 1/2hrs to swap the rack and pump. Also want to point out the lines are designed to move once tightened down. Don't panic. Its right

01-19-2006, 11:45 AM	#1
ExplorerDMB Moderator/Technician Mechanicsville, Virginia 2004 Acura TL Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 6,263 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	How to: Rack & Pinion Removal Racks!! Special Service Tool Required: Pitman Arm Puller -Start engine. -ROTATE steering wheel from lock-to-lock (entire gear travel). Record number of rotations. -DIVIDE the number of rotations by two . This gives the required number of turns to place system in the on-center position. NOTE: Verify the front wheels and steering wheel are in the straight-ahead position. -From the lock position, ROTATE steering wheel the number of turns determined in Step 3. This places the gear in the ON-CENTER position. NOTE: DO NOT ROTATE steering column when the intermediate shaft is disconnected or DAMAGE TO CLOCKSPRING will result. -Remove bolt retaining the lower steering column shaft to the steering gear input shaft. -Disconnect the lower steering column shaft from the steering gear. -Remove stabilizer bar attachment from frame for clearance to remove gear. -Unscrew the quick connect fittings for the power steering pressure hose and power steering return hoses at the steering gear housing. -Plug ends of fluid lines removed and ports in gear to prevent damage and entry of dirt. -Remove two (2) nuts from the Power Steering cooler. -Remove the Power Steering cooler from vehicle. -Remove and discard the cotter pin retaining the nut to tie rod end and remove nut. -Separate tie rod ends from front wheel spindle using Pitman Arm Puller. -Remove the two nuts, bolts, and washer assemblies retaining steering gear to front crossmember. -Remove steering gear from vehicle. If required, remove steering gear mounting bracket housing insulators and steering gear insulators from steering gear housing. That should do it! The above information was recieved from Alldata. Just reverse for installation! -Drew __________________ My Useful Threads (38 Entries and Growing) Last edited by ExplorerDMB; 02-03-2006 at 04:01 PM.

01-19-2006, 11:52 AM	#2
section525 sextion525 Red Bluff, Ca 1975 Ford Bronco 4x4 Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 14,909 Vehicle Specs	Great job. These instructions make it sound so easy. Mine was fun! :p __________________ Support the Forum '13 3.5 Explorer '08 2.0 Focus '75 5.0 Bronco '04 6.0 Super Duty

01-31-2006, 09:03 PM	#3
ExplorerDMB Moderator/Technician Mechanicsville, Virginia 2004 Acura TL Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 6,263 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	bump I have only expierenced one Explorer having the "rough steering" as many people have. Who has it and did a new R&P fix it? -Drew __________________ My Useful Threads (38 Entries and Growing)

02-03-2006, 01:36 AM	#4
bpearson Wannabe Elite Explorer Las Vegas, Nevada 99 XLT Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6 Vehicle Specs	ok I followed the directions, everything is disconected. but I can not get the rack out of the truck. What am I missing? __________________

02-03-2006, 02:25 AM	#5
bpearson Wannabe Elite Explorer Las Vegas, Nevada 99 XLT Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6 Vehicle Specs	found what i was missing. This http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=124961 in 911 helped. I also wanted to add that you need to turn the steering gear so that the passanger side is all the way in (power steering fluid goes everywhere if you are not carefull. Then fish the passanger side throught the frame with the steering gear pointing downward then pull the driver side out the front and pull it the rest of the way out. After pulling the tie rods off this was possable. Thanks for the best explorer knowledge base on the web. __________________

07-26-2007, 01:28 PM	#7
96ExplorerSport Wannabe Elite Explorer Pittsburgh PA 96 X Sport 4.0L OHV, 4WD Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 119 Vehicle Specs	Removed my rack last night. It was a major effort trying to wrestle it out. I did not remove tie rod end, only unscrewed them from inner tie rods on both sides. That was enough. It took me 4 hour after that trying to wrestle the rack out. I did it, but I an sore today Ford manual makes it sound so much easier than it is.

11-11-2009, 10:34 AM	#8
robertoa1a Wannabe Elite Explorer Jacksonville, FL 96 5.0 xlt 2wd white/char Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 973 Vehicle Specs	On mine it looks like you should remove the sway bar and pull it out from the front.

01-06-2010, 06:29 PM	#9
kzmedic Wannabe Elite Explorer gobles, mi '95 xlt Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1 Vehicle Specs	Rack Hi All, I just pulled the rack out of my '95 explorer. I want to thank those who posted their experience. Made my job easier. kz

01-06-2010, 06:32 PM	#10
Electrohacker Wannabe Elite Explorer Clinton Twp, MI '96 XLT V8 4WD Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,258 Vehicle Specs	once the rack is removed throw it out and start riping out the rest of the front suspension and SAS it. lol __________________ it's funny that everyone's embarrassed to drive a station wagon, but drop a truck chassis under it and call it a SUV and suddenly everyone wants one... my truck's build up (in progress)

01-18-2010, 05:57 AM	#11
jcasey007 Wannabe Elite Explorer Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire Jeep Commander 5.7L HEMI Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 524 Vehicle Specs	pictures missing Are the pictures missing from this post? or is it my browser playing silly buggers?

01-18-2010, 06:30 AM	#12
svt4cam Elite Explorer The Wilds of New Jersey 00 XLT, 02 Sport, 03 XLT Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 92 Vehicle Specs	Yep just the dreaded small boxes with x's in them

05-28-2012, 03:43 PM	#13
mr_valingo Wannabe Elite Explorer rhinelander, wi '95 sport Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 254 Vehicle Specs	By by sway bar brackets Then tie rod ends Driver side inner Lines, intermediate shaft, and cooler Flip rack upside down and pull Took me and a friend 3 1/2hrs to swap the rack and pump. Also want to point out the lines are designed to move once tightened down. Don't panic. Its right __________________ Custom winch bumper, xcr10 comp winch, tt, xl rear shocks, roof light bar, hella 500ff's, flowmaster 40, diehard platinum, 1354manual, 3" body lift, 31" retreads, air horns, and dual pink carseats dad tested, kid approved