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Steering System: Other Dodge Dart PF

Manual & Power Steering 5 illustrations ~731 words

PERFORMANCE ISSUES

CONDITIONPOSSIBLE CAUSESEVALUATION/CORRECTION
STEERING WHEEL IS OFF CENTER1. Front toe is out of adjustment.1. Perform wheel alignment. Refer to WHEEL ALIGNMENT, STANDARD PROCEDURE .
VEHICLE PULLS LEFT OR RIGHT1. The center position of the column does not match the center position of the vehicle alignment.1. Perform wheel alignment. Refer to WHEEL ALIGNMENT, STANDARD PROCEDURE .
2. Suspension components are bent and/or damaged.2. Inspect suspension components for damage.
STEERING WHEEL OR COLUMN HAS FREE-PLAY/LASH/LOOSENESS (CLUNKING OR RATTLING)1. Loose coupling pinch bolt at gear input shaft.1. Check pinch bolt torque. Replace pinch bolt with thread locker patch and tighten to specifications.
2. Steering gear loose on cradle/crossmember.2. Inspect gear mounting bolts. Replace if necessary and tighten to specifications.
3. Excessive free-play or noise from steering column bearings.3. Replace steering column. Refer to COLUMN, REMOVAL .
4. Excessive intermediate (steering) shaft coupling U-joint free-play.4. Rotate steering wheel back-and-forth while watching coupling. Observe for free-play. Replace the column as necessary. Refer to COLUMN, REMOVAL .
5. Loose or worn inner tie rod or outer tie rod.5. For evaluation and correction, refer to TIE ROD, STEERING, DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING .
6. Lack of lubrication in lower ball joint or ball joint is damaged.6. Lubricate ball joint if equipped with a zerk fitting and check for function. If not equipped with a zerk fitting, test and replace ball joint/lower control arm as necessary.
7. Excessive lash inside steering gear.7. Disconnect intermediate shaft and turn steering gear input shaft. Observe for any movement without a corresponding tire movement. Replace steering gear as necessary.
STEERING WHEEL HAS FORE AND AFT LOOSENESS1. Steering wheel retaining bolt loose.1. Check steering wheel retaining bolt torque and tighten to specifications as necessary.
2. Loose steering column to instrument panel fasteners.2. Check steering column to instrument panel fastener torque and tighten to specifications as necessary.
STEERING WHEEL, DASH OR VEHICLE VIBRATES DURING STEERING MANEUVERS (ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEED OR STANDSTILL)1. Tire(s) not properly inflated.1. Check and inflate tires to the specified pressure.
2. Excessive engine vibration.2. Ensure that the engine is tuned properly.
3. Loose tie rod end jam nut.3. Check torque and tighten the inner to outer tie rod jam nut to specifications.
4. Grounded, damaged or loose engine mount.4. Visually inspect for damaged or misaligned mounts. Check fastener torque. Replace or realign as necessary.
5. Loose or worn outer tie rod.5. For evaluation and correction, refer to TIE ROD, STEERING, DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING .
6. Steering gear noisy.6. During a parking event at 0 mph, verify there is vibration only with steering. Steer in both directions and verify that the noise follows the steering input. Check TSBs for any known issues. Replace steering gear as necessary.
7. Steering gear has instability, shudder, etc.7. Perform EPS calibration procedures. If this does not fix the issue, replace the steering gear.
INCREASED STEERING EFFORT/STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER POSITION1. Tire(s) not properly inflated.1. Check and inflate tires to the specified pressure.
2. Lack of lubrication in lower ball joint or ball joint is damaged.2. Lubricate ball joint if equipped with a zerk fitting and check for function. If not equipped with a zerk fitting, test and replace ball joint as necessary.
3. Steering knuckle binding.3. Disconnect the outer tie rod end from knuckle and then rotate knuckle. Refer to TIE ROD, STEERING, REMOVAL . If the knuckle does not rotate freely separate the strut from the knuckle to determine if the ball joint or strut mount bearing is the cause of the binding and replace components as necessary or refer to STRUT, SUSPENSION, ASSEMBLY, REMOVAL .
4. EPS steering not functioning.4. Perform EPS calibration procedures. If this does not fix the issue, replace the steering gear.
5. Steering column internal issue.Do not turn past two revolutions. Damage to the clockspring may occur. Always rotate steering column back to initial position. Steering column is equipped with an absolute position sensor that has a unique zero position. 5. Disconnect the intermediate shaft and rotate steering column. If condition is still present, replace steering column. Refer to COLUMN, INSTALLATION .
6. Binding outer tie rod.6. For evaluation and correction, refer to TIE ROD, STEERING, DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING .
7. Improper front wheel alignment.7. Check and adjust wheel alignment as necessary.
EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL KICKBACK FROM ROAD INPUTS1. Steering gear loose on cradle/crossmember.1. Inspect gear mounting bolts. Replace if necessary and tighten to specifications.
2. Steering column, coupling or intermediate shaft worn or loose.2. Rotate steering wheel back-and-forth while inspecting intermediate shaft going into steering gear. Look for excessive free-play. Retighten if loose bolt is found. Replace steering column if necessary. Refer to COLUMN, REMOVAL .

WARNING

WARNINGSafety goggles should be worn at all times when working on steering columns.
WARNINGBefore beginning any service procedure that involves removing the air bag: Remove and isolate the negative (-) battery cable (ground) from the vehicle battery. This is the only sure way to disable the air bag system. Failure to do this could result in accidental air bag deployment and possible personal injury.
WARNINGThe air bag system is a sensitive, complex electro-mechanical unit. Before attempting to diagnose, remove or install the air bag system components you must first disconnect and isolate the battery negative (ground) cable. Failure to do so could result in accidental deployment of the air bag and possible personal injury. The fasteners, screws, and bolts, originally used for the air bag components, have special coatings and are specifically designed for the air bag system. They must never be replaced with any substitutes. Anytime a new fastener is needed, replace with the correct fasteners provided in the service package or fasteners listed in the parts books. Before servicing a steering column equipped with an air bag
WARNINGWhen handling an undeployed air bag during servicing of the steering column, the following precautions should be observed: At no time should any source of electricity be permitted near the inflator on the back of the air bag. When carrying a live air bag, the trim cover should be pointed away from the body to minimize injury if the air bag should accidently deploy. If the air bag is placed on a bench or other surface, the plastic cover should be face-up to minimize movement, in case of accidental deployment.
CAUTIONDisconnect negative (ground) cable from the battery before servicing any column component.

Scheme 22

Scheme 22: DESCRIPTION
Scheme 22: DESCRIPTION

This vehicle is equipped with a tilt/telescoping type steering column (1). When the lever is in the released position, the column can be tilted or telescoped manually.

The steering column is designed to be serviced only as a complete assembly if an internal component is found to be defective. The shaft, bearings and intermediate shaft are all serviced with the column.

The major components on the steering column assembly are

  1. Clockspring (Integral part of Steering Column Control Module (SCCM))
  2. Driver Airbag
  3. Multi-Function Switches
  4. Tilt Lever
  5. Shrouds
  6. Steering Wheel

These components can be serviced without removal of the steering column from the vehicle. Refer to the appropriate Service Information for servicing these components separately.

INNER TIE ROD

Note. Always check and repair (if necessary) outer tie rod free-play before checking inner tie rod free-play. False results can otherwise be obtained.

Scheme 23

Scheme 23: INNER TIE ROD
Scheme 23: INNER TIE ROD
  1. Grasp the inner tie rod near the steering gear bellows and attempt to move the tie rod straight up and down. If any free-play is felt, replace the inner tie rod. Refer to «TIE ROD, STEERING, REMOVAL»(ref-646226-S24898851772014072800000) .
  2. If no free-play is felt, install the front wheels. Refer to «INSTALLATION»(ref-646212-S30999901622014072800000) .
  3. Remove support and lower the vehicle.

OUTER TIE ROD END

Note. When unscrewing the outer tie rod from inner, count the number of revolutions to take it off. This action will aid in installation, getting the toe close to where it needs to be when setting the wheel alignment.

  1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to «HOISTING, STANDARD PROCEDURE»(ref-646211-S00664313032014072800000) .
  2. Remove the front wheel mounting bolts and remove the front wheel.
  3. Loosen the jam nut from the tie rod end.
  4. Remove the retaining nut (2) from the outer tie rod end (1).
  5. Separate the outer tie rod end (1) from the knuckle and remove from the inner tie rod.

Scheme 24

Scheme 24: INNER TIE ROD
Scheme 24: INNER TIE ROD

Scheme 25

Scheme 25
Scheme 25
  1. Remove the outer tie rod. Refer to «TIE ROD, STEERING, REMOVAL»(ref-646226-S24898851772014072800000) .
  2. Remove the tie rod jam nut from the inner tie rod.
  3. Remove the clamp (2) securing the bellows (1) to the steering gear body.
  4. Remove the clamp (3) from the small end of the bellows and remove the bellows (1) from the gear. CAUTION: If the inner tie rod cannot be removed using the specified tools, do not use a hammer or heat to loosen. Damage to the steering gear will occur. Replace the entire steering gear.
  5. Install an appropriate inner tie rod removal tool on the flats of the inner tie rod.
  6. Unthread and remove the inner tie rod from the steering gear (1).
  7. Inspect the inner portion of the gear for corrosion, contamination, and damage. If any is found, replace the steering gear.
  1. If it is not already installed, install the jam nut on the inner tie rod threads.
  2. Thread the outer tie rod onto the inner tie rod approximately the same amount of revolutions as the original was installed.
  3. Thread the jam nut down the inner tie rod far enough to hold the outer tie rod. Do not tighten the jam nut at this time.
  4. Install the outer tie rod end (1) stud into the hole in the knuckle arm. Start the tie rod mounting nut (2) on the stud. While holding the tie rod end stud with a wrench, tighten the nut to 30 N.m Plus 90° (22 ft. lbs. Plus 90°).
  5. Install the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to «INSTALLATION»(ref-646212-S30999901622014072800000) .
  6. Adjust the front wheel toe setting. Refer to «WHEEL ALIGNMENT, STANDARD PROCEDURE»(ref-646210-S39626530632014072800000) .
  7. Tighten the tie rod jam nut to 80 N.m (59 ft. lbs.) once wheel toe is set.
  8. Lower the vehicle.

Scheme 26

Scheme 26
Scheme 26
  1. Apply Mopar® Lock AND Seal Adhesive or equivalent medium thread locker adhesive to the inboard end threads of the inner tie rod.
  2. Install the inner tie rod onto the gear (1) using an appropriate inner tie rod installation tool on the flats. Tighten the inner tie rod to 110 N.m. (81 ft. lbs.).
  3. Loosely place a NEW clamp over the large end of the NEW bellows.
  4. Using crimping pliers (1), crimp the large clamp (2) securing the bellows to the gear body.
  5. Install small end of bellows into groove and secure with clip (3).
  6. Thread the tie rod jam nut onto the inner tie rod far enough to install the outer tie rod.
  7. Install the outer tie rod. Refer to «TIE ROD, STEERING, INSTALLATION»(ref-646226-S24645302652014072800000) .

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