Steering System - Power Nissan Stanza II

DESCRIPTION

The power steering system is rack and pinion cam-gear type. The mechanism consists of a rack and pinion steering gear, steering pump, reservoir and flexible connecting lines.

Scheme 1

HYDRAULIC SYSTEM PRESSURE TEST

1. Disconnect pressure line at pump. Connect pressure gauge and shut-off valve. Gauge must be between valve and pump. Open valve. Check fluid level. Start and run engine for about 5 seconds.
2. Check fluid level. Restart engine. Turn steering wheel lock-to-lock several times to expel air from system and bring fluid temperature up. Check pressure quickly with wheel turned to full lock position (both left and right). HYDRAULIC SYSTEM PRESSURE Application psi (kg/cm 2 ) Maxima, 200SX, 300ZX 967-1052 (68-74) Pulsar NX, Sentra 754-839 (53-59) Stanza 995 (70) NOTE: Do not hold steering wheel at or near lock position for more than 15 seconds.
3. If incorrect, close valve. If pressure is now too low or high, pump is faulty. If pressure is okay, steering gear is faulty.

CAPACITY

Fluid capacity is .9 qts. (1.0L).

FLUID TYPE

Manufacturer recommends Dexron or Dexron II automatic transmission fluid (ATF).

Note. Normal operating temperature for power steering fluid is 140-176°F (60-80°C).

HYDRAULIC SYSTEM BLEEDING

1. Raise and support vehicle. Turn steering wheel quickly from lock-to-lock until fluid level no longer decreases and bubbles do not appear.
2. Start engine and let idle for 2-3 minutes. Accelerate engine without load 2-3 times. Let engine idle while quickly turning wheel from lock-to-lock until air bubbles no longer appear.

Note. Do not hold steering wheel at or near lock position for more than 15 seconds.

BELT TENSION

With 22 lbs. (10 kg) pressure on belt, deflection at center should be .51-.63" (13-16 mm) for 300ZX, .31-.43" (8-11 mm) for 200SX and .28-.35" (7-9 mm) for all other models.

STEERING WHEEL TURNING FORCE

1. Park vehicle on dry, level surface. Set parking brake. Bring hydraulic fluid up to normal operating temperature. Using a spring scale, check steering wheel turning force with wheel one turn from straight ahead.
2. Force should be less than 108 INCH lbs. (12 N.m). If not, remove steering gear and check turning force of pinion gear.

PINION ROTATING FORCE & RACK SLIDING FORCE

1. Install gear to Holding Plate (KV48102100 ). Install gear/holding plate in a vise. Disconnect cylinder tube. Drain fluid. Using a torque wrench attached to pinion, measure turning force.
2. Turning force should be less than 16 INCH lbs. (1.8 N.m). Using a spring scale attached to rack end, measure rack sliding force. Force should be 55 lbs. (25 kg).

Note. If either force is incorrect, adjust retainer screw. If adjustment cannot be made correctly, replace steering gear.

Removal

1. Raise and support vehicle. Disconnect hose clamp fixing bolt. Disconnect flare nut at steering gear. Drain fluid. Remove hose clamp from steering gear mounting bracket.
2. Using Ball Joint Remover (HT72520000 ), detach tie rod ends from knuckle arm with. Loosen steering gear retaining bolts.
3. Loosen lower joint-to-pinion gear retaining bolt. Draw out lower joint from pinion gear. Remove steering gear housing-to-suspension crossmember retaining bolt. Remove steering gear and linkage.

Installation

To install, reverse removal procedure. Install lower joint on steering gear. (Scheme 2) Tighten bolts.

Scheme 2

Scheme 3

Scheme 4

Scheme 5

Scheme 6

Scheme 7

Scheme 8

Scheme 9

1. Allow the engine to cool before beginning the procedure.
2. Disconnect the negative battery cable at the battery terminal.
3. Raise the vehicle halfway up on a hoist. (Scheme 3) (Scheme 3): Vehicle Lift Point Locations
4. Remove both front wheels. Then disconnect both tie rod ends.
5. Use a drain pan to collect excess power steering fluid during this step. Disconnect the pressure line and return line at the pinion housing by reaching through the opening in the driver side fender well. For the pressure line, use a 14mm crow foot wrench and long extension. for the return line, use an 8mm wrench or phillips head screwdriver.
6. Remove the lower steering column U-joint bolt at the pinion shaft by reaching through the opening in the driver side fender well. Use a 12mm socket and long extension. (Scheme 4) (Scheme 4): Removing Lower Steering Column U-Joint Bolt
7. Raise the vehicle the rest of the way up.
8. Remove the four 14mm bolts on stabilizer bar brackets (Scheme 5) Let the stabilizer bar hang against the transverse links. (Scheme 5): Stabilizer Bar Bracket Bolts Removal
9. Remove the exhaust system center section. Disconnect it just forward of the flexible tube portion, just forward of the main catalyst and at the mount to the floor pan. Support the front of the main catalyst with wire. (Scheme 6) (Scheme 6): Exhaust System Center Section Removal
10. Remove the following: A/T Models: Disconnect the transmission cable at the shift lever by removing the cotter pin. Remove the three 12mm nuts which hold the rear support bracket to the floor pan. Leave the cable connected to the rear bracket. Slide the cable and bracket out of the two forward support brackets, over the stabilizer bar, and position the cable out of the way near the left front spindle. M/T Models: Disconnect the shift rod and shift control rod at the transaxle. Position both rods out of the way under the driver side control arm.
11. Remove the two 10mm bolts and heat shield from the low pressure switch racket. (Scheme 7) (Scheme 7): Low Pressure Switch Bracket Bolts Removal
12. If you will be installing a new style steering gear in a Maxima that was built with the old style gear, loosen the banjo fitting (24mm) on the bottom side of the low pressure switch.
13. Support the engine crossmember with a floor jack. Remove two 14mm nuts and one 14mm bolt at the rear end of the crossmember. (Scheme 8) Lower jack and crossmember approximately one inch. (Scheme 8): Removing the Crossmember
14. Remove the four 17mm steering gear clamp bolts and both clamps. (Scheme 9)
15. Lower the gear as much as possible. Remove four 10mm bolts on low pressure switch bracket (Scheme 9) Remove brackets from steering gear. (Scheme 9): Low Pressure Switch Bracket Bolts Removal
16. Move the pressure and return lines up away from the gear and tie in place.
17. Rotate the steering gear to full right lock. Move steering gear up until retainer adjust screw is above driver side steering gear mounting pad. Move steering gear toward passenger side of vehicle until driver side tie rod end clears driver side control arm. Drop steering gear down and remove from vehicle.

Installation (Maxima)

1. Slide the gear into place as it was removed. Raise the floor jack and engine crossmember. Install two 14mm nuts and one 14mm bolt. see scheme 10 see scheme 10: Crossmember Installation
2. Install the low pressure switch brackets (use new brackets from tube kit if applicable) and two upper bolts onto the pressure switch. see scheme 11 Thread the bolts into the pressure switch about two threads. Spread the brackets apart and install onto the steering gear. Completely tighten the upper bolts. Install the two lower bolts but do not tighten at this time. see scheme 11: Low Pressure Switch Bracket Bolts Installation
3. Install the passenger side steering gear clamp and hand tighten the two bolts. Raise the steering gear into position and install the steering column U-joint on the pinion shaft.
4. Install the driver side steering gear housing clamp and two bolts. Torque all our bolts to 54-72 ft-lb.
5. Lower the vehicle half way and perform the following operations: Install the steering column lower U-joint bolt. Install the pressure line fitting at the pinion housing. Install the return line at the pinion housing and tighten the clamp.
6. Raise the vehicle again. Make sure the three plastic clips on the pressure and return lines are installed properly.
7. Orient the pressure switch vertically and tighten the two lower bolts. Torque the banjo fitting bolt on the bottom of the low pressure switch bracket to 36-51 ft-lb (if it was loosened). Install the heatshield on the low pressure switch bracket. A/T Models: Install the shift cable, rear bracket and pin at shift lever. M/T Models: Install the shift rod and shift control rod at the transaxle.
8. Perform the following operations: Install the exhaust system center section (use a new gasket if necessary). (Scheme 6) Install the four stabilizer bracket bolts. Install the tie rod ends With new cotter pins. Install the wheels and torque lug nuts (58-72 ft-lb). Connect the negative cable to battery.
9. After the gear is installed, fill system with new ATF ("DEXRON" type) and bleed as follows: Raise front of vehicle until wheels clear ground. With engine off, quickly turn steering wheel from right lock to left lock seven or eight times or until fluid level in reservoir stops dropping and air bubbles no longer appear in fluid. Start engine and let it idle for a few minutes. Then rev engine under no load two or three times. With engine idling, quickly turn steering wheel from right lock to left lock seven or eight times or until fluid level in reservoir stops dropping and air bubbles no longer appear in fluid. CAUTION: While bleeding, do not hold steering wheel against right or left lock for more than 15 seconds.
10. If the gear has been rebuilt, slide the boots off the end of the rack and check for leaks at either end of the rack. If no leaking or see page is apparent, coat the grooves on the end of the rack with sealer, install the boots and tighten the clamps. If the gear is leaking after bleeding, it should be removed and replaced with a new assembly.
11. Check the front toe and adjust the steering wheel angle by removing and reinstalling the steering wheel. Test drive the vehicle and check steering wheel angle. Reset at the tie rods is necessary.

1. Loosen power steering pump pulley nut. Loosen pump belt. Remove belt. Disconnect pressure hose flare nut at power steering pump. Drain fluid.
2. Remove hose clamp. Remove pump retaining bolts and pump. Remove flare nuts at steering gear. Remove hose clamps at suspension member. Remove hose from steering gear.

To install, reverse removal procedure. After pump is installed, bleed system and adjust belt tension.

Exploded View of Maxima Power Rack & Pinion Steering Gear Steering gear on 200SX is similar. Courtesy of Nissan Motor Co. U.S.A. Scheme 10

Scheme 11

POWER STEERING GEAR

Note. Before disassembling, measure pinion rotating force and rack sliding force. If they cannot be adjusted properly, replace steering gear.

Disassembly

1. Attach steering gear to Holding Plate (KV48102100 ). Install gear/holder in a vise. Remove boot clamp and breather tube. Flatten lock plate.
2. Disconnect tie rod and inner socket. Remove tie rod assembly from steering gear. Remove tie rod inner socket from tie rod outer socket. Remove flare nuts at cylinder side. Remove nuts from pinion housing side of cylinder tubes.
3. Remove tubes. Loosen adjusting screw lock nut. Remove retainer adjusting screw. Remove retainer.
4. Remove rear cover cap. Remove and discard snap ring, housing plug, and self-locking nut. Draw pinion assembly out by lightly tapping it with a plastic hammer. Separate rear housing cover from pinion. Remove rear oil seal.
5. Remove and discard rear cover "O" ring. Remove and discard pinion shaft oil seal. Mark rear housing and pinion housing for reassembly reference. Remove rear housing retaining bolts.
6. Remove rear housing and discard "O" ring. Remove thrust washers and needle bearing from upper surface of pinion. Remove pinion assembly, thrust washers and needle bearing.
7. Do not damage teflon seal. Remove pinion bearing and pinion oil seal. Mark housing and cylinder for reassembly reference. Using Wrench (KV48101800 ), disconnect cylinder lock nut.
8. Separate cylinder from pinion housing. Remove and discard rack bushing and cylinder "O" ring. Remove inner tube. Remove "O" ring and inner tube collar from inner tube. Remove rack packing and back-up collar.

Inspection

Thoroughly clean all parts in automatic transmission fluid. Blow dry. Replace all oil seals, "O" rings and snap rings. Inspect all steering gear components. If components are damaged or worn, replace steering gear assembly as a unit.

Note. When reassembling power steering gear, apply automatic transmission fluid to "O" rings, seals and moving parts.

Reassembly

1. Install new "O" ring to inner tube. Attach back-up collar to inner tube. Press new rack packing into place. DO NOT exceed 1320 lbs. (600 kg) of force. Install inner tube. NOTE: To prevent damage during reassembly, wrap cellophane tape around rack end edge and affected piston areas.
2. Install new snap ring to rack. Install piston component parts to rack. Grease rack surface. Install new "O" ring to cylinder.
3. Using marks made during disassembly, position cylinder on pinion housing. Be careful not to damage Teflon ring. Using Wrench (KV48101800 ), tighten cylinder lock nut.
4. Attach new back-up washer. Using Cylinder Holder (KV48101900 ), tighten end cover. Press new pinion oil seal into pinion housing. Grease oil seal lip. Attach thrust washers, thrust bearings and needle bearing. Grease bearing.
5. Center rack with teeth facing pinion at right angles. Install pinion so that punch mark on pinion shaft will face rear of vehicle. Grease rack and pinion gear. Install new "O" ring to rear housing.
6. Aligning marks made during disassembly, install housing. Tighten housing. Install new pinion shaft oil seal. Press pinion shaft into rear housing cover. Install second "O" ring to cover.
7. Fit rear housing lock nut approximately 10 pitches down on rear housing cover. Tighten rear housing cover to pinion housing. Turn back cover one turn from that position.
8. Turn pinion shaft lock-to-lock several times while measuring pinion rotating force. Force should be 1.2-2.4 INCH lbs. (.15-.25 N.m). Using Rear Cover Wrench (KV48101700 ), tighten rear cover lock nut.
9. Grease contact surface of rack. Install retainer to pinion housing. Install retainer spring. Tighten adjusting screw. Turn back screw 20-25 degrees. Tighten lock nut.
10. Measure and adjust pinion rotating force and rack starting force. See «ADJUSTMENTS»(/nissan/stanza/ii-1986-1989/remont/manual-power-steering/#steering-system-power) in this article. Temporarily tighten flare nut at rear housing side and then at cylinder side. Tighten to specifications.
11. Fit inner socket to rack end with new lock plate. Be sure lock plate tab enters groove at end portion of rack so rack and inner socket fit snugly. Tighten inner socket. Bend lock plate at 2 cut-outs. NOTE: To prevent damage to boot, remove burrs after bending plate.
12. Screw in tie rod outer socket until distance between boot and outside of lock nut is 1.68" (42.7 mm). Measure rack stroke. Apply sealant to contact surfaces between boot, cylinder and breather. RACK STROKE SPECIFICATIONS Application Cylinder Side In. (mm) Pinion Side In. (mm) Maxima 2.76 (70) 2.24 (57) Pulsar NX 2.90 (74) 1.25 (32) Sentra 2.90 (74) 2.36 (60) Stanza 2.80 (71) 2.20 (56) 200SX 2.76 (70) 2.24 (57) 300ZX 2.44 (62) 1.77 (45)
13. Install boot. (Scheme 12) Set breather tube. Locate clamp bolt opposite breather tube. Tighten clamp bolt. Ensure rack moves smoothly, boot is not deformed, and that clamp is held tightly in place.

Boot & Rack Positioning Apply sealant to contact surfaces. Courtesy of Nissan Motor Co. U.S.A. Scheme 12

POWER STEERING PUMP

Note. Manufacturer does not recommend overhaul of power steering pump. Replace as a unit if defective.

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

See also:
• ADJUSTMENTS