Ford BG1Z-3504-A Gear Assembly - Steering

To remove the rack and pinion, start by disconnecting the cable from the negative terminal of the battery. If the vehicle has hydraulic power steering, remove as much fluid as possible from the power steering fluid reservoir. Loosen the front wheel lug nuts and raise the vehicle on jackstands. Remove both front wheels and the under-vehicle splash shield. Position the steering wheel in the straight ahead position using a steering wheel holder or by running the seat belt through the steering wheel and clicking it into its buckle. Detach the tie-rod ends from the steering knuckles. For models with hydraulic power steering, place a container under the pressure line fittings to catch any remaining fluid. Remove the pressure line bracket and the power steering line clamp bolt from the rack and pinion. Gently rotate the clamp plate and detach the pressure lines, making sure to discard the old O-rings and replace them with new ones. On 2007 and earlier models, loosen the column shaft boot clamp from the shaft boot. Remove the rack and pinion bolt and disconnect the intermediate shaft. On 2008 and later models, this is done from under the instrument panel or from the engine compartment. If working on an all-wheel drive model, raise the transaxle and engine assembly slightly. Remove the rack and pinion fasteners and remove the rack and pinion. For models with electric power steering, remove the pinch bolt and disconnect the intermediate shaft from the rack and pinion. Remove the stabilizer bar link upper nuts and the front section of the exhaust system. Remove the bolts from the roll restrictor and support the rear of the subframe with a floor jack. Remove the subframe bracket bolts and the subframe rear bolts. Loosen the subframe front mounting bolts and lower the rear of the subframe to access the rack and pinion. Unscrew the steering wiring harness bracket bolt and disconnect the electrical connectors to the rack and pinion assist motor. Remove the rack and pinion bolts and maneuver the rack and pinion out from the right side of the vehicle. To install the rack and pinion, follow the reverse steps of removal, using new fasteners and replacing the O-rings on the pressure lines. Fill the power steering reservoir with the recommended fluid and bleed the power steering hydraulic system. Install the wheels and lug nuts, lower the vehicle, and tighten the lug nuts. Finally, have the front end alignment checked and adjusted if necessary.