GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Steering Gear Replacement Left Hand Drive

Special Tools

J 42640 Steering Column Anti-Rotation Pin

Removal Procedure

  1. Turn the steering wheel so that the front wheels are pointing straight ahead.
  2. Turn the ignition lock cylinder to the lock position and remove the ignition key.

  3. Object Number: 333146  Size: SH
  4. Insert anti-rotation pin J 42640 into the steering column access hole in order to lock the steering column.
  5. Remove the front tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation.
  6. Remove the left side wheelhouse panel. Refer to Wheelhouse Panel Replacement - Left Side.
  7. Remove the front air deflector. Refer to Front Air Deflector Replacement.
  8. Place drain pans under the vehicle as needed.

  9. Object Number: 907425  Size: SH

    Warning: Failure to disconnect the intermediate shaft from the rack and pinion steering gear stub shaft can result in damage to the steering gear and/or intermediate shaft. This damage may cause loss of steering control which could result in an accident and possible personal injury.

    Caution: The wheels of the vehicle must be straight ahead and the steering column in the LOCK position before disconnecting the steering column or intermediate shaft from the steering gear. Failure to do so will cause the coil assembly in the steering column to become uncentered which will cause damage to the coil assembly.

  10. Remove the lower intermediate steering shaft bolt.
  11. Disconnect the lower intermediate steering shaft from the steering gear.
  12. Separate the rack and pinion outer tie rod ends from the steering knuckles. Refer to Steering Linkage Outer Tie Rod Replacement.

  13. Object Number: 1301495  Size: SH
  14. Remove the power steering gear inlet hose bracket bolt.

  15. Object Number: 908682  Size: SH
  16. Disconnect the power steering gear inlet and outlet hoses from the steering gear.
  17. Disconnect and plug the left front brake line from the left front brake hose.

  18. Object Number: 859584  Size: SH
  19. If equipped with all wheel drive (AWD), use a suitable jack and support the bottom of the front differential housing.

  20. Object Number: 1067552  Size: SH
  21. If equipped with AWD, loosen the right engine mount nut.
  22. If equipped with AWD, raise the front differential housing to clear the steering gear bolt.

  23. Object Number: 874631  Size: SH
  24. Remove the steering gear bolts.
  25. Remove the rearward left side lower control arm nut and bolt.
  26. Remove the steering gear through the left wheel opening.

Installation Procedure

  1. Install the steering gear through the left wheel opening.
  2. Install the rearward left side lower control arm nut and bolt.
  3. Caution: Refer to Fastener Caution in the Preface section.


    Object Number: 874631  Size: SH
  4. Remove the steering gear bolts.
  5. Tighten
    Tighten the bolts to 180 N·m (133 lb ft).

  6. If equipped with AWD, lower the front differential housing.

  7. Object Number: 1067552  Size: SH
  8. If equipped with AWD, tighten the right engine mount nut.
  9. Tighten
    Tighten the nut to 80 N·m (59 lb ft).


    Object Number: 859584  Size: SH
  10. If equipped with all wheel drive (AWD), remove the jack from the front differential housing.
  11. Connect the left front brake line to the left front brake hose.
  12. Tighten
    Tighten the line to 27 N·m (20 lb in).


    Object Number: 908682  Size: SH
  13. Connect the power steering gear inlet and outlet hoses to the steering gear.

  14. Object Number: 1301495  Size: SH
  15. Install the power steering gear inlet hose bracket bolt.
  16. Tighten
    Tighten the bolt to 23 N·m (17 lb ft).

  17. Connect the rack and pinion outer tie rod ends to the steering knuckles. Refer to Steering Linkage Outer Tie Rod Replacement.

  18. Object Number: 907425  Size: SH
  19. Connect the lower intermediate steering shaft to the steering gear.
  20. Install the lower intermediate steering shaft bolt.
  21. Tighten
    Tighten the bolt to 50 N·m (37 lb ft).

  22. Clean any excess power steering fluid from the vehicle and remove the drain pans.
  23. Install the front air deflector. Refer to Front Air Deflector Replacement.
  24. Install the left side wheelhouse panel. Refer to Wheelhouse Panel Replacement - Left Side.
  25. Install the front tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation.
  26. Remove the anti-rotation pin J 42640 .
  27. Fill and bleed the power steering system. Refer to Power Steering System Bleeding.
  28. Fill and bleed the hydraulic brake system. Refer to Hydraulic Brake System Bleeding.
  29. Adjust the front toe. Refer to Front Toe Adjustment.

Steering Gear Replacement Right Hand Drive

Special Tools

J 42640 Steering Column Anti-Rotation Pin

Removal Procedure

  1. Turn the steering wheel so that the front wheels are pointing straight ahead.
  2. Turn the ignition lock cylinder to the lock position and remove the ignition key.

  3. Object Number: 333146  Size: SH
  4. Install anti-rotation pin J 42640 into the steering column access hole in order to lock the steering column.
  5. Remove the front tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation.
  6. Remove the right side wheelhouse panel. Refer to Wheelhouse Panel Replacement - Right Side.
  7. Remove the front air deflector. Refer to Front Air Deflector Replacement.
  8. Place drain pans under the vehicle as needed.

  9. Object Number: 907425  Size: SH

    Warning: Failure to disconnect the intermediate shaft from the rack and pinion steering gear stub shaft can result in damage to the steering gear and/or intermediate shaft. This damage may cause loss of steering control which could result in an accident and possible personal injury.

    Caution: The wheels of the vehicle must be straight ahead and the steering column in the LOCK position before disconnecting the steering column or intermediate shaft from the steering gear. Failure to do so will cause the coil assembly in the steering column to become uncentered which will cause damage to the coil assembly.

  10. Remove the lower intermediate steering shaft bolt.
  11. Disconnect the lower intermediate steering shaft from the steering gear.
  12. Separate the rack and pinion outer tie rod ends from the steering knuckles. Refer to Steering Linkage Outer Tie Rod Replacement.

  13. Object Number: 1849420  Size: SH
  14. Remove the power steering gear inlet hose bracket bolt.

  15. Object Number: 1849421  Size: SH
  16. Disconnect the power steering gear inlet and outlet hoses from the steering gear.
  17. Disconnect and plug the left front brake line from the left front brake hose.

  18. Object Number: 859584  Size: SH
  19. If equipped with all wheel drive (AWD), use a suitable jack and support the bottom of the front differential housing.

  20. Object Number: 1067552  Size: SH
  21. If equipped with AWD, loosen the right engine mount nut.
  22. If equipped with AWD, raise the front differential housing to clear the steering gear bolt.

  23. Object Number: 874631  Size: SH
  24. Remove the steering gear bolts.
  25. Remove the rearward left side lower control arm nut and bolt.
  26. Remove the steering gear through the left wheel opening.

Installation Procedure

  1. Install the steering gear through the left wheel opening.
  2. Install the rearward left side lower control arm nut and bolt.
  3. Caution: Refer to Fastener Caution in the Preface section.


    Object Number: 874631  Size: SH
  4. Remove the steering gear bolts.
  5. Tighten
    Tighten the bolts to 180 N·m (133 lb ft).

  6. If equipped with AWD, lower the front differential housing.

  7. Object Number: 1067552  Size: SH
  8. If equipped with AWD, tighten the right engine mount nut.
  9. Tighten
    Tighten the nut to 80 N·m (59 lb ft).


    Object Number: 859584  Size: SH
  10. If equipped with all wheel drive (AWD), remove the jack from the front differential housing.
  11. Connect the left front brake line to the left front brake hose.
  12. Tighten
    Tighten the line to 27 N·m (20 lb in).


    Object Number: 1849421  Size: SH
  13. Connect the power steering gear inlet and outlet hoses to the steering gear.

  14. Object Number: 1849420  Size: SH
  15. Install the power steering gear inlet hose bracket bolt.
  16. Tighten
    Tighten the bolt to 23 N·m (17 lb ft).

  17. Connect the rack and pinion outer tie rod ends to the steering knuckles. Refer to Steering Linkage Outer Tie Rod Replacement.

  18. Object Number: 907425  Size: SH
  19. Connect the lower intermediate steering shaft to the steering gear.
  20. Install the lower intermediate steering shaft bolt.
  21. Tighten
    Tighten the bolt to 50 N·m (37 lb ft).

  22. Clean any excess power steering fluid from the vehicle and remove the drain pans.
  23. Install the front air deflector. Refer to Front Air Deflector Replacement.
  24. Install the right side wheelhouse panel. Refer to Wheelhouse Panel Replacement - Right Side.
  25. Install the front tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation.
  26. Remove the anti-rotation pin J 42640 .
  27. Fill and bleed the power steering system. Refer to Power Steering System Bleeding.
  28. Fill and bleed the hydraulic brake system. Refer to Hydraulic Brake System Bleeding.
  29. Adjust the front toe. Refer to Front Toe Adjustment.