Nissan PULSAR N13 Series / ASTRA LD Series. Manual — part 36

145

STEERING

PART 1. STEERING TROUBLE SHOOTING

FAULTS, CAUSES AND REMEDIES

EXCESSIVE PLAY OR LOOSENESS IN
STEERING GEAR

(1) Tie rod end ball joint loose or worn: Tighten

or renew the worn tie rod end ball joint.

(2) Steering gear assembly loose on cross-

member: Inspect for damage and tighten the steering
gear mounting bolts.

(3) Steering gear worn: Overhaul the steering

gear.

(2) Low fluid level in the power steering reser-

voir: Check for leakage, repair and/or renew the faulty
components. Top up the fluid level.

(3) Suspension worn or out of alignment: Check

the front suspension for wear, renew the worn com-
ponents and realign.

(4) Misalignment between the steering gear and

column mountings: Check and align the steering gear
and column mountings.

(5) Binding in the steering shaft universal coup-

ling joints: Check the joints and renew if necessary.

(6) Ingress of dirt into the steering gear due to a

defective boot: Clean, check and lubricate the internal
components of the steering gear and renew the
defective boot.

(7) Insufficient power steering pump pressure:

Check the pump drive belt tension and reservoir fluid
level. If necessary renew the pump assembly.

NOTE: Ensure that both front tires have
ample depth of tread and are inflated to the
correct pressure. Check the front suspension
components for wear before having the steer-
ing geometry checked. See the Front Sus-
pension section for the component checking
procedures.

Check the tie rod ends for wear and the rubber boots

for deterioration.

(4) Worn front hub bearings: Check the condi-

tion and renew the front hub bearings.

(5) Worn or damaged front suspension control

arm bushes: Renew the control arm or bushes.

NOTE: Looseness in the steering linkage is
best assessed with the weight of the vehicle
on the front wheels. Have an assistant turn
the steering wheel from left to right while the
inspection for wear is being made. If loose-
ness is found to be in the steering gear, it
will be necessary to overhaul the steering
gear assembly.

HEAVY STEERING

(1) Low or uneven tire pressures: Check the

tires and inflate to the recommended pressures.

Checking the steering rack boots for splits and deteri-

oration.

146

Steering — Part 1

STEERING PULLS TO ONE SIDE

(1) Uneven tire wear or pressures: Check the

condition of the tires and inflate to the recommended
pressures.

(2) Incorrect front wheel alignment: Check and

align the front end.

(3) Dragging brakes: Check each wheel for drag-

ging brakes. Overhaul the brakes as necessary.

(4) Damaged suspension or crossmember: In-

spect and renew the damaged components.

(5) Faulty power steering gear assembly: Re-

move the power steering gear for overhaul.

FRONT WHEEL WOBBLE OR SHIMMY

(1) Uneven tire wear or incorrect tire pressures;

Check the condition of the tires and inflate to the
recommended pressures.

(2) Tire or wheel imbalance: Check and balance

as necessary

(3) Worn or badly adjusted hub bearings: Check

the condition and adjust the front hub bearings.

(4) Faulty or worn suspension, units: Check and

overhaul or renew as a pair.

NOTE: Check the steering linkage as previ-
ously described. Raise the front of the vehi-
cle and check the adjustment of the hub
bearings by moving the road wheel in and
out at the top and bottom. No movement in
the bearings should be felt. Check the sus-
pension units as outlined in the Front Sus-
pension section.

STEERING ERRATIC OR WANDERING

(1) Incorrect or uneven wheel alignment setting:

Check and adjust the steering geometry.

(2) Smooth front tires: Check and renew the

tires as necessary.

Checking the steering gear mounting bolts for security.

(3) Steering gear assembly loose on the cross-

member: Inspect for damage and tighten the steering
gear mounting bolts.

(4) Wear in the tie rod ball housing: Renew the

worn tie rod and ball housing.

(5) Wear in the rack and pinion: Remove the

steering gear assembly for overhaul.

(6) Loose or incorrectly adjusted hub bearings:

Check and adjust the front hub bearings.

FAILURE OF POWER ASSISTANCE

(1) Loose or broken pump drive belt: Renew or

adjust the pump drive belt.

(2) Low fluid level in the power steering reser-

voir: Check for leakage, repair or renew the faulty
components. Top up the fluid level.

(3) Insufficient power steering pump pressure:

Check the delivery pressure, renew the pump if
defective.

(4) Faulty power steering gear assembly: Re-

move the power steering gear assembly for overhaul.

147

PART 2. MANUAL STEERING

SPECIFICATIONS

Steering gear type . . . . . . . Rack and pinion

Steering column type . . . . . .. Energy absorbing

collapsible and tilt adjustable

Steering wheel free play

(maximum) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 35 mm

Linkage. . . . . . ...Direct from rack ends to tie

rods and steering knuckles

Turns lock to lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.6

Steering column length . . . . .. 534.7-537.3 mm

Steering gear lubricant. . . .. Castrol EPL 1 grease

TORQUE WRENCH SETTINGS

Steering wheel retaining nut . . . . . . . 39 Nm

Steering gear to bulkhead

mounting bolts. . . . . . . . . . . .. 108 Nm

Tie rod to steering knuckle nut . . . . . .. 98 Nm

Tie rod to tie rod end locknut . . . . . ... 98 Nm

Tie rod ball housing to rack. . . . . . . 88 Nm

Steering column to mounting

bracket bolt . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 14 Nm

Steering column universal

coupling joint pinch bolts . . . . . . . ... 29 Nm

2. STEERING WHEEL

Special Equipment Required:

To Remove Steering Wheel - Steering wheel
puller

TO REMOVE AND INSTAL

(1) Disconnect the negative battery terminal.
(2) Using a small screwdriver, carefully prise the

centre ornament from the steering wheel.

View of the steering wheel removed from the vehicle.

Steering wheels may vary between models.

1. DESCRIPTION

The steering gear is a rack and p i n i o n type

which is mounted on the lower section of the engine
compartment bulkhead by rubber mountings and
brackets.

The design of this assembly requires a range of

special tools to dismantle and assemble the steering
gear. If the steering gear is found to have a fault which
requires overhaul of the rack and pinion, it is recom-
mended that this be performed by an authorized work-
shop or steering specialist.

However, the procedures for the removal and

installation of the steering gear and the renewal of the
tie rods, the tie rod ends and the rubber boots are fully
covered in this section.

The rack and pinion assembly requires no lubri-

cation during service.

The steering column is of the energy absorbing

type designed to compress in the event of a severe
front end collision. The energy absorbing units are the
outer steering column, the tilt bracket and the steering
shaft. All these units should be handled with extreme
care if service operations are performed on the
steering column assembly.

(3) Remove the steering wheel retaining nut and

mark the steering shaft and steering wheel hub in
relation to each other as an aid to assembly.

(4) Remove the steering wheel from the steering

shaft.

NOTE: If the steering wheel will not sepa-
rate from the steering shaft, loosen the horn
pad retaining screws at the rear of the
steering wheel and withdraw the horn pad
after disconnecting the wire. A puller can
now be used to pull the steering wheel from
the steering shaft. Do not strike the end of
the steering shaft as sharp blows can cause
irreparable damage to the collapsible steer-
ing shaft.

(5) If necessary the steering wheel can be dis-

mantled as shown in the illustration.

Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure

with attention to the following points:

(1) Apply a light coat of multipurpose grease to

the horn slip ring and the turn signal canceling pins.

(2) Ensure that the marks on the steering wheel

and steering shaft are aligned.

(3) Tighten the steering wheel retaining nut to

the specified torque.

148

Steering — Part 2

3. STEERING COLUMN

Special Equipment Required:

To Remove Steering Wheel — Steering wheel
puller

TO REMOVE AND INSTAL

(1) Disconnect the negative battery terminal.
(2) Working in the engine compartment, mark

the relationship between the steering shaft universal
coupling joint and the steering gear pinion shaft.

(3) Remove the pinch bolts from the universal

joint.

(4) Working inside the vehicle, remove the steer-

ing wheel as previously described.

(5) Remove the steering column shroud screws,

unclip the lower and upper covers and remove them
from the steering column.

(6) Disconnect all the steering column wiring

connectors.

(7) Remove the lower trim from underneath the

steering column.

(8) Fold back the insulator and remove the nuts

from the steering column floor bracket.

(9) Remove the nuts from the lower steering

column bracket.

(10) Remove the bolts from the tilt bracket

assembly.

(11) Maneuver the steering column from the

vehicle.

Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure

with attention to the following points:

(1) Measure the dimension between the lower

bracket pin and the upper edge of the steering shaft as
shown in the illustration.

If the dimension is not as specified, the steering

shaft has collapsed and the steering column should be
renewed.

(2) Rotate the steering shaft in the column and

check the shaft bearing for roughness and damage.
Renew as necessary.

(3) Inspect the steering shaft universal coupling

joints for wear and damage and renew as necessary.

(4) Position the steering column assembly under

the dashboard ensuring that the floor bracket is
located correctly and that the steering shaft universal
joint is aligned with the steering gear pinion shaft
marks.

(5) Install all the steering bracket nuts and bolts

finger tight.

(6) Install the universal coupling joint pinch bolts

and tighten securely.

(7) Tighten all the steering column nuts and

bolts securely.

(8) Test the operation of all the steering column

controls when installation is complete.

TO DISMANTLE

(1) Remove the steering column assembly from

the vehicle as previously described.

(2) Suitably mark the position of the universal

coupling joint and remove it from the steering shaft.

(3) Mark the position of the rubber boot in

relation to the floor bracket and steering column.
Loosen the retaining bands and remove the boot and
floor bracket from the steering column.

(4) Using snap ring pliers, remove the snap ring,

plain washer and wave washer from the upper end of
the steering shaft.

(5) Loosen the combination switch retaining

screw, push the combination switch in, turn the switch
and remove it from the steering column.

(6) Turn the ignition switch to the On position

and slide the steering shaft from the column assembly.

(7) If necessary dismantle the tilt bracket com-

ponents after removing the through bolts. Note the
position of the components to aid assembly.

(8) To remove and install the steering lock pro-

ceed as follows:

(a) Remove the ignition switch retaining screw

and carefully withdraw the switch from the steering
lock bracket.

View of the steering column assembly removed from

the vehicle. Steering column length is shown as dimen-

sion A. A - 534.7-537.3 mm.

Dismantled view of the steering lock and ignition

switch assembly.