SAAB WIS ONLINE

Steering gear

Steering gear

To remove



1. Remove the hose connected to the return pipe on the steering system. Plug the hose.

2. Fit a length of hose onto the pipe and place the other end in a bottle or similar receptacle that holds at least 0.5 litres. Turn the steering wheel to full left lock and full right lock until all the fluid has run out of the steering system.

3. Remove the length of hose from the return pipe and refit the return hose.

4. Disconnect the ground (negative) cable from the battery.

5. Remove the main fuse box.

6. Remove the lower section of the dashboard on the driver's side.


7. Remove the bolt from the joint on the steering column shaft.

8. Turn the steering wheel to the straight-ahead position.

Warning

To avoid twisting the coil spring by such an amount that it breaks, fix the steering wheel so that it will not move out of the straight-ahead position.


Note

One method of fixing the steering wheel is to tape it to the dashboard by means of heavy-duty adhesive tape of fabric type.


9. Separate the joint on the steering column shaft from the steering gear.

10. Remove the track rod from the steering gear.


11. Raise the car and remove the left-hand front wheel.

12. Remove the track rod from the MacPherson strut, using special tool 89 96 696 to press out the ball joint.

13. Lift out the track rod and lower the car to the floor.

14. Remove the fixing clamps on the left-hand and right- hand sides.

Important

Note the cable holder on the right-hand side.


15. Disconnect the delivery and return pipes from the steering gear. Use special tool 87 91 287. Plug the pipes and the connections on the valve body.

16. Disconnect both internal pipe connections from the valve body and bend them upwards. Plug the pipes and the connections.

17. Remove the steering gear through the left-hand wheel housing.


To fit



1. On changing the steering gear: transfer the bulkhead seal and rubber bushes on the right-hand and left-hand sides from the valve housing.

2. On changing the steering gear: detach the internal pipes from the steering gear and plug them.

3. Lift the steering gear into place through the left- hand wheel housing.

4. Remove the plugs and connect the pipes to the valve body.

5. Remove the plugs and connect the delivery and return pipes. Use special tool 87 91 287.

6. Fit the mounts as follows.


• Fit the mount on the pinion side first ( 1 ), making sure that the flat surface of the steering gear faces towards the bulkhead. Tighten the retaining bolts.

• Then fit the other mount ( 2 ) and secure it. It is essential that the steering gear mounts are fitted in this order to avoid the steering gear being fixed at a crooked angle to the steering column mounting.


Important

Note the cable holder on the right-hand side.


7. Fit the track rod to the MacPherson strut. A new locking plate ( 3 ), part no. 42 42 723, must be fitted every time the steering gear is removed from the car.


Tightening torque: 60 Nm (44.3 lbf ft).

8. Fit both track rods to the steering gear and tighten the connections, using a torque wrench.

Tightening torque: 85-100 Nm

(62.7-73.8 Ibf ft).

9. Fit the steering column shaft joint to the steering gear.


10. Remove the tape holding the steering wheel in position.

Important

If the position of the steering wheel has been altered, the coil spring unit must be adjusted, see WIS 8 "Airbag (SRS)".


11. Fit the lower part of the dashboard.

12. Fit the main fuse box.

13. Connect the ground (negative) cable to the battery.

14. Fill the hydraulic fluid reservoir with hydraulic fluid, start the engine and turn the steering wheel two or three times from full lock to full lock. Switch off the engine and top up the fluid reservoir.

15. Fit the wheel and tighten the wheel bolts, using a torque wrench.

Tightening torque: 105-130 Nm (77.5-95.9 lbf ft).

16. Lower the car to the floor.

17. Check the toe-in and adjust as necessary.