Nissan PULSAR N13 Series / ASTRA LD Series. Manual - part 38

Steering — Part 3

 

153

 

 

TO CHECK FLUID LEVEL

 

Check the fluid level in the power steering reser- 

voir when the fluid is cold.

 

If it is necessary to top up the fluid, fill to between 

the arrow marks on the dipstick using the recom- 
mended fluid.

 

NOTE: Do not overfill the reservoir.

 

Checking  the  power steering  fluid  level  using the 

dipstick incorporated in the cap. 

TO CHECK FOR FLUID LEAKS

 

Using a suitable solvent, clean around all power 

steering assemblies and hose fittings where fluid 
leakage might occur and start the engine. Turn the 
steering wheel from one steering lock to the other 
several times and stop the engine. Check for leakage. 
Where leakage is found at hose fittings, tighten and 
recheck.

 

If the leak remains, renew the hoses or fittings as 

required.

 

Where leakage is found in the steering gear 

assembly or pump assembly, specialist attention is 
necessary.

 

TO CHECK STEERING WHEEL FREE PLAY

 

With the engine running and the steering wheel in 

the straight ahead position, measure the free move- 
ment of the steering wheel before the front wheels 
move. This is specified as steering wheel free play and 
if it exceeds Specifications, check for free play in the 
steering linkages and the universal coupling joints. If 
these components are satisfactory, it will be necessary 
to remove the steering gear from the vehicle for 
renewal or overhaul.

 

PUMP BELT TENSION

 

The procedure for adjusting the power steering 

pump bell tension is described in the Engine Tune-up 
section

 

TO PURGE THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM 
OF AIR

 

(1)  Check that the pump reservoir is filled to the 

correct mark on the dipstick. 

(2)  Raise the front of the vehicle and support it 

on chassis stands. 

(3)  Turn the steering wheel quickly from lock to 

lock several times, recheck the fluid level within the 
pump reservoir and top up if required. 

(4)  Start the engine, allow it to idle and slowly 

turn the steering wheel from lock to lock several times. 
Do not hold the steering at full lock for more than 15 
seconds. 

(5)  Check the fluid level in the pump reservoir, 

top up if necessary. 

(6)  If the fluid  is aerated  within  the pump 

reservoir or if pump noise persists, repeat operations 
(3) to (6). 

3.    STEERING WHEEL

 

The procedure for removing and installing the 

steering wheel is fully covered in the Manual Steering 
section under the above heading.

 

4.    STEERING COLUMN

 

The procedure for removing, dismantling and 

assembling the steering column is fully covered in the 
Manual Steering section under the above heading.

 

5.    POWER STEERING PUMP

 

TO REMOVE AND INSTAL

 

(1)   Disconnect the negative battery terminal.

 

 

View of the power steering pump removed from the 

vehicle. 

154 

Steering —

 

 

(2)  Remove the air inlet  duct  from  the air 

cleaner and throttle body. 

(3)  Position  a  container or a  piece  of cloth 

beneath the steering pump reservoir and disconnect 
the fluid return and power steering pump supply hose 
from the reservoir. 

(4)  Loosen   the   steering   pump   drive  belt   as 

described in the Engine Tune-up section. 

(5)  Loosen the return hose clamp and the supply 

union  and  disconnect the hoses  from  the power 
steering pump. Plug the hoses to prevent the loss of 
fluid. 

(6)  Loosen the retaining bolts and withdraw the 

pump. 

(7)  Thoroughly clean the exterior of the steering 

pump and inspect it for cracks, damage and signs of 
leakage. 

Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure 

with attention to the following points:

 

(1)  Install the pump and retaining bolts. 
(2)  Install the drive belt and adjust it as de- 

scribed in the Engine Tune-up section. 

(3)  Install the hoses to the power steering pump 

and tighten securely. 

(4)  Top up the pump reservoir and purge the 

power steering system of air as previously described. 

TO OVERHAUL

 

As specialist knowledge and equipment arc re- 

quired to overhaul the power steering pump, it is 
recommended that this operation be performed by an 
authorized dealer or steering specialist.

 

6.    POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY 

Special Equipment Required: 

To Renew Tie Rod Ball Housings — Large Still- 

sons

 

TO REMOVE AND INSTAL

 

The procedures for removing and installing the 

power steering gear are similar to those carried out in 
the Manual Steering section under the Steering Gear 
Assembly heading except for the following differences.

 

(1)  Place a container under the pressure and 

return pipes that are connected to the steering gear 
valve housing. Remove the pipes and allow the fluid 
to drain into the container. 

(2)  Suitably seal the pipes and the steering gear 

to prevent the entry of dirt whilst the pipes are 
removed. 

(3)  Upon removal of the power steering gear, 

thoroughly clean the steering gear except the tie rod 
ends in a suitable solvent. Be careful not to allow the 
solvent to enter the apertures where the pressure and 
return pipes were removed. 

(4)  Check the pipes and connections for cracks, 

damage or obstructions and renew as necessary. 

 

Installed view of the power steering gear with the 

engine removed. 

Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure 

with attention to the following points:

 

(1)  Install the pressure and return pipes to the 

steering gear valve housing and tighten securely. 

(2)  Fill the power steering reservoir to the cor- 

rect level and bleed the system as described previously 
under the heading In Car Adjustments. Checks and 
Minor Repairs. 

(3)  Check all power steering pipe connections 

for leaks and repair as necessary. 

(4)  Check,  and  if necessary,  adjust  the  front 

wheel toe in as described in the Front Suspension 
section. After adjustment ensure that the rubber boots 
are not  distorted  or  twisted and  the  rubber boot 
clamps and clips are facing downward. 

TO OVERHAUL

 

As specialist knowledge and equipment are re- 

quired to overhaul the power steering gear, it is rec- 
ommended that this operation be performed by an 
authorized dealer or steering specialist.

 

TO RENEW TIE ROD BALL HOUSINGS

 

TRW Steering Gear

 

The renewal of the tie rod ball housings is the 

same as for the manual steering gear. Refer to Part 2. 
Manual Steering section.

 

PR24SA Steering Gear

 

(1)  Remove the power steering gear assembly 

from the vehicle as previously described. 

(2)  Carefully mount the power steering gear in a 

vice equipped with soft jaws. Loosen the tie rod end 
locknuts without disturbing the location of the tie rod 
ends and unscrew the tie rod ends, taking note of the 
number of turns required to remove them. Unscrew 
and remove the locknuts from the tie rod. 

(3)  Remove the clamps from the rubber boots 

and remove the boots. 

Steering — Part 3

 

155

 

 

(4)  Support the rack carefully and lever back the 

tabs of the ball housing lock washers. To prevent 
damage to the steering gear, avoid any impact to the 
steering rack. 

(5)  Holding the rack with an adjustable spanner, 

unscrew the  ball  housings  from  the  rack  using a 
Stillsons wrench. Remove and discard the lock wash- 
ers. 

Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure 

with attention to the following points:

 

(1)  Install  the  new lock washer to  the 

rack, 
ensuring that the lockwasher tangs are located in the 
rack end. 

(2)  Install the ball housing assemblies to the rack. 

Tighten the ball housings to the specified torque and 
secure by bending the lock washer. 

(3)  Before installing the rubber boots ensure that 

the vent holes, located towards each end of the rack 
near the ball housings, are clear. If necessary clear the 
hole with a suitable probe. 

(4)  Apply sealant to the large end of the rubber 

boot and grease to the small end. and install the boots, 
being careful not to damage or twist them. Secure the 

boots with the clamps and clips ensuring that the clips 
are facing downwards.

 

(5) Install the tie rod end locknuts and tie rod 

ends to the tie rod. Install the tie rod ends the same 
number of turns noted on removal. Tighten the lock- 
nuts to the specified torque.

 

Install the power steering gear assembly to the 

vehicle as described under the previous heading and 
bleed the system as described under the heading In 
Car Adjustments, Checks and Minor Repairs.

 

TO RENEW RUBBER BOOTS

 

The procedure to renew the rubber boots is fully 

covered in the Manual Steering section under the 
Steering Gear Assembly heading.

 

TO RENEW TIE ROD ENDS

 

The procedure to renew the tie rod ends is fully 

covered in the Manual Steering section under the 
Steering Gear Assembly heading.

 

156

 

FRONT SUSPENSION

 

SPECIFICATIONS

 

Type.................. Independent MacPherson strut with

 

coil springs and control arms

 

Shock absorber ..................Hydraulic, non-repairable

 

Hub bearing end float (maximum) ............. 0.05 mm

 

Ball joint axial play (maximum)....................0.7 mm

 

Ball joint turning torque (used)...............0.5-4.9 Nm

 

Wheel alignment:

 

Toe in ..................................................... 0-2 mm

 

Camber ........................................- 0 °  1 0 '  ±  4 5 '

 

Caster..............................................1° 10' ± 45'

 

King pin inclination..................... 13° 55' ± 45'

 

TORQUE WRENCH SETTINGS

 

Hub bearing nut..................................... 196-235 Nm

 

Suspension unit to steering knuckle nut ......  118 Nm

 

Suspension unit to body nuts ......................... 29 Nm

 

Piston rod nut .................................................. 72 Nm

 

Brake caliper to steering knuckle bolts ...........52 Nm

 

Ball joint to steering knuckle bolt...................86 Nm

 

Control arm bracket bolts ...............................98 Nm

 

Control arm pivot bolt ................................  118 Nm

 

Stabiliser bar link nuts.....................................44 Nm

 

Stabiliser bar bracket bolts..............................21 Nm

 

1.    FRONT SUSPENSION TROUBLE 

SHOOTING

 

FRONT END NOISE

 

(1)  Loose upper suspension mounting or piston 

rod: Tighten the mounting or piston rod nuts. 

(2)  Loose or worn suspension unit lower ball 

joint: Tighten or renew the lower ball joint. 

(3)  Noise  in  the  suspension  unit:  Renew  the 

faulty suspension unit, preferably in pairs. 

(4)  Worn or loose steering gear: Overhaul the 

steering gear assembly. 

(5)  Worn front hub bearings: Renew the hub 

bearings: 

(6)  Loose or defective stabilizer bar, control arm 

or mountings: Check, tighten or renew the mounting 
rubbers. 

 

Check the ball joints for wear and deterioration. 

(7)  Worn stabilizer bar link ball joints: Renew 

the stabilizer bar links. 

(8)  Drive  shafts  worn  or  insufficiently   lubri- 

cated: Check the lubricant and the dust boots and 
renew as necessary. 

(9) 

Drive  shaft  splines  in  the  hub  or the 

differential worn or damaged: Check and renew as 
necessary.

 

NOTE: To check the front suspension com- 
ponents for wear, raise the front of the 
vehicle, support it on chassis stands and 
allow both front wheel to hang free. With an 
assistant pushing and pulling the front 
wheels in and out at the top and then at the 
bottom, check for excessive looseness at the 
front hub bearings and lower control arm 
inner pivot bushes. Noise or vibration in the 
front end can also be caused by excessive 
tire or wheel unbalance. Drive shaft joint 
noise is usually more pronounced when 
moving slowly with the steering on full lock.

 

POOR OR ERRATIC ROAD HOLDING 

ABILITY

 

(1) 

Low or uneven tire pressures: Inflate the 

tires to the recommended pressures.

 

(2)  Defective suspension unit: Renew the faulty 

unit, preferably in pairs.