I finally got some time this evening to continue working on my 1990
Imperial. If you recall, in the last episode, I was attempting to remove
the steering rack from the car. I had removed everything neccessary but was
stuck on how to remove the rack from the steering shaft. Today, I remove
the roll pin that was holding them together and proceeded to try to slide
the U-jount off the rack. I never did accomplish this. While working at
it, about 5 inches of the steering shaft came apart from above the rack. I
hope this is ok. It looks like it was designed to do so. I still have to
remove the U-joint from the rack so I can install it on the new rack.
When I install the new rack, I HAVE TO replace the pressure hose but I think
since this is such a pain, I'm going to replace the return hose too.
The other problem I have at this point is that when I removed the right
drive axle, it came apart at the inner joint. I can't seem to get the rest
of the inner joint to come off the car. The right and left axles are the
same part so from looking the the left one, that came off like nobody's
business, it looks like it should just slide right off too. That isn't
happening.
If anyone has ideas on how to solve these little problems, I'm open to
suggestions.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brad Hogg" <roadhogg@xxxxxxx>
To: "Mopar Mailing List" <mml@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; "Imperial Mailing List"
<mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2002 10:28 PM
Subject: IML: 1990 Imperial Front End Work
> Today, I stopped by my local UAP-NAPA store and picked up the steering
rack
> and power steering pressure hose for my 1990 Imperial. I brought all that
> home and set to work taking the little Imperial apart. I since I have to
> replace the tie rod ends, ball joints, drive axles, brake rotors and
linings
> anyway, it was easy to just take the whole steering/drive/brake system
apart
> at once. So far, I've done the following...
>
> removed the tie rod ends from the steering knuckle
> unbolted the cross member that the rack is bolted to
> removed the ball joints from the steering knuckle
> removed the brake calipers and rotors
> removed the steering knuckles from the shock tower/struts
> removed the drive axles from the steering knuckles
> removed the drive axles from the transaxle
>
> Next, I have to...
>
> remove the rack U-joint from the steering column shaft (I can't see in
there
> to see how it is connected. It looks like a roll pin. is it?)
> remove the pressure and return lines from the rack
> remove the rack and cross member assy
> unbolt the rack from the cross member
> flush the PS pump etc. (do I just run the engine and turn the wheel to
> squirt out the old fluid and pour in fresh till it works through?)
> connect new pressure hose
> connect old return hose
> remove lower control arms from the cross member so I can take to my
mechanic
> and have new ball joints put in them (right?)
> reinstall lower control arms into cross member
> lift cross member and new rack into place and connect steering shaft at
> U-joint
> bolt in cross member
> install new drive axles into transaxle (how do these "click" in? they
just
> pulled out no problem)
> install drive axles into steering knuckle
> bolt steering knuckle to ball joint and shock tower/strut
> connect tie rod ends to steering knuckle
> install new rotors and brake linings
> install wheels
>
> And I think that's it. Did I miss anything?
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