Steering Gearbox Removal

Special Tools Required 

• Ball Joint Thread Protector, 12 mm 07AAF-SDAA100
• Ball Joint Remover, 32 mm 07MAC-SL0A102

Note these items during removal:

• Using clean solvent and a brush, wash any oil and dirt off the valve body unit, its lines, and the end of the gearbox. Blow dry with compressed air.
• Make sure to remove the steering wheel before disconnecting the steering joint. Damage to the cable reel can occur.

1. Remove the left and right upper fender trim and left upper trim (see UPPER FENDER TRIM REPLACEMENT ).
2. Drain the power steering fluid (see FLUID CHECK/REPLACEMENT  ).
3. Do the battery terminal disconnection procedure (see BATTERY TERMINAL DISCONNECTION AND RECONNECTION ).
4. Raise and support the vehicle (see LIFT AND SUPPORT POINTS ).
5. Remove the front wheels.
6. Remove the relay box (A), then release the wire harness clips.
   Fig 1: Removing Relay Box

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
7. Remove the front strut brace (see FRAME BRACE REPLACEMENT ).
8. Center the steering wheel spokes, and install a commercially available steering wheel holder tool (A).
   Fig 2: Installing Steering Wheel Holder Tool

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
9. Remove steering joint cover A.
   Fig 3: Removing Steering Joint Cover

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
10. Loosen the upper steering joint bolt (A), and remove the lower steering joint bolt (B). Disconnect the steering joint (C) by sliding the steering joint into the steering shaft (D). Tighten the upper steering joint bolt to hold the steering joint in place.
    Fig 4: Identifying Upper Steering Joint Bolt

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
11. Remove the center guide (A) (if equipped) from the top of the pinion shaft.
    Fig 5: Removing Center Guide

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
12. Remove steering joint cover B. Be careful not to damage the mating surface on joint cover and the pinion shaft grommet. Replace the cover seal (C) if necessary.
13. Remove the pinion shaft grommet (A) from the top of the valve body unit.
    Fig 6: Removing Pinion Shaft Grommet From Top Of Valve Body Unit

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
14. Wrap vinyl tape (B) over the splines on the pinion shaft.
15. Remove the cotter pin (A) from the tie-rod end ball joint, then remove the nut (B).
    Fig 7: Removing Cotter Pin From Tie-Rod End Ball Joint

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
16. Disconnect the tie-rod ball joint from the knuckle using the ball joint thread protector and the ball joint remover on both sides (see BALL JOINT REMOVAL ).
17. Remove the nuts (A) from the rear engine mount.
    Fig 8: Removing Nuts From Rear Engine Mount

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
18. Remove the rear engine mount (A) and the engine mount vacuum hose holder mounting bolt (B) on the gearbox stiffener.
    Fig 9: Removing Rear Engine Mount

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
19. Disconnect the engine mount vacuum hose (C) from the rear engine mount.
20. Remove the inlet line holder mounting bolt (A) and A/T shift cable holder mounting bolt (B) on the gearbox stiffener.
    Fig 10: Removing Inlet Line Holder Mounting Bolt And A/T Shift Cable Holder Mounting Bolt

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
21. Disconnect the return hose from the clamp (C).
22. Remove the inlet line holder mounting bolt (A) and return line holder mounting bolt (B) on the gearbox.
    Fig 11: Removing Inlet Line Holder Mounting Bolt

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
23. Disconnect the ECPS valve motor connector (A).
    Fig 12: Disconnecting ECPS Valve Motor Connector

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
24. Place several shop towels under the line connections, and cover the gearbox mounting cushion to protect it from the power steering fluid. Loosen the adjustable hose clamp (A), and disconnect the return hose (B).
    Fig 13: Disconnecting Return Hose

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
25. Loosen the 14 mm flare nut (C), and disconnect the inlet line (D).
26. Remove the return line joint (A) from the steering gearbox.
    Fig 14: Removing Return Line Joint From Steering Gearbox

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
27. Remove the P/S heat shield (A).
    Fig 15: Removing P/S Heat Shield

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
28. Remove the gearbox stiffener (A) and the dynamic damper (B).
    Fig 16: Removing Gearbox Stiffener And Dynamic Damper

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
29. Remove the steering gearbox mounting bolt (A) and washer (B) from the passenger's side gearbox mount.
    Fig 17: Removing Steering Gearbox Mounting Bolt

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
30. Remove the steering gearbox mounting bolt (A) and washer (B) from the driver's side gearbox mount.
    Fig 18: Removing Steering Gearbox Mounting Bolt

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
31. Remove the 4-way brake line joint bolts (A). Do not disconnect the lines. Then disconnect the brake pressure sensor connectors (B) (with ACC).

    With ACC: 

    Fig 19: Disconnecting Brake Pressure Sensor Connectors With Acc

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

    Without ACC: 

    Fig 20: Disconnecting Brake Pressure Sensor Connectors Without Acc

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
32. Move the steering gearbox to the passenger's side, and rotate it so the pinion shaft points toward the front of the vehicle.
    Fig 21: Identifying Pinion Shaft Points

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
33. Carefully move the steering gearbox as an assembly toward the driver's side of the vehicle until the pinion shaft clears the wheelwell opening. Be careful not to damage the brake lines with the pinion shaft.
    Fig 22: Identifying Steering Gearbox

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
34. Lift the passenger's side of the gearbox, and remove the steering gearbox through the wheelwell opening on the driver's side as shown by the arrow.
    Fig 23: Removing Steering Gearbox Through Wheelwell Opening On Driver's Side

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
35. After removing the steering gearbox, make sure that no power steering fluid gets on the gearbox mount cushions, the gearbox housing, the surface of the front suspension subframe, and the stiffener. Wipe off any spilled fluid at once.