Rack And Pinion Replacement 2001 Gmc Sierra 1500

[teachmeauto]

If you need to see a video of how to do this, send me a PM and I will point you in the right direction. Here are the tools needed and a step by step process to replace the rack and pinion on a 2001 GMC Sierra 1500.

 

Tools Needed

JackJack Stands

2 Wheel Chocks

New Rack and Pinion that includes inner tie rods

2 new outer tie rod ends

Drain Pan to catch Power Steering Fluid

7/8 socket and ratchet to remove the lug nuts

15mm socket and ratchet to remove the splash shield bolts

18mm socket and ratchet to remove the outer tie rod nuts

19mm socket and ratchet to install the new outer tie rod nuts

22mm wrench to loosen the jam nut on the tie rod

Hammer

Screwdriver (Flat Head)

Safety Glasses

Shop Light

Marking Pen to mark the relationship of the steering shaft to the steering gear

Pickle fork to remove the outer tie rods

Rope or bungee cord to secure the steering wheel

Power Steering fluid

18mm line wrech to remove the power steering lines

7/16 socket and ratchet to remove the pinch bolt from the steering shaft

Channel Locks to hold the washer nut on the stabilizer bar link

13mm socket and ratchet to loosen the stabilizer bar link bolt

10mm wrench for the stabilizer bar bracket bolts

15/16 socket and ratchet AND a 15/16 open end wrench to remove the rack and pinion bolts

13mm wrench to remove the rack and pinion ground strap

Torque wrench to torque all bolts to specifications

Pliers to bend the cotter pins on the outer tie rods

8mm socket and ratchet to tighten the grease fittings on the outer tie rods

Grease Gun Step by Step Procedure

 

1) Apply Emergency Brake

 

2) Place wheel chocks behind both rear tires

 

3) Remove Center Cap on wheel to access lug nuts.

 

4) Break loose the 6 lugs on BOTH front tires by loosening 1/4 to 1/2 turn.

 

5) Jack up vehicle.

 

6) Position jack stands on frame.

 

7) Lower vehicle on jackstands. NEVER WORK UNDER A VEHICLE ONLY SUPPORTED BY A JACK.

 

8) Remove all 6 lugnuts on both front wheels.

 

9) Remove both wheels and slide these under the vehicle.

 

10) Remove the splash shield by removing the 5 bolts securing it.

 

11) Pop the hood and mark the relationship of the steering gear and the steering shaft.

 

12) Tie the steerign wheel up using a bungee cord or rope. Do not let the steering wheel freely turn as it can damge components in the steering column.

 

13) Use a 7/16" socket and ratchet and remove the pinch bolt on the steering shaft.

 

14) Slide the steering shafft off the steering gear.

 

15) On the passenger side, using a 22mm wrench loosen the jam nut a couple turns so that its no longer tight the outer tie rod

 

16 ) On the passenger side, use an 18mm socket and ratchet to remove the outer tie rod from the knuckle.

 

17) Use a pickle fork and hammer to knock the outer tie rod from the knuckle.

 

18) When removing the outer tie rod, count (and keep track of) the number of turns it takes to remove it.

 

19) Move to the drivers side and using a 22mm wrench break loose the jam nut. Loosen it a couple turns so that its no longer tight the outer tie rod.

 

20) On the drivers side, use an 18mm socket and ratchet to remove the outer tie rod from the knuckle.

 

21) Use a pickle fork and hammer to knock the outer tie rod from the knuckle.

 

22) When removing the outer tie rod from the drivers side, also count (and keep track of) the number of turns it takes to remove it.

 

23) Position a catch pan underneath the steering gear to catch any fluid that drains after the lines are disconnected.

 

24) Use the 18mm line wrench to remove the power steering lines from the steering gear and tuck out of the way.

 

25) Loosen the stabilier bar by positioning channel locks on the washer type nut located on top and holding it. Then use the 13mm socket and ratchet to turn the bolt on the bottom. It just needs to be loose enough to drop the stabilizer bar down to access the rack and pinion bolts. This needs to be done on the drivers side and passneger side.

 

26) Once those are loose, use the 10mm socket and ratchet to loosen and remove the bolts securing the stabilizer bar brackets.

 

27) Once the brackets are removed, you should be able to drop the stabilizer bar down.

 

28) Use the 13mm socket and ratchet to remove the grounding strap from the rack and pinion to the cross member.

 

29) Using the 15/16 wrench and the 15/16 socket and ratchet, loosen the nuts and remove the bolts securing the rack and pinion to the cross member.

 

30) Slide the rack and pinion down to the floor.

 

31) Remove the grounding strap from the old rack and pinion and transfer it to the new one.

 

32) Remove the dust cover / caps from the new rack and pinion.

 

33) Take the new O-Rings that came with the new rack and pinion and replace the old ones on both power steering lines on the vehicle.

 

34) Slide the new rack and pinion under the vehicle, properly position it and re-install the bolts and washers / nuts. Tighten and torque both to 136 ft. lbs

 

35) Re-install grounding strap back to crossmember.

 

36) Put the stabilizer bar back into place and secure and tighten the bracket bolts. Torque to 24 ft. lbs.

 

37) Tighten the stabilizer bar link bolts on the driver and passenger sides. Torque to 48 ft. lbs

 

38) Connect the power steering lines to the new rack and pinion.

 

39) Tighten using the 18mm line wrench.

 

40) Reinstall the steering shaft to the steering gear.

 

41) Re-install the pinch bolt and torque to 33 ft lbs.

 

42) Remove the jam nuts on the old rack and pinion and install in the new one.

 

43) Install the new outer tie rod ends by turning the same amount of turn it took to remove the old one.

 

44) Tighten the jam nut.

 

45) Place the outer tie rod end through the knuckle and install the nut on the bottom. The nut for the new tie rod is a 19mm. Torque to 33 ft. lbs.

 

46) Install the new cotter pin and use pliers to bend the ends.

 

47) Install the grease fitting on the outer tie rod and tighten using an 8mm socket and ratchet.

 

48) Using the 22mm wrench, tighten the jam nut.

 

49) Move to the drivers side and reinstall the jam nut if havent already.

 

50) Install the new drivers side outer tie rod ends by turning the same amount of turn it took to remove the old one.

 

51) Tighten the jam nut.

 

52) Place the drivers side outer tie rod end through the knuckle and install the nut on the bottom. The nut for the new tie rod is a 19mm. Torque to 33 ft. lbs.

 

53) Install the new cotter pin and use pliers to bend the ends.

 

54) Install the grease fitting on the outer tie rod and tighten using an 8mm socket and ratchet.

 

55) Using the 22mm wrench, tighten the jam nut.

 

56) Add grease to the outer tie rod grease fittings.

 

57) Re-Install the splash shield with the 5 bolts.

 

58) Install both front wheels, tighten the lug nuts, and lower the vehicle to the ground

 

59) Torque the lug nuts to 140 ft lbs.

 

60) Remove the wheel chocks.

 

61) Add fresh power steering fluid to the full mark.

 

62) Crank the vehice and let if run for a few minutes while you remove the rope securing the steering wheel.

 

63) Recheck the power steering fluid and make sure its still at the full mark.

 

64) To bleed the power steering system, Turn the steering wheel back and forth without hitting the stops.