First Crash in Simi Valley of 2009!

[1987rangerxlt]

What a pain!

I try lifting the gear box into place and put one bolt in to hold it but when I get back on top I see that the splines part did not go into the clamp and in the process of trying to get that in the whole thing fell on the ground.

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Steering Gear, Power Steering Pump

I looked at some of the splines on the steering gear and they are damaged. I'm pretty sure I didn't do this when taking it off so it must have happened in the accident.

It's difficult to work on from the ground so I'm planning on taking the power steering pump out and working on it from the top. How can I get the belt wheel off of the power steering pump so the pump can be removed?

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Sorry God

I guess I'm off to the library again since I can't find my book.

 

[Psychopete]

It's difficult to work on from the ground so I'm planning on taking the power steering pump out and working on it from the top. How can I get the belt wheel off of the power steering pump so the pump can be removed?

It's pressed on. You need a power steering pulley remover / installer kit. I think I paid $40 for mine off of Ebay. Alternatively, just remove the whole bracket with the PS pump attached. It's possible you might be able to rent one.

Pete

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Puller

I thought taking the whole bracket off but I think the air conditioner compressor would come off too so I'm kinda reluctant to do that.

I borrowed a puller from Kragen Auto parts to get Pittman Arm off. Do you think I can use the same puller to get the wheel off the power steering pump?

 

[Psychopete]

Ack, A/C. Mine wasn't equipped with it from the factory, but it really isn't that necessary here.

Do you think I can use the same puller to get the wheel off the power steering pump?

I doesn't seem like it, the steering pump pulley has a ridge (very end of the pulley outside of the shaft) that the tool grabs on to and pulls it off the shaft. The big thing is that is has to be pulled and installed as strait as possible.

Pete

 

[1987rangerxlt]

The Bracket it is!

I'm not going to deal with pressed on wheels. The bracket will come off with the A/C compressor and the power steering pump without disconnecting the hoses. No freon will escape that way.

Then I'll just buy a new fender and no one will know the difference!

 

[1987rangerxlt]

I think it would be easier to disconnect some of the eletrical wiring looms but I don't have the tool to separate the couplings. Anyone know where I can get one?

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Wiring

I'll have to disconnect the wiring looms that go to the left fender wall. Where do I get a tool to disconnect the couplings?

 

[1987rangerxlt]

If all else fails, read the directions...

1. I had trouble lifting the new steering gear up and getting it into the splines of the coupler on the steering shaft so I planned on working from the top.

2. The electrical loom was blocking the work area and I planned on removing the wires so I could work from the top but since I couldn't get the connectors apart I gave up on that.

3. I decided to look at the repairs section here on The Ranger Station and found an article where the gear box was rebuilt and an explanation on how to get it out by removing a connection further up on the steering shaft which see http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Fall2008/steering_box_rebuild.htm Now I'll be able to get the splines connected outside of the car.

Wish me luck.

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Automotive Nuts and Bolts

Is there a reason all the nuts and bolts are black in my Ranger's engine? Does that mean they're hardened?

In an attempt to get the upper half of the steering shaft off I lost a nut and when I found a hardware store with the right size the person behind the counter said it didn't matter that automotive nuts and bolts are black and the ones he has are silver. I thought automotive nuts were hardened.

Am I going to die from using this nut the hardware store sold me on my steering shaft?

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Found it!

The day started out okay with the daylight I was able to find the nut I dropped and I put the steering gear box in and tightened it up although one bolt seemed to have gotten stripped and won't tighten. Hopefully I won't die.

I attempted to take the core back to the auto parts store but they wouldn't give me my $90 back because the splines on the part that connects to the Pitman arm are damaged.

I attempted to get the hoses that were sold to me replaced since they weren't exactly matching the old ones but the dealership said they've been discontinued. I'll have to make due with the ones from the parts store.

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Core Charge

I went to another company's store and they suggested that if I had bought the steering gear there they could have given me a partial refund on the core charge for the damaged steering gear.

A day later, I went to a differnet branch of the store that sold me the part and they took the core back with no questions asked.

I was riding the bus and another rider was looking through a classified ads for a car. It made me more determined to just fix this truck.

Today is the day!

 

[1987rangerxlt]

splines

The Pittman arm is hard to get on the splines of the steering gear while connected to those bars that come from the front wheels so I'm planning on disconnecting it from there and putting it on the steering gear by itself.

Can anyone think of any reason not to do that?

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Another Idea

I was just thinking that if I lower the front end, with the two wheels on the ground, it might change the alignment of the splines on the Pittman arm and it will go right on!

Any thoughts?