Steering Wheel: Inspection

CONDITION OF INSTALLATION 

• Check installation condition of steering gear, front suspension, front drive shaft and steering column.
• Check if movement exists when steering wheel is moved up and down, to left and right and to axial direction.

  Steering wheel axial end play

  : Refer to Steering Wheel .

• Verify that the steering gear nuts are tightened to specification. Refer to Exploded View .

STEERING WHEEL PLAY 

1. Turn tires straight ahead, start engine, then turn steering wheel to the left and right lightly. Measure steering wheel movement on the outer circumference of the steering wheel when it is turned to the point where tires start moving.

   Steering wheel play

   : Refer to Steering Wheel .

NEUTRAL POSITION ON STEERING WHEEL 

• Check neutral position on steering wheel after confirming that front wheel alignment is correct. Refer to Inspection.

1. Turn tires straight ahead. Check if steering wheel is in the neutral position.
2. If it is not in the neutral position, remove steering wheel and reinstall it correctly.
3. If the neutral position cannot be attained by repositioning the steering wheel two teeth or less on steering stem, loosen tie-rod lock nuts of steering gear outer sockets, then adjust tie-rods by the same amount in the opposite direction.

STEERING WHEEL TURNING FORCE 

1. Park vehicle on a level, dry surface and set parking brake.
2. Start engine.
3. Bring power steering fluid up to operating temperature.
4. Verify that the tires are inflated to the specified pressure. Refer to Inspection .
5. Check steering wheel turning force using Tool when steering wheel has been turned 360° from the neutral position.

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   Tool number

   :- (NI-44372)

   Steering wheel turning force

   : Refer to Steering Wheel .

6. If steering wheel turning force is out of specification, inspect steering column. Refer to Inspection .
7. If steering column meets specification, inspect steering gear. Refer to Inspection .

CHECKING FRONT WHEEL TURNING ANGLE 

• Check front wheel turning angle after toe-in inspection. Place front wheels on turning radius gauges and rear wheels on stands. Check the maximum inner and outer wheel turning angles (LH/RH).

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• Measure the turning angles with the engine at idle, then turn the steering wheel from full left stop to full right stop and measure the turning angle. Refer to Wheel Alignment (Unladen *1) *6 .

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  Inner wheel angle (A)	: Refer to Wheel Alignment (Unladen *1) *6 .
  Outer wheel angle (B)	: Refer to Wheel Alignment (Unladen *1) *6 .

• Measure the rack stroke specification with vehicle in neutral position. Refer to Steering Gear .

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  Rack stroke in neutral position (L)

  : Refer to Steering Gear .