Genuine Volvo S40 Rack and Pinions

Volvo S40 Rack and Pinions Parts and Q&A

• Steering Gear
  36002017
  Q: How to remove and refit the steering rack and pinions on Volvo S40?

  A:

  To take out the steering rack, first drive the car forward and park with the steering wheels straight, and take out the ignition key so as to lock the steering. Next, remove the lower facia panel on the driver's side and remove the steering column lower gaiter. Undo the pinch-bolt and pull the joint upwards from the pinion being sure to discharge the column adjustment lever prior to removing the joint. Discard the pinch-bolt, and get ready to fit another. Loosen the front wheel nuts, chock the rear wheels, jack up the front of the vehicle and make it ride on axle stands before removing both front roadwheels. Slacken and remove the bolt that secures the driveshaft to the hub at each end, and push the driveshaft through the hub about 10 to 15mm as you have an assistant depress the brake pedal to prevent the hub rotating. Discard the bolts, and get new bolts ready to use. Remove undershield of the engine by undoing 7 Torx screws and measure the length of track rod on one side with respect to the steering rack housing. Remove the steering track rod end balljoint from the hub carrier with a balljoint separator tool if required. Slacken off the nut on the suspension Control Arm balljoint until it is level with the end of the shank and then detach it with a separator tool, while preventing it from rotating with an Allen key. Use a stout bar to lever downwards on the control arm, being careful not to damage the dust cover. Undo the bolts that hold the steering rack to the subframe and hang the rack from the body of the car using string or cable ties. Next, remove the nuts at the bottom of the anti-roll bar links to the bar, then place a good trolley jack under the subframe. Remove the bolt at lower rear of engine holding lower torque rod, undo bolts holding front of subframe to body, bearing in mind that new mounting bolts will be needed for refitting Unhook the exhaust system rubber mountings, disconnect the oxygen sensor wiring and remove bolts holding the rear mounting brackets to the subframe and body, recovering the washers and noting new bolts will be required. Carefully lower the subframe, undo the retaining bolt, remove the fluid pipe unions from the steering rack and be ready for fluid spillage and seal the openings to avoid contaminating. Discard the old o-ring seals and replace with new ones. Loosen the ties and maneuver the steering rack from side to side from the engine compartment. For refitting, set the length of the track rod to the above-mentioned previously recorded length, manipulate the steering rack into place and engage the steering shaft universal joint with the pinion shaft. Refit the fluid pipes using new o-ring seals and firmly tighten the retaining bolts. Raise the subframe up and into place, fit the steering rack bolts, and fit the rear mounting brackets to the body, putting in new front and rear subframe mounting bolts and hand-tightening them. Check the alignment of the subframe with round tools or wooden dowels, and then tighten all bolts of the subframe to the recommended torque. Fit the new universal joint's pinch-bolt and tighten to the specified torque, and complete the refitting by fitting all the fasteners to their specified torque, bleeding the power steering system and having the front wheel alignment checked at the earliest opportunity.
• Steering Gear
  36002020
  Q: How to maintain the efficiency of Rack And Pinions in your power steering fluid reservoir on Volvo S40?

  A:

  Make sure you apply the handbrake. The power steering fluid reservoir is on the right hand side of the engine compartment, just behind the headlight, which must be removed. Clean around the neck of the reservoir filler and remove the filler cap/dipstick. The amount of fluid in it can be seen through the reservoir body, use a torch to get a better view if needed. If topping up is required, use clean fluid of the correct type and check for leaks if frequent topping up is required, so as not to run the engine without fluid in the reservoir. After component renewal or if fluid level has sunk low enough to admit air to the hydraulic system, fill up reservoir to proper level. Start the engine and rotate the Steering Wheel from full lock in one direction to full lock in the other direction five times and top up the fluid level as needed. Turn the steering wheel slowly to as far left as you can go, then as far as far as you can go to the right and hold it there for 2-3 seconds. Repeat turning the steering wheel to the full left lock position 5 times and then to the full right lock position holding it there for 2-3 seconds. Top up the fluid level again if needed and repeat the previous steps until the steering operation is good. When finished, shut the engine off, check the fluid level again and put the headlight back on.