Power Steering Rack

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the power steering rack on a 2014 Ram 2500 with 6.7L Cummins diesel and 4WD, including tie rod disconnection, steering column coupling separation, and hydraulic line service.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Power steering rack assembly × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Steering rack O-ring kit × 1 — Includes pressure and return line O-rings
• Tie rod end cotter pins × 2 — Standard automotive cotter pins
• Steering column coupler bolt × 1 — Use OEM specification if reuse not permitted

Fluids

• Mopar ATF+4 — 1.5 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and set parking brake
2. Center steering wheel and secure with steering wheel holder or use ignition lock
3. Disconnect negative battery cable and wait 2 minutes for airbag system capacitor discharge
4. Raise and support vehicle on jack stands at all four corners, ensuring sufficient working height underneath
5. Remove front wheels using 22mm socket
6. Place drain pans under steering rack area to catch power steering fluid
7. Apply penetrating oil to tie rod end castle nuts and steering column coupler bolt if corrosion is present

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove front skid plate and access panels
   Remove the front skid plate fasteners and lower the skid plate to access the steering rack mounting area. On 4WD models, this may require removing multiple fasteners around the perimeter. Set aside hardware for reinstallation.
2. 2

   Disconnect tie rod ends from knuckles
   Remove the cotter pins from both tie rod end castle nuts and discard. Using a 19mm socket, loosen the castle nuts but leave them threaded on a few turns. Use a tie rod separator tool to break the taper connection between the tie rod end and steering knuckle. Remove the castle nuts and separate the tie rod ends from the knuckles. Support the tie rods to prevent damage to boots.
   ⚠Leave castle nut threaded on tie rod stud during separation to prevent sudden release and potential injury.
3. 3

   Mark and measure tie rod positions
   Before removing tie rods from the rack, measure and record the exposed thread length on each tie rod from the jam nut to the tie rod end. Mark the tie rod position relative to the inner tie rod or rack housing with paint or scribe marks. This will allow approximate reassembly to minimize alignment changes. Loosen jam nuts on both tie rods.
4. 4

   Disconnect steering column coupler
   Locate the steering column intermediate shaft coupler at the steering rack input shaft. Mark the relationship between the coupler and rack pinion shaft with paint for reassembly reference. Remove the coupler pinch bolt using a 13mm socket. Use a small pry bar if necessary to spread the coupler slightly and slide it off the rack input shaft. Move the steering column shaft upward and secure away from work area.
   ⚠️Verify steering wheel is locked in center position before disconnecting coupler to prevent clockspring damage.
5. 5

   Disconnect power steering pressure and return lines
   Position drain pan directly under power steering line connections at the rack. Using appropriate line wrenches to prevent rounding, disconnect the high-pressure line fitting from the rack first, then disconnect the return line fitting. Allow fluid to drain completely. Cap or plug the lines and rack ports immediately to prevent contamination. Remove and discard old O-rings from fittings.
   ⚠Use line wrenches (flare nut wrenches) to prevent rounding the soft brass fittings. Standard open-end wrenches will likely damage fittings.
6. 6

   Remove steering rack mounting hardware
   Locate the steering rack mounting bolts securing the rack to the front crossmember. There are typically two or four bolts depending on the rack mount configuration. Using an 18mm socket and ratchet, remove all steering rack mounting bolts while supporting the rack assembly. Note the position of any spacers, brackets, or heat shields for correct reinstallation.
   ⚠Steering rack assembly weighs approximately 30-40 lbs. Support the rack before removing final mounting bolt to prevent dropping.
7. 7

   Remove steering rack assembly
   With all mounting bolts removed and lines disconnected, carefully maneuver the steering rack assembly out from the driver side of the vehicle. The rack must be angled and rotated to clear the crossmember, suspension components, and frame rails. Take care not to damage the rack boots or inner tie rod connections during removal. If tie rods are still attached, they will need to swing through the wheel well area during removal.
8. 8

   Prepare new steering rack for installation
   Remove protective caps from the new steering rack ports. Install new O-rings onto the power steering line fittings, lubricating lightly with ATF+4 fluid. If reusing tie rods, transfer them to the new rack in the same position as marked and measured earlier, tightening jam nuts finger-tight only at this stage. Verify the rack is in the centered position by measuring equal tie rod travel in each direction, or turn lock-to-lock and center from there.
9. 9

   Install steering rack assembly
   Maneuver the new steering rack into position from the driver side, reversing the removal path. Align the rack mounting holes with the crossmember mounting points. Install all rack mounting bolts finger-tight initially, ensuring any spacers or brackets are correctly positioned. Once all bolts are started, torque the mounting bolts in a cross pattern to specification.
   ℹ️Verify which torque specification applies to your specific rack mounting configuration. Some vehicles use 101 lb-ft bolts while others use 74 lb-ft depending on bolt size and mount type.
10. 10

    Reconnect power steering lines
    With new O-rings installed and lightly lubricated, connect the return line fitting to the rack first, then the high-pressure line. Thread fittings by hand initially to ensure proper engagement and prevent cross-threading. Use line wrenches to torque fittings to specification. Ensure lines are properly routed without kinks or interference with suspension travel.
11. 11

    Reconnect steering column coupler
    Align the steering column intermediate shaft coupler with the rack input shaft, matching the marks made during disassembly. Ensure the coupler fully engages the splines on the rack pinion shaft. Install the new or reused pinch bolt and torque to specification (verify in service manual as not provided in torque list). Verify there is no binding through the steering range.
12. 12

    Reconnect tie rod ends to knuckles
    Position tie rod ends into the steering knuckle tapers. Install castle nuts and tighten to specification. Continue tightening as necessary to align cotter pin holes (do not loosen to align). Install new cotter pins and bend tabs properly to secure. Tighten tie rod jam nuts to secure the tie rod adjustment.
13. 13

    Reinstall skid plate and wheels
    Reinstall the front skid plate and secure all fasteners. Install front wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts in a star pattern. Lower vehicle until wheels contact ground but not bearing full weight. Torque lug nuts to specification in star pattern, then lower vehicle completely and perform final lug nut torque verification.
14. 14

    Fill and bleed power steering system
    Fill power steering reservoir with Mopar ATF+4 to the cold fill level. With engine off and steering wheel unlocked, turn steering wheel lock-to-lock slowly 10-15 times to purge air from system. Add fluid as needed. Start engine and allow to idle. Turn steering wheel lock-to-lock several times while engine is running, checking for leaks at all connections. Add fluid to bring level to hot mark. Check for proper steering operation and any unusual noises indicating air in system.
    ⚠Do not hold steering wheel at full lock for more than 2-3 seconds as this can overheat power steering fluid and damage pump.

Reassembly

1. Reconnect negative battery cable and verify no airbag warning lights after steering system test
2. Recheck all fasteners for proper torque after test drive
3. Verify power steering fluid level after system reaches operating temperature
4. Inspect all power steering line connections for leaks after initial operation

Verification

• Test drive vehicle and verify steering operates smoothly without binding or unusual noises
• Check for power steering leaks at all line connections and rack seals after test drive
• Verify steering wheel returns to center properly after turns
• Confirm no airbag warning lights are present on instrument cluster
• Schedule front end alignment as soon as possible to verify toe settings and prevent tire wear
• Recheck power steering fluid level when system is at operating temperature and top off if needed
• Verify steering wheel is properly centered when driving straight

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