Durango 4WD V8-5.9L VIN Z (1998)
Steering Gear: Description and Operation
A recirculating ball type gears is used on this vehicle. The gear has a variable ratio of 16 - 13 to 1.
The gear acts as a rolling thread between the worm shaft and rack piston. The worm shaft is supported by a thrust bearing at the lower end and a bearing
assembly at the upper end. When the worm shaft is turned the rack piston moves. The rack piston teeth mesh with the pitman shaft. Turning the worm
shaft turns the pitman shaft, which turns the steering linkage.
CAUTION: Components attached with a nut and cotter pin must be first torqued to specification. If the slot in the nut does not line up with the cotter
pin hole, tighten nut until it is aligned. Never loosen the nut to align the cotter pin hole.
