Hi, I've been having some problems with my 98 Stratus with the 2.4L engine. Power steering quit on me and I have to replace the pump, steering rack and pressure hose. The fluid was black with some metal shavings in it.... bad. I was able to install the pump but how do you replace the steering rack? the book vaguely explains how to do it but I don't know what to do. So far I have removed the screw in the floorboard, both steering ball joints( forget what they are called...) I'm stuck, I have loosened some bolts in the suspension crossmember but no go (probably not the right ones..) .. Any ideas?

with the suspension crossmember off, I'm going to install a header designed for a neon. Is there a way to reroute the pressure hose or is it going to be ok sitting where it is?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-99...item5addf68319

I know its a lot to ask but anything is appreciated.
Thank you kindly

 

POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY
REMOVE
Remove remote ground cable Remote Ground Cable At Shock Tower from ground stud on shock tower. Then correctly isolate ground cable from vehicle by installing isolator on stud Correctly Isolated Remote Ground Cable
Siphon as much power steering fluid as possible from the remote power steering fluid reservoir.
From interior of vehicle, remove the retaining pin from the intermediate shaft coupler pinch bolt Intermediate Shaft Coupler To Steering Gear Attachment Then remove the pinch bolt Intermediate Shaft Coupler To Steering Gear Attachment from the intermediate shaft coupler and the separate intermediate shaft coupler, from steering gear shaft.
Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting in the Lubrication and Maintenance section of this manual, for the required lifting procedure to be used for this vehicle.
Remove both front wheel and tire assemblies from the vehicle.
Remove nuts attaching both outer tie rod ends to the steering knuckles Removing Tie Rod End Nut Nuts are to be removed from tie rod ends using the following procedure, hold tie rod end stud with an 11/32 socket, while loosening and removing nut with wrench Removing Tie Rod End Nut
Remove both tie rod end studs, from the steering knuckles, using Remover, Special Tool MB-991113 Tie Rod End Removal From Steering Knuckle
CAUTION: This vehicles is designed and assembled using NET BUILD front suspension alignment settings. This means that front suspension alignment settings are determined as the vehicle is designed by the location of front suspension components in relation to the vehicle body. This process is carried out when building the vehicle, by accurately locating the front suspension crossmember to master gage holes located in the underbody of the vehicle. With this method of designing and building a vehicle, it is no longer necessary or possible to adjust a vehicles front suspension alignment settings. Consequently, whenever the front suspension crossmember is removed from a vehicle, it MUST be replaced in the same location on the body of the vehicle it was removed from. Front suspension Toe settings though are still adjustable by the outer tie rod ends.

CAUTION: Before removing the front suspension crossmember from the vehicle, locating marks for the front suspension crossmember MUST be scribed on the front suspension crossmember and body of vehicle. This must be done so front suspension crossmember can be located against body of vehicle, in the same location when it is installed back in vehicle. If location of front suspension crossmember to body of vehicle is not maintained when vehicle is assembled, NET BUILD front suspension alignment settings will not be obtained. This may lead to handling and or tire wear problems.

NOTE: Use the following procedure to mark the side to side and front to back installed location of the front suspension crossmember to the body of the vehicle.

Using an awl, scribe a line on the body Front Suspension Crossmember Front To Back Locating Mark (Left Side Front) and Front Suspension Crossmember Front To Back Locating Mark (Left Side Rear) marking the front to back installed location where the front suspension crossmember is mounted against the body of the vehicle. The line should be scribed at both the front and back of where the crossmember is mounted to the vehicle and on each side of the vehicle. In Front Suspension Crossmember Front To Back Locating Mark (Left Side Front) and Front Suspension Crossmember Front To Back Locating Mark (Left Side Rear) the left side of the vehicle is shown.
Using an awl, scribe a line on the front suspension crossmember Front Suspension Crossmember Side To Side Locating Mark marking the side to side installed location where front suspension crossmember is mounted against the body of the vehicle. The line should be scribed at the side of the frame rail bracket Front Suspension Crossmember Side To Side Locating Mark where the crossmember is mounted to the vehicle. The locating mark is to be marked the same on each side of the vehicle. In Front Suspension Crossmember Side To Side Locating Mark the left side of the vehicle is shown.
Remove the stabilizer bar bushing clamp to body attaching bolts only Stabilizer Bar Bushing Clamp Attaching Bolts The sway bar bushing clamp to front suspension crossmember bolts Stabilizer Bar Bushing Clamp Attaching Bolts do not need to be removed.
If vehicle is equipped with antilock brakes, the hydraulic control unit can not hang from the brake tubes when lowering front suspension crossmember. Using wire, tie the antilock brakes hydraulic control unit to the body and engine so the wire will support it when the crossmember is lowered.
If vehicle is equipped with antilock brakes, remove the 3 bolts attaching the antilock brakes hydraulic control unit to the front suspension crossmember.
Remove the bolts attaching the shock absorber clevis to the left and right lower control arms Shock Clevis To Lower Control Arm Bolts
Remove the 2 bolts attaching the under engine support bracket Engine Support Bracket To Crossmember Attaching Bolts to the front edge of the front suspension crossmember.
Remove the 2 attaching bolts from the rear support bracket Rear Support Bracket Attachment To Crossmember at the rear of the front suspension crossmember.
Remove bolt Engine Support Bracket To Transaxle Bracket Bolt attaching engine support bracket to the transaxle mounting bracket.
Position a transmission jack under the center of the front suspension crossmember. Transmission jack is used to lower, support and raise front suspension crossmember when removing steering gear assembly.
From each side of the vehicle, remove the 2 bolts attaching the front and rear of the front suspension crossmember to the frame rails of vehicle Crossmember To Body Attaching Bolts
Using transmission jack, lower front suspension crossmember enough to allow steering gear to be removed from crossmember. When lowering front suspension crossmember, do not let crossmember hang from lower control arms, weight of crossmember must be supported by the transmission jack.
Remove power steering fluid, pressure and return hoses from the power steering gear assembly Power Steering Pressure And Return Hose At Steering Gear
Remove wiring harness connector, Power Steering Pressure And Return Hose At Steering Gear from the power steering fluid pressure switch.
Remove the 2 bolts, at the isolators Steering Gear Rear Mounting Isolator Bolt and Steering Gear Front Mounting Bolt attaching the steering gear assembly to front suspension crossmember. Then remove the 2 bolts attaching the steering gear saddle bracket Steering Gear Saddle Bracket Mounting Bolts to the front suspension crossmember. Remove the steering gear assembly from the front suspension crossmember.
Transfer required parts from removed steering gear assembly to the replacement steering gear, if a new steering gear is being installed.
INSTALL
Install steering gear assembly on front suspension crossmember. Install the 2 long steering gear assembly to front crossmember mounting bolts Steering Gear Rear Mounting Isolator Bolt and Steering Gear Front Mounting Bolt into the mounting isolators. Then install the 2 short bolts Steering Gear Saddle Bracket Mounting Bolts into the saddle bracket. Tighten the 4 steering gear mounting bolts to a torque of 68 N·m (50 ft. lbs.)
Install the power steering fluid pressure and return lines on the ports of the power steering gear Power Steering Pressure And Return Hose At Steering Gear Tighten power steering fluid pressure and return lines to steering gear tube nuts Power Steering Pressure And Return Hose At Steering Gear to a torque of 31 N·m (275 in. lbs.)
Using transmission jack, raise front suspension crossmember and steering gear against body of vehicle. Start the 2 rear bolts Crossmember To Body Attaching Bolts into tapping plates, attaching front suspension crossmember to body of vehicle. Then install the 2 front bolts, Crossmember To Body Attaching Bolts attaching front suspension crossmember to frame rails of vehicle. Tighten the 4 mounting bolts evenly, until front suspension crossmember is against body of vehicle at the 4 mounting points. Then torque the 4 mounting bolts to 2 N·m (20 in. lbs.) to hold front suspension crossmember in position
CAUTION: When front suspension crossmember is installed back in vehicle, crossmember MUST be aligned with positioning marks previously scribed into body of vehicle. This MUST be done to maintain NET BUILD front suspension alignment settings.

Using a soft face hammer, tap front suspension crossmember into position, until it is aligned with the previously scribed positioning marks on body of vehicle Front Suspension Crossmember Front To Back Locating Mark (Left Side Front) , Front Suspension Crossmember Front To Back Locating Mark (Left Side Rear) and Front Suspension Crossmember Side To Side Locating Mark When front suspension crossmember is correctly positioned, torque the 2 rear crossmember mounting bolts to 163 N·m (120 ft. lbs.) Then torque the 2 front crossmember to frame rail attaching bolts to 163 N·m (120 ft. lbs.)
Install the engine support bracket on the front of the front suspension crossmember Engine Support Bracket To Crossmember Attaching Bolts Install the 2 support bracket to suspension crossmember attaching bolts and tighten to a torque of 75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
Install bolt Engine Support Bracket To Transaxle Bracket Bolt attaching engine support bracket to transaxle mounting bracket. Tighten bolt to a torque of 75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
Install the 2 bolts attaching the rear support bracket, for the under engine support bracket Rear Support Bracket Attachment To Crossmember , to the rear of the front suspension crossmember. Tighten bolts to a torque of 75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
Install vehicle wiring harness connector Power Steering Pressure And Return Hose At Steering Gear onto power steering fluid pressure switch on steering gear assembly. Be sure locking tab on wiring harness connector is securely latched to pressure switch.
Install the antilock brakes hydraulic control unit mounting bracket on the front suspension crossmember. Install the 3 mounting bracket to crossmember attaching bolts and tighten to a torque of 28 N·m (250 in. lbs.)
Loosely install the 2 shock absorber clevis to lower control arm attaching nuts and bolts Shock Clevis To Lower Control Arm Bolts
Install tie rod seal boot heat shield Tie Rod End Removal From Steering Knuckle on tie rod end.
Install tie rod end into steering knuckle. Start tie rod end to steering knuckle attaching nut onto stud of tie rod end. While holding stud of tie rod end stationary, tighten tie rod end to steering knuckle attaching nut Tie Rod End Removal From Steering Knuckle Then using a crowfoot and 11/32 socket, torque tie rod end attaching nut to 61 N·m (45 ft. lbs.) Torquing Tie Rod End Attaching Nut
Install the 2 stabilizer bar bushing clamp to body attaching bolts Stabilizer Bar Bushing Clamp Attaching Bolts and securely tighten
CAUTION: When supporting lower control arm with jack stand, do not position jack stand under the ball joint cap on the lower control arm. Position in area of lower control arm shown in Lower Control Arm Correctly Supported By Jack Stand

Lower vehicle to the ground with a jack stand positioned under the lower control arm Lower Control Arm Correctly Supported By Jack Stand Continue to lower vehicle so the total weight of the vehicle is supported by the jack stand and lower control arm.
Tighten the shock absorber clevis to lower control arm bushing thru-bolt Shock Clevis To Lower Control Arm Bolts to a torque of 92 N·m (68 ft. lbs.)
Install the wheel and tire assemblies back on vehicle. Tighten the wheel nuts in proper sequence to a torque of 129 N·m (95 ft. lbs.) torque
CAUTION: Before connecting steering column intermediate shaft coupler onto steering gear shaft, front wheels must be pointed straight ahead and steering wheel must be in center position.

From interior of vehicle, reconnect the steering column intermediate shaft coupler on the steering gear shaft Intermediate Shaft Coupler To Steering Gear Attachment Install a new steering gear coupler retaining pinch bolt and torque to 27 N·m (240 in. lbs.) Be sure to install the upper to lower steering coupler retaining bolt, retention pin.
CAUTION: Do not use automatic transmission fluid.

Fill power steering pump fluid reservoir to the (Full-Cold) proper level.
Start the engine and let run for a few seconds. Then turn the engine off.
Add fluid if necessary.
Raise front wheels of vehicle off the ground.
Start engine and turn steering wheel several times from stop to stop to bleed air from fluid in system. Stop engine, check fluid level, and inspect system for leaks. Fill pump reservoir to correct level with Mopar®, Power Steering Fluid, or equivalent. See Checking Fluid Level.
Lower front wheels of vehicle back on the ground
CAUTION: During this procedure do not allow the steering gear inner tie rod boots to become twisted.

Check front alignment and adjust the front Toe setting on the vehicle.
Tighten tie rod jam nut to 74 N·m (55 ft.lbs.) torque.
Adjust steering gear to tie rod boots at tie rods.