The following procedure is recommended for the 1953 Buick Removal of Power Steering Unit from cars equipped with the V-8 engine. NOTE: Protect the left fender with a suitable cover.

  1. Remove battery cables from the battery.
  2. Remove the battery and battery heat deflector.
  3. Remove selector control rod from arm on shift safety switch.
  4. Remove the bolts securing the metal strip located on the rear end of the fender skirt in the wheel housing.
  5. Remove the nut securing the pitman arm to the pitman arm shaft. – Disconnect arm from shaft.
  6. Remove the two bolts of the upper clamp which secures the steering gear to the frame bracket.
  7. Loosen, but do not remove, the two bolts of the lower clamp which secure the steering gear to the frame bracket.
  8. Have a suitable pan available and remove the two hydraulic oil lines at the pump – drain all oil from these lines and cap to prevent dirt from entering.
  9. Cap the ports in the pump where oil lines were removed.
  10. Remove the horn contact button.
    NOTE: Protect the front seat cushions with a cover before proceeding with the following operations.
  11. Remove the connection of the new combination backup light switch and safety starting switch from the mast jacket.
  12. Remove the direction signal wires from the fuse panel.
  13. Remove the screws that secure the mast jacket rubber retainer and pull same up a foot or so on jacket.
  14. Remove the metal section of floor board located just under the brake pedal.
  15. Remove the steering wheel.
  16. Loosen the bolt from clamp which secures the mast jacket to the hydraulic valve cover.
  17. Remove the two bolts which secure the mast jacket to the instrument panel.
  18. Cover the threaded end of the steering shaft with a cap (Part No. J5159) or masking tape.
  19. Remove the mast jacket from the steering shaft by lifting jacket up into the car. CAUTION: Use care to prevent scratching paint on jacket as it is pulled up past instrument panel.
  20. Using care, remove the power steering unit by lifting up and forward out to the engine compartment.

In Service Departments where block and tackle or suitable hoists are used, considerable work can be saved by making up a sling and attaching same to the power piston rack cover by the two upper bolts. The unit can then

REPLACING POWER STEERING UNIT

  1. Before actually installing unit, check the lower clamp which secures the steering gear to the frame bracket. This should be in place but loose (see Step No. 7 under “Removal of Unit”).
  2. Place the two upper clamp bolts in position, then install only the outer half of the upper clamp which secures the gear to the frame bracket.
  3. Replace the gear in position and install the other half of the upper clamp. Hold in position by installing the nuts on the clamp bolts, but do not tighten at this time.
  4. Install the remaining components of the gear in reverse of the disassembly procedure.