Move the steering wheel from side to side and measure the play on the steering wheel with a vernier caliper.
Backlash check
The checks described apply to both mechanical and power steering: Hold the steering wheel in opposite positions with both hands and move it from side to side. If the play measured as shown in the illustration is more than 35 mm, the steering should be adjusted. If the steering wheel moves up and down and side to side, then the bearing in the steering column is broken or the steering shaft universal joints have too much play. The steering column support must be replaced at a Nissan workshop.
Use a dynamometer to check steering adjustment (with servo control installed):
1. Park the vehicle on a dry, level surface and apply the handbrake. The tire pressure must be at the required pressure so that no excess friction has to be overcome.
2. Start the engine.
3. Warm up the hydraulic steering fluid to operating temperature. To do this, turn the steering wheel from side to side several times.
4. Attach the dynamometer to the steering wheel spoke as shown in the illustration below.
Checking the strength of the power steering.
5. Pull the dynamometer and turn the steering wheel a full turn. Check that the reading does not exceed 4.5 kg.
6. If the value does not match the required, check the spherical joints of the steering rods. If they are working, you need to remove the steering gear to adjust the damper. Since this requires disassembly of the steering, this work must be carried out in a special workshop. In the worst case, the steering gear needs to be replaced.
Removal and installation of a steering column (including steering wheel)
To remove the steering wheel, you will need a special puller. The steering wheel hub has two threaded holes into which the puller is screwed.
1. Place the front of the vehicle on stands and disconnect the battery.
2. Gently push the horn button out of the middle of the steering wheel as shown in the illustration below. To do this, use a small screwdriver.
Removing the horn key (steering wheel pads).
3. Mark the position of the steering wheel hub relative to the steering shaft (use the punch carefully).
4. Unscrew a steering wheel nut. While doing this, hold the steering wheel. Do not latch the steering column lock to lock the steering shaft, as the lock pin may be torn off.
5. Unscrew both halves of the steering wheel trim and disconnect the wires of the combined switch. The switch remains on the steering column.
6. Unscrew the upholstery from the bottom and bend it.
7. Loosen the clamping bolt of the universal joint of the steering between the steering column and the universal joint and knock it out.
8. Loosen both bolts of the upper mounting of the steering column on the instrument panel.
9. Remove the two nuts of the lower mounting of the steering column.
10. Take out a steering column from the car, at the same time take out the bottom end from gearing with the universal joint. Installation is carried out in the reverse order. First install the universal joint on the steering shaft and tighten the bolt.
11. Install the top and bottom fasteners and tighten the bolts. Place the steering wheel on the shaft according to the marks and tighten the steering wheel nut to 30 - 40 Nm while holding the steering wheel. After installing the steering wheel, test drive and check that the steering wheel spokes are in the correct position. Otherwise, remove the steering wheel again and rearrange it by one or two teeth.
Steering column check
If there is a suspicion of deformation of the steering column (e.g. after an accident), you can measure the steering shaft tube. To do this, measure the size "A" (see illustration below). If this dimension is outside 556.2 - 557.8 mm, the steering column is deformed and must be replaced.
Measure the steering column between the arrows "A".
When folding, the upper support of the steering column is also deformed. In the normal case, the threaded inserts are flush with the fastening collar. If they are shifted, the column is deformed.