Qashqai steering rack repair

The steering rack of the Nissan Qashqai is the weak point of the crossover. A characteristic knock begins to bother the driver after 60 thousand kilometers. Repairing a car assembly is a doable task. The article provides step-by-step instructions for performing repair work.

 

We unscrew the stabilizer struts, remove the steering knuckle, 4 screws from the amplifier, 4 screws from the subframe

Dismantling and troubleshooting of the Qashqai steering rack

We fix the steering wheel, unscrew the steering rack bracket, remove the coolant pipe from the retainer

Before repairing the Nissan Qashqai steering rack, it must be disassembled and the degree of damage assessed, i.e. go through the fault detection procedure. You can remove the part with or without a subframe. The choice is up to the car owner. The sequence of actions for disassembling the subframe is as follows:

• The rack on the anti-roll bar is unscrewed. The ball joint (abbreviated as SHOPK) is disconnected from the steering knuckle. The Qashqai steering tip unscrews and is removed from the seat.
• The car is up. The subframe reinforcement bolts (4 pcs.) are unscrewed. The subframe fasteners themselves are unscrewed (4 pcs.).
• With the help of improvised means (for example, electrical tape), the steering wheel is fixed in a central position. Behind the pedals is a bracket that also unscrews. The shaft rises and stretches back.
• The tube of a cooling liquid is taken out from the holder. The wiring harness for the lambda probe is removed from the bracket on the subframe. The frame released for fastening the suspension parts is lowered. It is important that the stem gently comes out of the anther.

If the Qashqai rail is removed without a subframe, then for convenience you need to unscrew the stabilizer. The hanging part retracts to the side, which simplifies disassembly.

Troubleshooting the Qashqai rail before repair is carried out as follows:

• the part is separated from the frame (2 bolts are unscrewed);
• then it is fixed in a vice and the steering rods are unscrewed;
• bushings are checked for wear.

Qashqai steering shaft play is checked. Ideally, there should be no play at all (neither in the axial nor in the radial direction).

We check the axis for rust, put the horizontal axis in the middle position

A step-by-step description of the repair of the Nissan Qashqai rail

Information on how to repair a Nissan Qashqai steering rack with your own hands will be useful to all crossover owners. The resource of the part is small, and the purchase of a new spare part is an expensive pleasure. In addition, there is an opportunity to save on repair work in the service.

Before proceeding with disassembly, you need to use a ruler to bring the horizontal axis to the middle position, after checking that there are no signs of rust on it. The location of the steering axis relative to the body is marked with a marker.

We mark the location of the axis relative to the body, unscrew the lock nut and adjusting plug

We disassemble

Repair of the Nissan Qashqai steering rack begins with the analysis of the part. The algorithm of work is the following:

• First of all, the assembly responsible for adjusting the clamping sleeve is disassembled. To do this, the lock nut and the adjusting plug are unscrewed. Behind the plug are spring washers and a locking sleeve that must be removed.
• Cap nut is screwed on. Removed steering and horizontal axes.
• The bushing located on the passenger side is removed by bending the tabs on the ejector. Metal needles are used. A more "barbaric" way is to break it with a screwdriver.
• The needle bearing is knocked out after pre-drilling the rack housing from the opposite side. Even in the presence of service equipment, another "barbaric" method may be more effective.

Removing spring washers and bushings

We repair

Repair of the Qashqai steering rack begins with the installation of a bushing that replaces the needle bearing. You can press it with a mandrel. The steering shaft is lubricated and returned to its place. Be sure to check the clearance. If yes, then the acorn nut is tight. The remaining play is a sign of a malfunction of the upper bearing, which in this case will have to be replaced.

We unscrew and remove the nut-roof, remove the steering shaft, remove the sleeve

Additional procedure:

• The factory-made support bushing needs to be reworked. One of the cuts is extended (by the same width) to the last neckline. If an old-style part is used, the chamfer is removed from the side where there is no stand-up collar. The ledge is ground in four places flush with the outside diameter. The result is four mustaches. Four cuts of 3 mm are made between the obtained mustaches (three not quite, one to the end). The generated waste is carefully disposed of.
• Two rubber rings are put on (if the shaft has been ground, 4 rings may be needed). When installing them, they can tear, so a strip cut from a plastic bottle is used (about 5 cm so that the edges do not overlap when wrapped).
• Bushing and bushing are lubricated. After insertion, the plastic protection of the rings is removed with pliers.

On the reverse side, we drill a hole to get to the needle bearing, take out the needle bearing and replace it with a bearing bush

• Polishing of the horizontal axis of Qashqai is carried out only in the presence of traces of corrosion, dents and scratches. The procedure is performed with 3M 400 grit sandpaper. Rough sanding is required for better retention of the lubricant.
• The horizontal shaft is inserted into the frame shell, while the sleeve is clamped. It is important not to let it break. Inserting the first time is not always possible. The density of compression is checked by hand, movements should be observed only with effort. If it is small, it makes sense to plant two more o-rings. Another requirement before assembly is to check the play (it should not be). The left side is held with the left hand, the right hand steers.

We lubricate and insert the steering shaft, it must be turned manually, factory and new bushings, be sure to cut one of the cuts in the bushing

We collect

Do-it-yourself repair of the Qashqai steering rack is completed by assembling the part and installing it on the subframe. The sequence of actions in the procedure is as follows:

We finish the sleeve, make 4 ledges from a flat shoulder, make cuts between the ledges

• The horizontal axis is set to the middle position, and the direction axis is set to the marks made at the beginning. The cap of the nut is tightened to the limit.
• The clamping sleeve is lubricated and inserted into the sleeve. The spring washers are returned to their place, the adjusting plug is screwed on. You need to tighten the cork until a force is created. The preload is checked as follows: the shaft is pressed hard by hand (with the full weight of the checker applied, so the use of a vise is appropriate). If no movement is observed, slightly loosen the adjusting plug. If there is a gap, the clamping sleeve changes to a plastic one.

Check bushings

• The part requires preliminary preparation, that is, sawing. It should be sawn until the ends meet with the force of the fingers. You should also chamfer a couple of millimeters at all corners.
• The prepared part is lubricated and inserted into the seat. The washers are again bent with a cone to the side and put in place with the tops inward. The fork is curved, the shaft oscillates parallel to this. After the gap disappears, the plug is tightened for a maximum of 10 minutes (according to the position of the arrow on the clock). The correctness of execution is checked by the method described above. The last step is to tighten the locknut.

 

We put 2 of 4 rubber rings on the sleeve, wrap the sleeve with rings with a piece of a plastic bottle without overlap, lubricate the nest

• As for the hole made in the Qashqai spar, it needs to be repaired. The hole itself and the surface around it are pre-degreased. It is better to cover with automotive sealant (gray). After drying, you can start assembling.

We insert the axis

Install and adjust

The sawn plastic sleeve during the operation of the Nissan Qashqai crossover will require adjustment. This fact is explained simply: the part is wiped and sits deep in the seat. For this reason, the adjustment must be repeated after 1 thousand kilometers. The procedure is done earlier if Qashqai begins to knock the rake. If the reconfiguration is done correctly, the knock should disappear and the steering wheel should freely return to the zero position when driving.

We tighten the union nut, lubricate and insert the clamping sleeve, bend and insert the spring washers with the tip of the cone inward

Better sealing of the connection in the presence of plastic anthers can be achieved by placing a rubber ring from a bicycle tube in the seat of the steering rack.

Assembly repairs on Qashqai crossovers are completed by screwing the steering rods and installing the rack to the subframe. The last one is back.

We turn the adjusting plug and check

Conclusion

If there is a gap, change the original roller bushing to a plastic one. We remove chamfers 1mm, we do not cut through to the end

Replacing the Nissan Qashqai steering rack is a costly business, so car owners prefer to repair this car as an assembly. In this case, high-quality original spare parts or analogues are used. If you have little experience in car repair, you can restore the Qashqai rail yourself.

Lubricate, insert into place, seal the hole with sealant