GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

REVISED LOWER THRUST BEARING SUPPORT AND PITMAN SHAFT SEAL

STARTING APPROXIMATELY MARCH 1, 1981 DESIGN CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE LOWER THRUST BEARING SUPPORT, THE WORM AND RACK PISTON ASSEMBLY AND THE PITMAN SHAFT SEAL. THESE CHANGES CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY TWO LETTERS NEXT TO THE DATE CODE ON THE SIDE COVER. THE TWO LETTERS WILL BE "CC" WHICH DESIGNATES SECOND DESIGN STEERING GEAR. THE LOWER THRUST BEARING SUPPORT AND WORM AND RACK PISTON ASSEMBLY ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE WITH THE FIRST DESIGN. THE SECOND DESIGN LOWER THRUST BEARING SUPPORT IS PART NUMBER 7837985 AND THE WORM AND RACK PISTON NUT ASSEMBLY IS PART NUMBER 7837990. THE FIRST DESIGN RACK PISTON NUT ASSEMBLY IS BEING DISCONTINUED, IF REPLACEMENT IS REQUIRED USE PART NUMBER 7839526 WHICH INCLUDES SECOND DESIGN RACK PISTON NUT ASSEMBLY AND LOWER THRUST BEARING SUPPORT.(FIG. 2) THE PITMAN SHAFT SEAL HAS BEEN REDESIGNED AND IS IDENTIFIED AS MENTIONED ABOVE, AND IS NOT INTERCHANGEABLE WITH THE ORIGINAL KIT. IF REPLACEMENT OF THE PITMAN SHAFT SEAL IS REQUIRED USE PART NUMBER 7838143 WHICH INCLUDES THE PITMAN SHAFT SEAL, WASHER AND ONE EACH OF THE FIRST AND SECOND DESIGN DUST SEAL. (FIG. 1) THIS SEAL CHANGE APPLIES TO ALL MODEL YEARS. ALL STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLIES WHICH ARE MANUFACTURED FOR SERVICE WILL HAVE THE ABOVE MENTIONED CHANGES.

General Motors bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, not a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, do not assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See a General Motors dealer servicing your brand of General Motors vehicle for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.