Getting the Steering Rack out of a 280

[mdbrandy]

OK, the last thing I want to do on my winter front-end rebuild is take the rack out and clean it up before I put everything else back in, especially since I'm doing poly on the rack bushings and steering coupler anyway. So, right now, the rack is loose and ready to pull out, EXCEPT, that it won't come out with the U-joint rod still attached! I have the rod disconnected at the steering coupler, but not at the rack end. I do, of course have the rack end pinch bolt off, but the #%*#&% joint onto the splined shaft will NOT come off. I've been Kroiling it for a little while, and done a LITTLE light prying, but I don't want to hurt the rack. The pinch area seems really thick, and trying to pry it open with a big screwdriver doesn't seem to help at all. Any ideas or advice how to get the rack out, and/or how to get this pinch coupler off? I suspect on a 240 it might come out with the rod, but on mine, the air conditioning compressor is right above the 'box' on the rack where the coupler connects, and there is no way it's coming up and out. I have to draw it out the left side of the car...

And on top of this, my garage heater died tonight. At least it's above freezing now!

[wal280z]

Hi Mark- Just did this myself on my '77 last month... still haven't put it back together...

So, right now, the rack is loose and ready to pull out

Have you removed the bushings themselves from the rack? It adds some additional 'wiggle room' with them off

it won't come out with the U-joint rod still attached! I have the rod disconnected at the steering coupler, but not at the rack end.

Yes, the rod must be removed. I used the fat screwdriver trick and aligned it parallel with the rod, inserting it into the bottom of the 'pinch area', and a couple of taps with a BFH did the trick. **edit - be careful not to score / dig into the splines with the screwdriver **

The pinch area seems really thick, and trying to pry it open with a big screwdriver doesn't seem to help at all.

Didn't work for me either.

there is no way it's coming up and out. I have to draw it out the left side of the car...

Yepp, that's correct. FWIW, when I did mine last month, I had the sway bar off (heck the whole front suspension off, for that matter), I think it gave me some more room. I had to wiggle the rack forward, then left, then back, then left, then forward (you get the idea) and after fighting with it for 5 minutes it came out. If you are only looking to replace the rack bushings (and not go through the repaining/regreasing/reconditioning of the rack itself), just put the bushings in after you take the old ones out.

**edit Also, Blue has a picture tutorial on his website... http://www.atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/steering/rackbushings/index.html

Wayne

[mdbrandy]

Have you removed the bushings themselves from the rack? It adds some additional 'wiggle room' with them off

It's amazing sometimes what doesn't occur to you during the heat of battle - I shall remove the rubber bushings from the rack before reengaging the problem tonight...

Yes, the rod must be removed. I used the fat screwdriver trick and aligned it parallel with the rod, inserting it into the bottom of the 'pinch area', and a couple of taps with a BFH did the trick. **edit - be careful not to score / dig into the splines with the screwdriver **

I received an offline answer that was similar too, so I guess I'll break out one of my BFH's and go at it as carefully as possible.

FWIW, when I did mine last month, I had the sway bar off (heck the whole front suspension off, for that matter), I think it gave me some more room. I had to wiggle the rack forward, then left, then back, then left, then forward (you get the idea) and after fighting with it for 5 minutes it came out. If you are only looking to replace the rack bushings (and not go through the repaining/regreasing/reconditioning of the rack itself), just put the bushings in after you take the old ones out.

Right now, the only part of the front suspension/steering that is on the car is the rack and the front crossmember. Over the winter I dissassembled everything else, wire brushed/sandblasted it all, and just got done repainting most of it. Left the rack until last - probably should have taken it off a couple months ago, and not as the last thing!

Thanks for the thoughts - hopefully a bit more persuasion will get it out tonight!

[mdbrandy]

I guess I just have to be a little less worried about pounding on the 27 year old beast. Cold chisel about the right size to slip just a little way into the pinch slot, hammer :stupid: at an angle away from the rack, and there ya go! I didn't even have to hammer that hard.

Good thing I took it out too. One of the rack boots was split on the back and I had missed it. One more thing to replace now...

Thanks Wayne(and Keith, offline )