steering rack removal issue
Reply #22 –
Thanks everyone for all the help. I want to just add some findings to my project that may help somebody in the future.
1) Lifting the engine with a block of wood on the floor jack under the oil pan (but not on the plug) to raise the engine an inch to get the rack out works just fine.
2) Get yourself an 18mm deep socket and an 18mm open end wrench. For some reason many bolts are 18mm which is a strange size (the shock tower top bolts, the rack bolts, the power steering pipe connectors).
3) I tried my darndest but I could not get the steering spline to align with the knuckle coupler -- It was very frustrating. I ended up taking the bolt out of the steering shaft by the firewall, then taking steering shaft assembly and connecting it to the rack prior to installing the rack. I then reconnected the shaft by the firewall. Ugh.
4) Not sure about using transmission fluid instead of power steering fluid even if it works since I may give my car to someone someday and they(and I) won't remember there's transmission fluid in there and they will probably add power steering fluid. (would that be a problem?)
Anyway thanks again for the help. It's on to the rear axle 8.8 change out.