14 replies to this topic

[mniguy_nz]

Hi Guys,

So my inner joints are stuffed and I have a new rack arriving tomorrow. I thought I'd remove the old rack.
I removed the steering column, undid the U bolts and tapped them through. I took the rear subframe mounts
off the body and undid the tower bolts. This has given me and extra 6cm of room to work with.

Problem is I still can't get the column spline through the floor. I haven't completely removed the U bolts. If I get
them right off should the spline come through the floor.

Any advice would be much appreciated


Cheers

Tim

[p.park]

blooming heck, i have exactly the same problem this week.
except that i don't know what i'm doing. so i left it to my mechanic...
someday, when i get my own garage space.. i'll start working myself on my car...
till then, pay for the bill £210

[998dave]

Did you undo the column pinch bolt?

[998dave]

Ah, no I see, you removed the column.

Maybe try drifting it through?

[rozzer1275]

lever the u bolts off the rack and out may need a bit of rotating and angling. then lower and rotate the rack to get the spline clear ot the hole.

[mniguy_nz]

blooming heck, i have exactly the same problem this week.
except that i don't know what i'm doing. so i left it to my mechanic...
someday, when i get my own garage space.. i'll start working myself on my car...
till then, pay for the bill £210

Hoo thats rough! I finally got it out after a long battle, I expect it'll be even harder to get the new one in

[mniguy_nz]

lever the u bolts off the rack and out may need a bit of rotating and angling. then lower and rotate the rack to get the spline clear ot the hole.

Yeah thats what I did and it worked well enough.

Cheers Mate

[mniguy_nz]

Is there anything I should look out for when I'm putting the new rack in? Its got new boots so I assume its all lubed up. So I can just slap it in and put the U Bolts back on?

[mozzo1]

blooming heck, i have exactly the same problem this week.
except that i don't know what i'm doing. so i left it to my mechanic...
someday, when i get my own garage space.. i'll start working myself on my car...
till then, pay for the bill £210

Hoo thats rough! I finally got it out after a long battle, I expect it'll be even harder to get the new one in

i had hell and all trouble getting mine out but luckily the new one just fell in so fingers crossed buddy, its easier as you can see whats what when fitting new en

[dklawson]

The following may be coming to you too late and it is NOT from first hand experience... but I'll repeat it anyway.

I have several acquaintances who have given up trying to be correct when removing steering racks. When they get to the point that they need to remove the rack and they don't have enough clearance with the subframe lowered, they bend the floor up out of the way. When they're done they push the floor (more or less) back into position.

It's a brutal method but a handful of friends have done it.

[daemonchild]

The following may be coming to you too late and it is NOT from first hand experience... but I'll repeat it anyway.

I have several acquaintances who have given up trying to be correct when removing steering racks. When they get to the point that they need to remove the rack and they don't have enough clearance with the subframe lowered, they bend the floor up out of the way. When they're done they push the floor (more or less) back into position.

It's a brutal method but a handful of friends have done it.

I could combine this concept with the bit of floor I need to cut out anyway - that's a thought!

[Brams96]

The latest copy of Mini Magazine has this exact thing in it. It's in the 'How To' section with pics and everything. Page 105.

[mini-man-dan]

me and a mate did it on patches two weeks ago after a lil incident i got involved in! Best way we found was to drop the rear of the subframe but then jack the front up on the front of my sump guard. Worked a treat and made it so much easier because it took weight off the front of the subframe and put it on the rear, dropping it a little more

Edited by digi-cars.piczo.com, 18 June 2009 - 10:28 PM.

[mniguy_nz]

So its all finally done. As mozzo1 said it was a pig to get the old one out but the new one went in with not too much trouble. I didn't need to bend the floor although I can see it coming to that if the subframe doesn't give enough clearance. The left U bolt was the worst as the spacing of the bolt is slightly wider than the mount so I had to try and crush it together while lining it up but its all done now though.

Thanks for all the help guys. Dunno where I'd be without the mini forum

[willkog89]

There is usually a pretty minimal amount of room to remove the U bolts and get them out, a bit of angling and fooling about after the sub-frame has been dropped will allow the U bolts to be removed, be patient. I am assuming if you have not completely removed the U bolts you will be severely restricting the amount of room you have to move the rack anywhere. Given the small amount of space to work with, I would be removing all the items in the way of the rack and then concentrating on removing the rack (in other words, do everything, then the rack comes out).

I think the last step in Haynes manual is to completely remove the locknuts on the U bolts (manual tells you earlier on to "loosen them") after sub-frame has been dropped and remove the U bolts from underneath, once the U bolts have been completely removed the steering rack should flop about freely and with a bit of encouragement work the splined pinion from out of the toeboard and then slide the rack out from the drivers side (as the gear box will probably foul if you pulled it out from the other direction)