Power Steering rack Almost swapped...HELP

[smclelland84]

So my new rack is in and all the lines are on but the steering intermediate shaft does not want to line up and go into the Pinch on the steering shaft. I can see there are two flat spots on the male end and can feel the flat areas inside the pinch but they're no where near matching up.

Am i right to say i cant turn the steering shaft coming from the steering wheel or i will damage god knows what else in there?

HELP ME PLEASE!

 

[smclelland84]

Anybody?

Im still stuck on this...should i manually tun the shaft on the rack to match up or should i turn the steering wheel. Im about 3/8's of a turn the wrong way. I just dont wanna ruin my clock spring and would like to get this thing to the alignment shop today.

 

[kevinspann]

I've never had one off of an Explorer - but I would think it is designed to only go on one way. It could be that the new rack was not centered completely. It won't really matter which you turn. Just eyeball (or measure) when the steering wheel is straight, that the front tires are close to straight.

 

[OffTrac]

I'm at this exact point myself. Sorry to bring up an old thread but didn't think a new one needed to be created.

What was the outcome on this? The Ford service manual says not to allow the intermediate shaft to rotate at all or the clockspring will be destroyed. I've been very careful to prevent it from turning. But now I can't get the intermediate shaft to line up with the shaft on the rack. I don't see why I can't just turn the rack since the instructions have you do it as the first step to ensure everything is working correctly (I assume that was the reason for all the way left, all the way right step). Just wanting to check here first. That's not going to be easy to do, though.

Also, the instructions say to discard the pinch bolt. I don't discard things until I absolutely know I won't need it, so it's still sitting in a parts tray. The new rack didn't come with a new pinch bolt. Why would the service manual say to discard the bolt? Is there any reason I shouldn't reuse it? I can't see why the bolt would need to be replaced. If I have to, it's not a big deal, just wondering.

 

[smclelland84]

To be honest i finally just said **** it and had the two meet in the middle. I turned the rack half way and the shaft half way. You should not go spinning the wheel but a few degrees wont cause damage. If your no comfortable with this just turn the rack. Let the alignment shop worry about centering it all.

 

[OffTrac]

I think I've got it figured out now. Thanks.

I just didn't really understand the whole clockspring thing. I've been doing some reading and now know what I'm working with (I think). My steering wheel has been locked since before I took of the tie rod ends so I know it hasn't really rotated. The Ford service manual makes it sound like a mm of rotation would blow up your truck, lol. Gonna finish lunch and head back out there to finish this project.

Thanks again.