Rack & Pinion How To Illustration & Nut Sizes?

[gavin]

nah, that isn't necessary.

I'm thinking that may be for if you already have the tierods off or something.

 

[gavin]

if you want another reference, here is the post by 410Fortune that I used as a reference.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2097028&postcount=548

the whole page here
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142851&page=28

 

[madbrown]

well i've got the tie rod ends, steering knuckle and upper control arms off. as I started this project by replacing the lbjs and ubjs, and figured do try to do the rack as it is leaking

 

[gavin]

yup, might as well do it now since you're already half way there :

 

[madbrown]

so still don't think I need to do the whole turn & div.2 process? are you also saying that I don't need to mess w/removing inner tie rods?

 

[gavin]

I don't understand why you would need to determine how many rotations of the steering wheel to full lock and dividing that by two to get center.

straighten your wheels, your good. That's what I did.

and which tierods are already removed? The outers? If you were planning on changing the tierods anyway, may as well use the ones that came with the rack (if it comes with them).

 

[madbrown]

I don't know either? Just something I read on this forum. The outers are removed, and I intend on using the inners that come with rack.

 

[gavin]

I don't know either? Just something I read on this forum. The outers are removed, and I intend on using the inners that come with rack.

since you're going to be using the new inners, I would leave them installed if at all possible.

 

[madbrown]

Finally got the socket I needed, 15/16, for the lower bolts. So got those off, and disconnected the 2 lines running to the cooler. I've located the bolts that need to be loosened to lift the engine mount, and located the pinch bolt on the the steering arm, but haven't loosened yet. I'm wondering did you pull out the rack with the lower steering arm attached and the other thicker line running up to a pulley? If not where did you disconnect the arm and that line at?

 

[gavin]

Finally got the socket I needed, 15/16, for the lower bolts. So got those off, and disconnected the 2 lines running to the cooler. I've located the bolts that need to be loosened to lift the engine mount, and located the pinch bolt on the the steering arm, but haven't loosened yet. I'm wondering did you pull out the rack with the lower steering arm attached and the other thicker line running up to a pulley? If not where did you disconnect the arm and that line at?

ah, I forgot to mention.

The "thicker line running up to a pulley" is actually running to the power steering fluid reservoir. I sucked out as much fluid as I could out of the reservoir, then disconnected that line at the reservoir.

as for the lower steering shaft; I honestly cannot remember if I left it on when I pulled the rack.
I believe I did disconnect it from the rack; but I'm not positive. I know I installed it on the new rack before putting the new rack in place.

 

[madbrown]

yeah I got those lines off. this one is running into a pulley though power steering pump maybe?

 

[madbrown]

It would be the bottom right line. It's a hose that is connected to a hard line that has a plug that is connected to a pulley/pump? I've also got the pinch bolt off and the nut at the bottom of the steering rod, but seems to still be connected as well?

 

[gavin]

It would be the bottom right line. It's a hose that is connected to a hard line that has a plug that is connected to a pulley/pump? I've also got the pinch bolt off and the nut at the bottom of the steering rod, but seems to still be connected as well?

ahhhhh, the one going to the power steering pump.

I believe I just disconnected that one at the cooler and left connected to the pump

 

[madbrown]

I wish that was the case but, it's connected to the rack

 

[gavin]

if you look at this picture again..

note the rubber hose hanging down from the truck.
and the hard line on the rack.

iirc, that hose on the truck comes from a hard line connected to the pump. The rubber line connects the 2 hard lines.

 

[madbrown]

Ahhhh! So I can just disconnect at the rack. Duh!

 

[gavin]

Ahhhh! So I can just disconnect at the rack. Duh!

yeah I had just disconnected the rubber hose from the hard line that goes into the rack.

I could not get the lines directly off the rack with it still in the truck

 

[madbrown]

Now I just need to figure out how to separate the steering arm from the rack? Pinch bolt and bolt at the base are off, but I can't figure out how to disconnect. However, it's nice that I can rotate it enough now to get to the inner tie rod bolt as I think I'm going to take those off. I would think it's going to make it a lot easier to get the rack out. I'm going to go with the inners on the new rack anyways.

 

[gavin]

Now I just need to figure out how to separate the steering arm from the rack? Pinch bolt and bolt at the base are off, but I can't figure out how to disconnect. However, it's nice that I can rotate it enough now to get to the inner tie rod bolt as I think I'm going to take those off. I would think it's going to make it a lot easier to get the rack out. I'm going to go with the inners on the new rack anyways.

it really just pulls off. Make take a little wiggling as it's possible it's a bit rusted

 

[madbrown]

Rack is out! Didn't have to lift engine, but removed inner tie rods & sway bar then angled it out the front. As for disconnecting the pump hose I was able to loosen the connecting nut on the rack and pull the hard line. However, interested in how you would pull the connecting hose from the hard lines? As it appears to be pressed/sealed on because there's no clamps.