I'm in the process of removing my power steering rack and installing a manual one in its place. I have the radiator, etc. out already, is it necessary to remove an oil cooler line to wiggle out the rack (R1 model)?

But my main question is, after I separate the splines of the lower steering joint from the intermediate shaft and remove the rack... how do I go about installing the manual rack in the exact same position and into the exact same splines?

For example, I don't want to find out that I can turn to the right more than I can to the left in the future.

I have my steering wheel at center right now, obviously, but is there an easy way to center the rack? It looks to be asymmetrical so I'm not sure if there is an easy guide or reference point on it.

Basically any tips & tricks that you have to ensure I put this steering rack on centered and in the same alignment as before would be greatly appreciated

 

I removed the lines to give myself more room to work. Before I separated the splines I matched marked the 2 pieces with a marker so when I reinstalled it would be correct. Since you are installing New rack I would measure the old rack from the body to the steering nuckel. Then match the two measurements to the new one. The splines on the new one should line up correctly. Most have a flat spot in it, you will see when you dissemble it. I would suggest using new oem bushing because the power flex are a royal pain to get lined up.
Oh ps, before you start count the turns of the steering to the left, then the right and write them down. After finished count them again this will show you if you got it or not.


This is just how I did it. Hope I helps, good luck and happy holidays

 

I just went through this recently as well. I took careful measurements and tried to fix the new rack in exactly the same position as the old one. But even then, you've got to swap over your tie rod ends and I couldn't get it perfect. I always counted on having to do an alignment after installing the new rack.

BTW: I didn't remove the radiator or oil cooler lines to do the swap. I did unbolt the A/C compressor and move it a little to the side to gain easier access to the rack through. I also found unbolting the front sway bar brackets to let the bar swing down and out of the way gave me a lot more room to work.

 

Thanks, I counted the amount of turns with the stock power steering rack still in and it was 2.9 turning to the right, but turning to the left was less... it was about 2.5 turns. That is weird.

My other question is how did you guys go about separating the rack from the joint's splines? And then how did you get the splines to seat fully when reinstalling the rack?

 

To separate the rack from the splined shaft, just remove the one bolt at the lower universal joint (rack side, not column side) and when you've unbolted the two bushing retainers the whole rack should pull free. Installation is the reverse. Get the splined shaft seated and bolted in place before you bolt the bushings/rack back in. It should just push right on there. The splined shaft has a notch for the bolt to sit in so you'll know you've got it on properly or not.

Oh yea, one more thing, per the shop manual I did lower the driver side of the front subframe down to make removal/install easier. There are two nuts (front) and a bolt (rear). See page N-16 for details.

Good luck!

 

Cool, you're right, the splines came off easy. For some reason I thought they would be harder, I guess the tolerances aren't as strict since it uses that bolt to lock-on.

Like you, I had to drop the driver side of my front subframe down as well. It was either that or remove my oil cooler lines to get the steering rack out. The clearance was still tight, I think there was only one specific way & combination to wiggle the rack off and on.

To center the steering rack, I first tried to measure things out but gave up on that. I simply guestimated what was center, put the rack onto the car, and then used trial and error to find center. If I was getting too many turns to the left, I would move the universal joint over a spline until everything was centered.

Good thing this was done because I don't think my original power steering rack was fully centered, maybe someone played with it in the past (or it could have just been my steering wheel that was off).

Anyway, thanks for the help. It was pretty self-explanatory once you start on it. I'm not completely done yet because I stripped one of the nuts on a u-clamp that holds down the rack It's a good thing we have a resource as good as Ray Crowe who can overnight parts