How to detach the steering rack from lower end of the steering column - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

ruoknow · 10-27-2005, 11:42 PM

Guys, please help.

I am going to change my steering rack next week.

It seems to separate the coupling between steering gear input shaft and lower universal joint is kind of hard. The pic below is from AZ website, which is quite close to my case. I don't quite understand where is bolt A.

http://www.toyotanation.com/photos/s...o/4571/cat/593

Below is the bolt B in my steering system.
http://www.toyotanation.com/photos/s...3/limit/recent

When you try to separate the coupling, do you pry down the steering rack or pry up the intermediate shaft?

Any tricks to do the job easier?

ruoknow · 10-28-2005, 01:52 PM

I guess after loosen or remove the pinch bolt, i can pry the intermediate shaft on the steering column up?

es250nut · 10-28-2005, 01:58 PM

After you loosen the pinch bolt the splined shaft should just slip off. Give it a good squirt of PB before hand to break any rust up.

ruoknow · 10-28-2005, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by es250nut

After you loosen the pinch bolt the splined shaft should just slip off. Give it a good squirt of PB before hand to break any rust up.

Thanks es250. The lower end of the u-joint can be lift up and out of the way?

es250nut · 10-28-2005, 02:30 PM

Pulling out the rack is not much fun. The U joint is going to be easy compared to actually getting the rack out and one back in. Schedule 1/2 a day for it at minimum. You will need either a 17mm or 18mm socket to remove the bolts holding the rack to the firewall. When you get your original rack out, set it next to your replacement rack and measure the tie rods and adjust the replacement tie rods to match in length to the original one. That way your alignment shouldn't get too far out of whack when you put your replacement rack in. Also if you want your steering wheel to stay close to center be sure to make the matchmarks like your diagram shows then when you have the original next to the replacement if you are careful you should be able to put a new matchmark in the right location on the new rack.

For me when I pulled my rack, I found it was easiest if I just removed the flex pipe for the exhaust and the crossmembers that run under the engine first.