I just received a reconditioned rack and pinion assembly for my 86 GT from the Steering Gear Superstore and have been struggling to get the pinion bearing shaft to go back into the flex coupling. There is not a lot of room in there to see and get your hands in there and to get it going back into the coupling. Does anyone know an easy way to do it?
By the way, I looked for several months to find a place that sold reconditioned steering units for Fieros and finally found this place with a very reasonable price of $199.00 including free shipping and return of your old core. Most places, if you can find a reconditioned unit, want $229 plus shipping and up. Parts for the rack and pinion units are rapidly disappearing so if you think you might need one, now is the time to get one. O'Reilly, Auto Zone, Advance Auto Parts, Napa, etc no longer have them. I even checked with Duralast and the won't even rebuild yours anymore if you were to send it to them.
The pinch connector on the steering column shaft must be opened up a little to easily slide the rack pinion shaft into it. Loosen the pinch bolt and get two large screw divers in the coupling opening. Pry apart a little. The rack pinion shaft should now go easily into it. The boot is a PITA but it can be pushed up and held out of the way while you tighten the pinch bolt.
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Thanks for the suggestions. After thinking about it for a while, I think I have an answer. Un-do the steering shaft inside the car and slide the shaft and upper u-joint down to the floor board and that should push the lower u-joint out of the frame enough to easily slide the rack post into the lower u-joint. This would also allow me to get my hands on to the lower u-joint to hold it in place while pushing the rack post into it and this would allow for easier refitting the ring that holds the rubber cover back onto the rack post assembly. I have tried spreading the fitting open further but everytime it just get it started in the u-joint moves and it falls out again. Very frustrating for 75 year-old hands and laying on your back under a car supported on jack stands. I sure wish I had access to a lift.
Anyway, thanks again for the replies and I'll let you all know if this idea works. I may not do it today for its cold out and I'm not too keen about lying on a ice cold garage floor for an hour.
I went out this afternoon and undid the upper u-joint on the steering column, slid the shaft down to where the rubber seal comes out thru the floor board, and went under the car and wah-lah, the lower u-joint is through the frame and you can get your hands on it and guide the lower u-joint into the steering shaft. It took less than 10 minutes. Once the steering shaft in all the way into the lower u-joint and tightened down, it is very easy to slide the rubber cover back onto the rack assembly. Shove the whole thing back up, replace the 13mm bolts that hold the u-clamps (2) that go over the rack and hold it to the frame. I am going to have to loosen the steering column with steering wheel attached to it so I can get the upper u-joint back on to the steering column shaft. If you have a helper, you don't need to do this step because one can guide the upper u-joint back on to the steering shaft while another person is pushing the rack assembly back in place. Now all I have to do is put the ball joints back on to the tie-rods and reconnect them and take it to be realigned. I hope this helps.
Forget about undoing the steering column to get the upper u-joint back on to the steering shaft. Just pull the steering rack towards the front end of the car about one inch. Then go back inside the car and put the upper u-joint on the shaft. Very easy. Go back under the car and give the steering rack a big shove and the upper u-joint should slide back on. But, if it doesn't go back easily like mine, give it a few whacks with a brass hammer to get it started. I then went back inside the car and used a drift and the brass hammer to get it all the way back on. It took about 15 minutes. Everything in now back together and the car in on the ground. Important......you must take the two 11mm bolts all the way out. These are the bolts that hold the u-joints to the rack shaft and the steering shaft. These shafts have a notch that the bolt goes next to and you won't be able to get them apart or back together if you don't remove them all the way. Probably a GM safety idea in case the bolt(s) became loose, the u-joints wouldn't fall off the shafts and cause a loss of steering.
Good info. I just ordered one from the same place myself. The tips on replacement here will be helpful! I have Rodney's bushing's and inner tie rod ends, but figured if I have to pull it out anyway, may as well put in a rebuilt.
