162 Celica Steering Rack Help!!!!!!!!!!

[Wildsupra]

got my sisters 162 celica here trying to get the fu%n power steering rack out.
Has any1 done this before?? Ive got the 2 mounts out and the 2 steering rod ball joints off and the steering column knuckly.
Problem is is doesnt fit through the holes cut out in the chassis where the steering arms poke through.
How the hell are you meant to get them out of the car?? is it an engine out job? or do you have to basically strip the rack in situ then remove it?

Im so fu*n stuck for ideas this time!!!!!

Matty

[RWDboy]

Here's a tip for whenever you plan on doing *anything* on a ST162

Step 1 ... remove engine

Step 2 ... do actual work

Step 3 ... put everything back in

Step 4 ... Write angry letter to Japan about shoddy engineers and stuff



have fun !

p.s. taking the engine out is usually about a 3-4 hourish job by yourself with the right equipment etc.

[wiso]

nah, last time i took it out, i fed most of the rack through the hole on the passenger side, dropped the drivers side down and pulled it out the bottom, you have to remove the crossmember, and rear engine mount bracket off hte gearbox i think, its been a while, if pushing it through as far as possible to the passenger side doesn't work enough to pull the drivers side arm out, you can either turn it far to the left to make the arm shorter, or pull the arm off at the joint. it also required some mad funky twisting the rack to get it at the right angle to drop out, cause otherwise the steering link gets caught

either way it is a bitch

[RWDboy]

^^^ Sounds pretty much like your best option really.

you didn't mention this but i'm assuming you have -> don't forget to disconnect the power steering pressure and return lines from the rack

[wiso]

cheers , i didn't mention it cause i though it was common sense if you were trying to remove the rack, you would have to disconnect the fluid lines

[RWDboy]

You ever tried to remove the power steering pump from the motor with the engine in the car? I have serious trouble with that top mounting bolt, alot of the time I end up dropping the left side of the motor a bit so I can get to it !!! *sigh*

[wiso]

yeah same, but he is removing the rack, not the pump

[RWDboy]

yah i just felt like sharing

[Wildsupra]

cheers for the help guys, yeah i have removed the pressure lines
just cant physically get the fu&n thing out.
Ahh well i give up, i got way to much other work to do, someone else can deal with it now hehe
also considered swapping the pump but fark that.....

Cheers
Matty

[RWDboy]

Hmmm ... did ya try what Wiso suggested ? Ie feeding it through one of the service holes, then pulling the other end down and then push it back through the service hole and drop it onto the ground? It should work ?