olie05 Posted December 22, 2006 Share Posted December 22, 2006 Is removing the steering rack supposed to be this hard? The factory service manual made no mention of removing anything except for the rack, in the process of removing the rack. Reading the forums I have found that in some cases it is necessary to lift the engine. So far I have lifted the passenger's side of the engine, removed the steering column (PITA), removed the driver's side sway bar mounting points, and I still havent been able to wiggle the rack out!!! I'd like to hear how any one has done it. (with the engine in.) -Oliver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PUSHER Posted December 22, 2006 Share Posted December 22, 2006 I just did this recently in my school's parking lot(no engine moving or swaybar dismounting.) It wiggled out. There was a clamp around the middle of the rack(attached like an exhaust clamp) that I had to take off. I wiggled it out from the drivers side if that helps. Wish I could give you more advise but it just slipped out on mine, hopefully you are doing this with the outter tierods off, maybe try taking off the rubber bushings also? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsun40146 Posted December 22, 2006 Share Posted December 22, 2006 Not hard to do at all, you have to unbolt the sway bar but you can leave the endlinks. Then unbolt the steering coupler and wiggle the rack outthe drivers side. Make sure you remove the wheels. I think it took me 2 hours to pull the old rack, throw it away, and install the new rack with new bushings. Not a hard job at all. The worst part of it is if and when you break bolts and have to retap holes. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom'sZ Posted December 22, 2006 Share Posted December 22, 2006 Oliver: is your car a 240? Because the above poster's signature says 77 and I think pusher's car is a 280 as well. Reason being that I have a 280 and I removed the rack and replaced it no problem, just came right out. (although the sway bar might have been removed at the time) But I've heard of guys having to lift the engine and other stuff as well. I think it might be more difficult in a 240z. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olie05 Posted December 22, 2006 Author Share Posted December 22, 2006 this is a 77 280z. I am going to go out there in a few minutes and try to wiggle it out. I suppose some of this could be related to me having old engine mounts because the steering rack is very close to the oil pan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olie05 Posted December 23, 2006 Author Share Posted December 23, 2006 I got the rack out and the new one in. All I had to do was jack the engine up way more than I was doing before. My inner tie rods were SHOT. I also replaced the rack bushings with polyurethane ones and regreased everything down there. good as new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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