Steering Rack Rebuild

[mylesw]

Hello

I am in the process of rebuilding my steering rack. I have the inner tie rods off, and now I am trying the remove the pinion. I have taken off the "big brass nut" and spring but am unable to remove the plunger which does not want to come past the threads. I am also unable to pull out the pinion. I have been whacking with a hammer and an old bolt on the back end of the pinion housing and the outer washer has shifted to where the circlip used to be (yes, I removed that!) but I cannot get it any further. Any advice as to how I can get either the plunger or pinion out gratefully received! Assembly in currently soaking in penetrating oil hence no pictures...

Thanks for your help.

Myles

 

[tr6lover]

well myles, that really about it you just have to yank it out or drive it out from the back. i just rebuilt mine earlier this week and have done others before, always the same way and the pinions dont come out easily
Randy

 

[mylesw]

Thanks for your advice. I've been whacking it with a hammer and a piece of wood on the back end of the pinion housing (see photo - finger shows where I am hitting it). Is this the best place to whack or is there a better way? Pulling it out from the pinion end seems to be impossible. The service manual makes it all sound so easy...

Thanks

Myles

 

[TR4nut]

Myles-

Just checked my spare rack - I don't think you pound where you are pounding - that is not the back end of the pinion. Just turn the pinion and you will see the back end does not rotate.

Not speaking from experience other than looking at the manual - from your picture, it doesn't look like you've removed the thrust button/pressure pad (item 13) in the manual. If not, couldn that be hanging up on the pinion somehow?

My main though is this- reattach the lower steering coupling temporarily to the pinion shaft, then gently pry between the coupling and the rack & turn the pinion while pulling out - would that help you lever out the pinion?

Just a thought.

Randy

 

[mylesw]

Randy

Good advice, pinion is now out. Only problem is that the little pin has gone awol and it's NLA, life is never easy...

Thanks for your help

Myles

 

[TR4nut]

Myles-

Now if your manual is the same as mine I think it says something like "be careful that you don't lose the little pin..."!

If you can't track down the wayward pin and get desperate, let me know. The rack on the crusty TR4 of mine is pretty shot and may have a donor.

Randy

 

[Basil]

The service manual makes it all sound so easy...

Isn't that always the case!