My '74 Midget has been without steering rack gaiters for quite some time. I'm in the process of doing a front-suspension rebuild, and have completely removed the steering rack to rebuild, paint, and refurbish (including gaiters). I'm sure with the lack of gaiters there is a lot of crud in there.
My problem at the moment is that I can't get the pinion assembly out. I've completed all the dismantling steps in the Bentley manual (section J.10) and am at #23 - "Withdraw the pinion assembly and dowel". However it will not budge in the slightest.
Is it supposed to just slide out? I've soaked an inordinate amount of PB Plaster down into there, and I've put a set of vice grips around the splined section (with heavy leather to protect) and can't get anything to shift at all.
I also have tried using a punch from the opposite end to see if I could drive it out via the end plug opposite the splines. I get a tiny bit of movement and the pinion will lock up, but I'm afraid to keep doing that and destroy something.
I'm theorizing that the pinion shaft bushing is just stuck. If that bushing is actually press fit, I don't quite see how one could just "withdraw the pinion assembly and dowel" without some real force.
Any suggestions?
My problem at the moment is that I can't get the pinion assembly out. I've completed all the dismantling steps in the Bentley manual (section J.10) and am at #23 - "Withdraw the pinion assembly and dowel". However it will not budge in the slightest.
Is it supposed to just slide out? I've soaked an inordinate amount of PB Plaster down into there, and I've put a set of vice grips around the splined section (with heavy leather to protect) and can't get anything to shift at all.
I also have tried using a punch from the opposite end to see if I could drive it out via the end plug opposite the splines. I get a tiny bit of movement and the pinion will lock up, but I'm afraid to keep doing that and destroy something.
I'm theorizing that the pinion shaft bushing is just stuck. If that bushing is actually press fit, I don't quite see how one could just "withdraw the pinion assembly and dowel" without some real force.
Any suggestions?