From my experience, chances are it won't.

Save your money up for a quality reman'ed rack for the next time.

That's my suggestion from years of experience

RwP

 

Hi Ralph, I need help!!! I have been trying for 3 hours to get the rack to release from the steering column. I inspected the new one and it has a simple spline with a dimple in it which could be for a set screw, but I can't find a set screw in the rack/column connector. I then removed the bolt which is in mid steering column and got some release but won't disconnect from the rack. What am I doing wrong? Thanks, Jim

 

The coupler from the steering shaft, to the rack should have a pinch bolt 13mm head if I remember right. They are hard to spot, you might have to turn the wheels left or right very slowly to see it, once the steering shaft is off do not turn the steering wheel. I usually use a bungee cord to hold it, so I can wiggle the shaft to get the splines lined up.

 

I found it, but it's a roll pin, and I can't get a punch on it. I'll keep trying. Thanks for the tip.

 

It's a 6mm roll pin. Yep, that's not covered in the 1988 FSM ... *facepalms* Yah, took me a couple of days to figure that out.

You don't have to worry about the "clockspring" on a 1989, it doesn't have one. But you DO need to be careful you get the splines all lined back up properly.

RwP'

 

I'm going to have to drill it out. I've spent the last hour pounding it with my 2 pound hammer and it hasn't budged. I'm working on the upper pin of the steering column u-joint. I can't get close to the lower one.

EDIT: somewhere around here I have a 1/4' jobber length drill bit but I can't find it right now Grrrrrr...

EDIT: the neighbors are complaining about the noise. I'll have to quit for the night.

 

Roll pin, my bad. I'm going from memory.........a memory that's about 20 years ago, lol. My service manual has a few cobb webs. Glad I got ya pointed in the right direction anyways. I didn't think they had a clock spring, but better safe than sorry, thanks Ralph!!!

 

The roll pin is out. I had to drill the hole oversized. The original pin was 3/8" so I went up to 1/2" and put in a number 8 hardness nut and bolt. I got an oversized bolt and cut it down so the smooth part was in the u-joint.

I'm getting ready to put the new rack in but I was kind of confused there for a while and didn't follow any advice about positioning. So I'm starting from scratch. I positioned the tie rod ends according to the old unit and then ran the rack to both ends and counted turns to get to center as best as possible. The spline and u-joint are now attached to the new rack. Now, I'm about to install the rack. is there anything particular I have to do with the steering wheel other than make it look right from the driver's view? Thanks, Jim

EDIT: And of course, I suppose I have to do a shade tree alignment by using a 2X4 to make sure the front wheels are straight with the rear wheels before attaching the steering wheel..

 

Well, the main problem will be that the rack has a flat in it that needs to match the intermediate shaft ... so that's pretty much locked into relative place.

There's also a missing spline on the wheel itself at the TOP of the column, so THAT is pretty much locked into place.

Unless you're using my how-to on the intermediate shaft to build a new one; then yah, you'll need to pay attention to the 90* split at top and bottom, and the 180* you can get with the double-D.

But if using factory, no huhu.

RwP

 

Thanks Ralph, I found it all to be as you say. There was a flat on the spline and I got the spline set up fine. I'll let you know how the rest of it goes.