I am installing a used rack and pinion in a 96 intrepied 3.5 with air bags and I did not lock the steering wheel before I took the rack out but I left the bottom half of the steering colum on the old rack and the new rack. But I have been turning the steering wheel trying to get the rack bolt holes lined up with the inside tie rod end bolts so I can connect them. Is there anything I messed up by doing this or should align the bolts and connect them....

 

You prob want to do a front end alingnment after the job anyway, so just disconnect the outer ends to make it easy. Then after the rack is in, do a general alingnment (enough to drive it to the shop) and then have a new alignment done. I think this would be easier and it needs to be done anyway so why not?

 

I was thinking that to....I had another issue with the rack and pinion mount bushings on the driver side LH side. There is no movement left or right after all four mounting bolts are tight you can pull up and down on the driver side of the rack and it will move up and down about 1/3 of a inch is this normal?

 

I don't know, but it d/n sound right to me. How was the old one when you took it out? Can you see anything diffrent between the old/new one?

 

well the way the bushings are there is a long metal tube with a large flat washer bottom and the bolt tightens down on the top of the tube and cannot be tightend anymore so I expecting that this is how the rack is sopposed to be. I dont remember what but I think I could move it on the old one.

 

I went and looked at the rack and pinions driver side mount bushins and the rubber was stripped outs and I baught a new set $29.00 now I have to buy a tool to install them tool #miller special tool 8523 off of ebay. I got the old ones out with a flat head screw driver and a hammer.

 

I pressed the new bushings in with a ball joint press and miller tools 8523 1&2 and alot of rubberbands to hold all the peices in my vice while I held the rack and tightend the ball joint press and I also install the rack and it works great with no leaks or movement at all. Before there was about 8inches of play now 0 play.

 

Great. I'm glad to hear everything is working out for you. I have also used my ballpress kit for other than intended usses before. They are very handy!