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Topic: Steering rack off post!!!!!!!! (Read 2167 times) previous topic - next topic

Steering rack off post!!!!!!!!

the guy i bought my 88 from took the steering rack off the post to get to the oil pan.

HOW DO I GET IT BACK ON!? the motor is sitting off to the pass side i bit and the oil pan is just resting under the motor. when i push it up to put it on the post it wont go up far enough to slip on. the oil isnt getting in the way it will move out of the way .

i dont like it sitting on the ground like that so its on stands now.

i might wait till i pull the motor to try and get it on.

Any tricks
1986 Cougar LS

Steering rack off post!!!!!!!!

Reply #1 –
I went through this when doing my front suspension. The power steering lines were getting in the way in my case. It was quite frustrating to get that SOB back on those posts...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Steering rack off post!!!!!!!!

Reply #2 –
no tricks? did you have it off the ground when you did it or was it sitting down.

might try to do it will i jack it up to different heights.

bushings are all ripped up is that going to be a problem in the short run?
1986 Cougar LS

Steering rack off post!!!!!!!!

Reply #3 –
Mine was in the air.

You might want to disconnect the outer tie rod ends as this will be a big help. Having them connected will make it that much harder to manouver into place.

I would recommend replacing the bushings. They're cheap, and as you have found out - once you have that rack on there you're not gonna want to take it off again...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Steering rack off post!!!!!!!!

Reply #4 –
You need a big prybar, and a two post lift helps.  That is how we do Mustang oil pans at work, disconnect the steering shaft, and pop the rack off the posts, no need to take the outer tierods loose, just wheels off the ground.
Matt :tg:

Steering rack off post!!!!!!!!

Reply #5 –
post lifts? not sure i know what you are talking about.
1986 Cougar LS

Steering rack off post!!!!!!!!

Reply #6 –
I think he means a hoist...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Steering rack off post!!!!!!!!

Reply #7 –
like an enigine hoist? i thought he might be talking about farm jacks but i dont think tere is enough room for that.

so if i disconnect the tie rods (the front bar that connects to the spindal, correct?) then i can move it easier, and to replace the bushing all i do is slip the old ones out and slid the new one in. do i put lube/ grease on them?

when i was loading the car i had to turn the wheels and when i was unloading it, could i have messed something up?
1986 Cougar LS

Steering rack off post!!!!!!!!

Reply #8 –
When I installed the bushing kit on my car I had the rack off with the car in the air. I also had the tie rods disconected. I left the lines and the stering linkage attached. I went on easy no pry bar.
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird

Steering rack off post!!!!!!!!

Reply #9 –
2-post lift: the kind of car hoist that has the lifting posts beside the car and arms that swing under to support it, rather than the old 1-post hoist that came up out of the ground in the middle of the car, and was basically in the way if you wanted to be under the car too.
Death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth.

1988 5.0 Bird, mostly stock, partly not, now gone to T-Bird heaven.
1990 Volvo 740GL. 114 tire-shredding horsies, baby!

Steering rack off post!!!!!!!!

Reply #11 –
im doing it in the driveway i dont think that is an option
1986 Cougar LS

Steering rack off post!!!!!!!!

Reply #12 –
Well, I didnt saw it was needed, just that it helps.  You do need to have the frt wheels completely off the ground if you dont already.  That will make a huge difference.
Matt :tg:

Steering rack off post!!!!!!!!

Reply #13 –
i just got the busings ordered but i need to know if i need to put grease on them.

i was thinking if i take the rims off and put the jack stands on the lowest level and disconnected the tierods and thenuse the jack to push it up and pry it on with a crowbar
1986 Cougar LS

Steering rack off post!!!!!!!!

Reply #14 –
No, you don't need to grease the rack bushings. The rack won't move on the bushings the way a control arm will. Still, I put a thin coat of lube on mine just to prevent 'em from getting stuck in there by corrosion (and it also made it that much easier to push 'em into the rack and the rack onto the posts)
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣