David,
The column fit to the spline on the rack is not a super easy slip fit
(usually), but should not require extreme force either. What you
describe suggests that things are not properly aligned. I'm not clear
if you pulled this apart or are trying to install it with all the
other mounting hardware fixed snugly. If you are, that is surely part
of the problem. I would install the rack with the clamps fit loosely
enough to rotate/position it to align with the column, and the column
with all the bolts out or at worst with only one in place loosely to
support it. Don't snug the 3 at the hole passing the footwell until
you get the spacing correct at the dash. What you pull the column,
you are supposed to replace all the very thick spacing washers at the
dash location in their original position. Did you do that? Did you
make sure to use them when reassembling?
Gerard
At 7:36 PM -0400 8/10/03, DLancer7676@cs.com wrote:
>I got a chance to check out my steering problems this morning. My plan was
>to loosen all the mounting bolts and pull the steering column away from the
>steering rack and reassemble it by the numbers. The manual indicated that the
>pinch fitting would fit over the steering rack gear easily. Disassembly
>required a crow bar and a large hammer to eventually separate the
>column and the
>rack. Once the column was separated from the rack, the rack seemed
>to move much
>easier. I am thinking I assembled the rack and column in a bind.
> So trying to reassemble it, the pinch fitting still balks at going onto
>the steering rack shaft. I did install (this morning) the distance piece on
>the left (driver's) side of the rack to try to straighten everything up.
>Should the steering column be that difficult to slide over the shaft?
> The manual says to install the shaft and THEN tighten the mounting
>bolts. I plan to go that route to see if it loosens up the
>steering. But I don't
>really want to hammer the pinch bolt onto the steering rack shaft if it is
>supposed to be a slide fit. Anybody have a comment on this?
>
>--David C.
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