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Steering Rack Removal

You will need about 4 feet of access on the drivers side, and enough on the passengers side to get at the TRE's.

I use a professional Vacuum kit to suck nearly all the fluid out of it out by just pushing the tube into the return pipe at the pump, if you cant get hold of a vacuum kit then you will have to drain the rack when you remove the pump pipes later on in the removal.

Remove the top spare wheel tray so that the radiator is loose, then from above remove the Solid balancer pipe from the rack, this is the long 1 that fastens to the rack nearest the Rad, you may have to wait till the next step to remove it out of the Pass side wheel arch, if your pump pipes are bolted to the Chassis bracing bar undo them so they are free to move.

Get the car on chassis stands as high as you are happy with safely allowing you to remove both wheels and the Splash Guard on the drivers side under the wheel arch, remove the balance pipe now if you couldn't twist it out from above.

(I managed to get the rack out without removing the balance pipe) Crack off the TRE lock nuts and then remove the TRE's from the control arms then unscrew them from the Rod ends, you can leave the lock nuts on to get a basic measurement for the tracking when re fitting.

Undo the Centre disc from the steering column at this stage.

Undo the 4 X 9/16" AF bolts that hold the rack to the mountings, it`s easier from above with a long extension

Wiggle the rack towards the rad till you can get a tight fitting spanner on the Steering pump pipes, you should have a bit more room to do it now, put a bowl or tray to catch the fluid that is still inside and detach the pipes.

(I only undid one pipe here, shaped like a horse shoe, that was close to the chassis. I have asked Mark to shorten the bend on this pipe so that it can go back in completely assembled.) Go for a Cuppa/ beer/TV and allow as much fluid out as possible.

You should now be able the get at the pinch bolt on the steering column lower joint to remove it.

It may help to undo the two radiator lower bolts under the skid pan to push the rad forwards a bit more to get the joint off.

Once all is free you should be able to get the rack out through the drivers side.

Best of luck and many thanks to Pete for this wicked tip. ;o)

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