PAS Rack removal

[mb450]

Hello all,

I put my chimaera in for a service and pre-mot checkup with my trusted local garage (also a chimaera owner).

I've noticed a couple of drips of pas fluid on the nearside at the front and as I feared the PAS rack is leaking on the near side.

So my question is: how hard is it to remove the PAS rack so I can get it sent away for refurb. I'll probably end up having to do it myself having just forked out for a rebuild on my rangie engine and for also for some nice shiny act racing headers and racing cats. My main concern is if I'm doing it myself will I have the space in my garage, does the rack have to come out via the wheel arch?

I realise that the steering will need to be setup once the rack is fixed and back in place (anyone recommend someone in the gloucestershire area)

Any help greatly appriciated!

[S4CJO]

Hi rack does come out via the wheel arch. You will need to drain the resovoir so have an old washing bowl or similiar handy when disconnecting the pipes. Slacken of the two clamps holding the rack and the steering column link. You will need to remove the bolt through the joint on the lower steering column link and also may need to spread it slightly using an old screw driver in the clamp.

You may be lucky having dropped off the track rod ends to wriggle it past the disc/ upright as this should be able to turn further now not connected to the rack.

You will need about a yard clearance alongside the car when you extract the rack so dont do it in a tight garage, bugger to move the car once you are this far.

With the leak is it the rack or is it leaking from the pipes under the pump?

[mb450]

Thanks that's good to know - a yard is probably pushing it in my garage :-(

Re: the leak it's coming from the nearside rack seal under the gaiter - it's been slowly getting worse but now it's flows down and onto the front lower wishbone enough to be a good inch in diameter puddle in about a day - worse when actually turning the wheels (obviously)

Good news for my local mechanic - bad news for me I think :-(

[HRG]

I got mine out (Griff) in a single garage. Tight, but certainly doable. I took the cat out, moved it all the way to the passenger side then lifted it up through the chassis. Lots of wriggling, but it came out in the end.

[mb450]

HRG said:

I got mine out (Griff) in a single garage. Tight, but certainly doable. I took the cat out, moved it all the way to the passenger side then lifted it up through the chassis. Lots of wriggling, but it came out in the end.

Now that is interesting as the who front part of the exhaust system is out at the moment .... might give that a try! Cheers

[HRG]

There's lots of twisting and rotating involved to get the angles right... But it will come out, just. The external oil lines are the bit that cause the most angst

[mdotrutherford]

mb450 said:

I realise that the steering will need to be setup once the rack is fixed and back in place

No harm in getting the alignment checked after but if you count the turns it takes to remove the track rod ends each side and put them back on with the same count you wont be far out if at all.

[mb450]

Thanks all I'll give it a go