Steering Rack Overhaul

[TOR15T]

Would be very grateful if any member could help me with a small problem. I am doing a full overhaul of my steering rack, 1970 S4. Am having a problem extracting the pinion, I have removed the circlip but it just does not want to move. Has anybody seen this problem and may be able to assist.
Thank You

[billwill]

I would guess that you need to remove the spring assembly as well, under number 10 on the diagram.

[TOR15T]

Thanks for quick response, the rack is out of the car and the only parts left on it are the rack and the pinion, I thought the pinion should just lift out once the circlip hade been removed but its very reluctant, turns very easily but will not lift out of the rack casing.

[SENC]

Possibly the dowel peg in the retaining ring is stuck/wedged/corroded? The attached includes exploded detail of each component, may be helpful in identifying where stuck.

steering rack rebuild.pdf

(464.08 KiB) Downloaded 260 times

[RobMc]

Hi,

Had exactly the same problem when overhauling mine recently. I think the problem was as Henry suggested. After soaking in penetrating oil I re-attached the UJ to protect the splines, clamped grips onto the UJ which I was replacing anyway, and after a few taps on the grips the pinion eased out without any damage.

[TOR15T]

Thanks for your help. Got it out, but it was in tight. As suggested soaked in penetrating oil and then used a heat gun. Suspect it had never been out in 50 years and there had been some water in the rack at some time. So a little bit of corrosion and debris was not helping, but all looks good now and starting to get it back together. When my new chassis arrives I will have at least something to bolt onto it.
Thank You