Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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