HELP! Can't get steering rack to slide onto steering column.

[TorqueEffect]

Well today I yanked the low mileage steering rack out of the 88LX with the boots still intact to install into my 91'.

Got the old rack out of my 91' since the bushings were shot and so were the boots, and got 88 rack up and in place, and the tie-rods attached to the knuckles, but can't for the life of me to get the splined end of the steering rack to slide into the steering u-joint. Is there some kinda trick people know? Also trying to do this alone is a absolute female dog. Also doesn't help that the steel racks only have 2 little notches for the pinch bolt that I have to try and line up, while the aluminium racks the notch goes around the entire shaft.

I've already removed the lower 12mm bolt inside the car to let it wiggle around more so I can try and get it lined up, but still nogo. Should I just unbolt the brackets completely, and have someone underneath with a jack move the rack around while I try to get it to line up properly from the top?

Also why did I choose to do this AFTER I lent my only backup car to my brother that was in need of a vehicle? lol

[skeeters_keeper]

It's a little different size. I did the same thing once so it can be done, but it's a real pain. I think its easier to remove the universal and use the universal that matches the rack, if it's available.
If not try to wedge the lower part of the universal apart to get a little more room and shove. A little lube may help too.

Good luck!

[TorqueEffect]

It's a little different size. I did the same thing once so it can be done, but it's a real pain. I think its easier to remove the universal and use the universal that matches the rack, if it's available.
If not try to wedge the lower part of the universal apart to get a little more room and shove. A little lube may help too.

Good luck!

Good thing I still have the universal still in the other car. Hopefully its spline isn't a different size too, or I might have to swap the entire steering column, and I am not sure that it's possible to swap a carby tilt column into and EFI dashboard, and swapping out the dashboards would be an absolute nightmare.

[skeeters_keeper]

It's the same spline count, just a slightly different shaft diameter - I didn't have the other universal when I did it so I was forced into making it work; I'm just glad it did! I think the top end is the same diameter, but I guess you can get back to us on that.

[jbibb1]

I just did one last weekend, and yes, it's not fun. We ended up putting the rack in and not hooking it to the column, then dropping the column, hooking it up and putting the column back up. It was not the way we planned there just wasn't any way to get that universal back on with no room down there at the base of the steering column. Good luck

[TorqueEffect]

Finished, I did indeed need to use the u-joint from the 88'. Plus it was allot easier to unbolt it from the firewall, then slide the u-joint onto the rack, then pull the rack up into position. Yes I did also drop the steering column, wasn't hard.

Everything would have went quicker with another person to help, because doing a steering rack by yourself is quite a pain. But I would do it again if I found a good powersteering rack to throw in there. Still allot better than removing a dashboard IMHO.