Rosso Rescue Project Steering Rack Update

[Alfisto Steve]

Well, today after church, lunch, and while BJ's Wholesale tire shop was fixing tire with two nails/screws in it for ML's Jeep I had a couple hours to work on Rosso.

She has been suffering from the dreaded passenger side not designed to be replaced failed rubber mount on steering rack. Being a LHD model with oval boot and centering spring on right side seeing failed mount much less getting to it with engine/power steering in normal position is near impossible. So I decided to drop engine and sub frame down about 5-6 inches so I could get my hands and tools close to rack.

I jack standed patient under front door jack points and put a board on floor jack under engine. I disconnected steering column universal link under dash after removing boot around it by accelarator pedal and bolt in joint.

Removed front wheels and front and rear inner fender liners. With board and jack under engine I disconnected upper dog bone mount, removed AFM and top of air cleaner, removed top radiator hose bracket bolt from upper radiator support and removed air deflector next to left headlight.

I wedged a board in between false firewall and idle actuator on back of intake plenum. Then I went underneath and remove 6 bolts holding subframe to body. Next I disconnected reaction rod and shift linkage rod (5-speed).

Next, I slowly lowered jack under engine and tranny so subframe and engine came done about 6 inched on passenger side (front of engine side) and about 4 inches on tranny side. Now I was able to see nuts holding heat shield on rack and removed them and heat shield still using long extension from above and ratchet and deep 13mm socket from tranny side. Used 17mm socket and wrenches to remove front studs and rear bolts after disconnecting banjo fitting from power steering pump supply hose and rack pressure hose from pump and pump supply hose and rack return hose from resevoir near tranny side.

Popped outer tie rod ends loose from steering knuckles using suspension fork and hammer on threaded ends with nuts set flush with threaded ends so as not to damage threads.

Now with subframe and engine lowered and everything loose, I slide rack out tranny side.

Hope picture show and tell helpful. Notice failed engine side mount (LHD Model), Used a 1/2" drill bit to drill off top clamp. rubber insert shot and what was left came out in two pieces.

[Alfisto Steve]

Second verse not same as first:

[Alfisto Steve]

Third set of pix. Tomorrow is another day to clean up and repair rack.

[drubie]

If I'd have taken pictures of my efforts, they'd have been nearly identical although my '89 has far less oil leaks for some reason. What do you plan on replacing the bush with on your car?

[Alfisto Steve]

Quote:

Originally Posted by drubie If I'd have taken pictures of my efforts, they'd have been nearly identical although my '89 has far less oil leaks for some reason. What do you plan on replacing the bush with on your car?

[jontg428]

Leonard and I did this job, but instead of lowering the engine and transmission, we opted for a long 3 ft extention, accompanied by a snap on extension that had a slight degree of swivel to it. I would go underneath the car, and help him guide the socket onto the nuts that held the rack in place. With two people its not too bad, but Steve, you are super human, I would not try to do that job alone, as I would just get frustrated to hell pretty quickly! Oh by the way steve, ever replace stepper motors in a Peugeot before? Just thought I would ask, great job,
Jon

[Alfisto Steve]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jontg428 Leonard and I did this job, but instead of lowering the engine and transmission, we opted for a long 3 ft extention, accompanied by a snap on extension that had a slight degree of swivel to it. I would go underneath the car, and help him guide the socket onto the nuts that held the rack in place. With two people its not too bad, but Steve, you are super human, I would not try to do that job alone, as I would just get frustrated to hell pretty quickly! Oh by the way steve, ever replace stepper motors in a Peugeot before? Just thought I would ask, great job, Jon

[jontg428]

Well, there is acces in the pug setup, but god is it limited. I had to break out a piece of the glovebox to get more clearence, but now my hands are all cut up thanks to jagged broken cheap french plastic! Oh well at least it was a clean break and will glue back into place easily that is once I get the stepper in!

[Alfisto Steve]

Nobody commented on my pinkish fender or FORD tensioner pulley yet! I just put one of those Ford pulleys on my son's 91 164L Verde rescue project, too.

[Richard2]

Whuuu, you wore me out. I think I'll got back to the other post and look at the bottle.

[MrT]

Gee, Jon, I've never had cuts on my hands glue up well enough to suit me, clean break or not. What do you use?

On the 164 subject, we're getting so good at pulling engines that I think I'll start doing that to replace the plugs. You know how picky that process can be. It's almost as bad as replacing the air filter. I still have a worn-out automatic tranny to swap for another working one I have. I suspect that if I simply bore down and did the deed, it would take a day. I'll see soon enough. Pulling the engine/tranny from the '93L 5-speed wasn't terrible, nor was replacing it.

And what caused that pinkish tint on the fender? Anything to do with grease thrown from the Ford idler pulley? (actually, my wife's red '92S has the same magenta hue from sun damage on the clear coat. Where it is peeled back, the paint underneath the clear is still Alfa Rosso.)

Michael

[Alfisto Steve]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrT And what caused that pinkish tint on the fender? Anything to do with grease thrown from the Ford idler pulley? (actually, my wife's red '92S has the same magenta hue from sun damage on the clear coat. Where it is peeled back, the paint underneath the clear is still Alfa Rosso.) Michael

[MrT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfisto Steve Different sides of car so Ford had nothing to do with it. I wonder if clear coat removed it would let the true Rosso out?

[jontg428]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrT Gee, Jon, I've never had cuts on my hands glue up well enough to suit me, clean break or not. What do you use? Michael

[Alfisto Steve]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard2 Whuuu, you wore me out. I think I'll got back to the other post and look at the bottle.