[z19930612]

I took off my steering rack to install the catless downpipes but when I tried to put steering rack back on, weird thing happened, the rack does not going into the mounting holes on the subframe, and when I tried to turn the steering, the steering seems it has loose the connection with the column as I can't see the steering column turning when the steering wheel is turned when I look at it from the engine bay(in the pic) It's a RHD car

[z19930612]

Picture

[takrdown]

Did you ever resolve this?

[Scotty89]

Did you ever find the problem to this??

I have exactly the same problem and it's totally pissing me off.

[robc1976]

I just did the M3 steering rack swap, you can clearly see in pic the spline is not fully seated in.

[Scotty89]

Originally Posted by robc1976

I just did the M3 steering rack swap, you can clearly see in pic the spline is not fully seated in.

So how do you fix it?

Wiggle the steering wheel while pushing it back up, or...??

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by Scotty89

So how do you fix it?

Wiggle the steering wheel while pushing it back up, or...??

release hex bolt and push spline all the way in and tightened.

[Scotty89]

Which hex bolt??

I never removed any hex bolts from the steering system, so how could that be the problem?

I only removed the two e-torx bolts holding the rack to the frame. How can any thing else stopping this from re-installing?? I don't understand.

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by Scotty89

Which hex bolt??

I never removed any hex bolts from the steering system, so how could that be the problem?

I only removed the two e-torx bolts holding the rack to the frame. How can any thing else stopping this from re-installing?? I don't understand.

see the groove above the blue? That is where the hex bolt seats to hold spline in, can you get me a better pic of they area?

[Scotty89]

So you want me to release the universal joint at the steering column end? That is an e-torx bolt.

I never loosened that to begin with, so I don't see how that could have slipped out or require pushing back in?

The blue piece also slides up and down the column (with some force).

And that seems like it will certainly mess with the alignment of the steering wheel to steering rack.

As it is, I've already unlocked the steering lock and adjustment in the car, and now the wheel spins freely 6.5 times without any effect on the steering rack.

I think the whole lot is fucked now. I read another generic steering rack guide which says that at no point should the steering lock be disengaged or otherwise the "spiral cable" in the steering rack will unwind and become useless. I think that has already happened now.

Attached is the photo from my situation (Previous photo is of OP's car, not mine. Both are RHD though.)

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by Scotty89

So you want me to release the universal joint at the steering column end?

I never loosened that to begin with, so I don't see how that could have slipped out or require pushing back in?

And that seems like it will certainly mess with the alignment of the steering wheel to steering rack.

As it is, I've already unlocked the steering lock and adjustment in the car, and now the wheel spins freely 6.5 times without any effect on the steering rack.

I think the whole lot is fucked now. I read another generic steering rack guide which says that at no point should the steering lock be disengaged or otherwise the "spiral cable" in the steering rack will unwind and become useless. I think that has already happened now.

so you never took the steering rack off the universal joint? So all you did was take rack off at subframe correct?

[robc1976]

Okay it's seated, I cant understand what is going on...I have taken racks completely out of the car abd never had this problem. If you have a minute give me a walk thru of exactly what you did.

[robc1976]

Actually, adjust looking at the pic the plastic aligning tab doesnt look like it's seated all the way in. See the plastic tab in the slit? It should be all the way in. Did you ever take the hex bolt out at universal joint?

[Scotty89]

Fucking forum just crashed and lost my entire post. FUck this day can't get any fucking worse can it.

I have only removed the two e-torx bits from the steering rack that mount it to the frame. I did this to install downpipes.

Once the downpipes were in, I tried refitting the steering rack but realised it will not go back up and in to the mounting position. No amount of pushing or pulling will even get it close.

I have not loosened any other bolts on the steering column or rack, for fear that it will cause alignment problems.

Another thread on here mentioned I should release the steering adjustment lock, which I tried but it did not help at all.

I now fear that the steering wheel is not locked (spins freely 6 turns), without any effect on the steering rack. I think it's all fucked.

That blue plastic piece I do not understand, what does it do?? It will slide up and down if I push it hard with my hand.

Also the rubber boot in the firewall pulled through to the engine bay (which I think may have happened when I removed the steering rack down). I've tried pulling it back up to the firewall, but it just won't go any further.

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by Scotty89

Fucking forum just crashed and lost my entire post. FUck this day can't get any fucking worse can it.

I have only removed the two e-torx bits from the steering rack that mount it to the frame. I did this to install downpipes.

Once the downpipes were in, I tried refitting the steering rack but realised it will not go back up and in to the mounting position. No amount of pushing or pulling will even get it close.

I have not loosened any other bolts on the steering column or rack, for fear that it will cause alignment problems.

Another thread on here mentioned I should release the steering adjustment lock, which I tried but it did not help at all.

I now fear that the steering wheel is not locked (spins freely 6 turns), without any effect on the steering rack. I think it's all fucked.

That blue plastic piece I do not understand, what does it do?? It will slide up and down if I push it hard with my hand.

Also the rubber boot in the firewall pulled through to the engine bay (which I think may have happened when I removed the steering rack down). I've tried pulling it back up to the firewall, but it just won't go any further.

Oh, you have the rack out and can't get it back in? That is easy, car has to be on jack stands, the push on tires and it will allow the steering rack to be put into position. 20 second job.

[robc1976]

If cat is on rhino ramps you will not get rack in

[Scotty89]

The car is on jack stands.

What do you mean push on the tyres? Push them up (to simulate weight on the axle?) or push them inwards, as if to create toe-in??

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by Scotty89

The car is on jack stands.

What do you mean push on the tyres? Push them up (to simulate weight on the axle?) or push them inwards, as if to create toe-in??

if the steering rack is not going into subframe a lot of times it gets stuck and you just push on insides of tires to move the rack and this will allow it to be put in place. This will NOT effect alignment in the least.

[Scotty89]

It's not the side to side movement that is stopping the rack its the upward movement towards the steering column that will not budge.

Something from the steering column is not allowing the rack back up into its position.

Pushing on the wheels does not seem to help except for the side to side movement.

[Jeef]

Not sure what the problem is but i hope you can figure it out. Wait... you aren't spinning your steering wheel freely right?

[Scotty89]

Originally Posted by Jeef

Not sure what the problem is but i hope you can figure it out. Wait... you aren't spinning your steering wheel freely right?

Yes, it spins freely, about 6 turns.

I hope it hasn't damaged the clock spring, as that is another item I've learnt about after the fact.

Bentley manual is fucking useless and so are all the DP install threads and videos. I should have stuck with my instinct which told me never to fuck with the steering system.

[Jeef]

Originally Posted by Scotty89

Yes, it spins freely, about 6 turns.

I hope it hasn't damaged the clock spring, as that is another item I've learnt about after the fact.

Bentley manual is fucking useless and so are all the DP install threads and videos. I should have stuck with my instinct which told me never to fuck with the steering system.

You probably damaged the clock spring... I always move the steering rack to install DP's just gives it so much more room. Take some better pics then maybe we can help you out? You can't align the two bolts back in?