Step by Step Steering Rack Removal

My Steering Rack on my '83 308 needs to be rebuilt and I'm thinking about removing it myself. I've searched the archieves, and although I have learned some helpful information regarding part of the process, does anyone have a step by step including photos? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

There are a few threads on this in the archives.J wise from memory has one with pics.I did my GT4 about 6 months ago and replaced suspension bushes,lower ball joints,sway bar bushes,shocks and tie rod ends and the procedure should be the same
(1)jack up front and prop up with stands
(2)remove front wheels.
(3)remove front under tray panel
(4)starting from one side,remove tie rod end nut and disconnect tie rod.Then do the other side.There are a few methods of doing this depending on whether you intend on reusing the tie rods or not.If they are the original,I would replace them as they aren't generally expensive.To remove them if you intend on reusing them you can use the 2 hammer procedure or even use a tie rod removing tool.If you intend on reusing dont use a fork as this will damage the boot
(5)with both tie rods disconnected,looking at the steering column shaft through the drivers side wheel well you will notice a clamp that has a 10mm nut and bolt that retains the column to the rack.Its a spline shaft.Using a 10mm socket with a 10mm spanner on the other end remove this nut and bolt.The bolt sometimes can be a pain to remove so use a punch to drive it out.When you have removed the bolt with a big flat screwdriver gently pry open the clamp.
(6)get under the car(again make sure the car is securely propped up with jack stands)and you will see 2 clamps that mount the rack to the chassis.Remove the nuts(from memory I think they are 13mm) securing the clamp.It is also a good idea to replace the steering rack mount bushes as well
(7)the rack itself will come out through the drivers side wheel well.Make sure that the steering column clamp is loose and that the splined shaft moves freely.With a bit of jiggling it will come out
(8)when removing the tie rods off the rack,count how many turns they unscrew from the rack and make a note.When you have had the rack rebuilt,screw the tie rods back on with the same amount of turns as noted.
(9)refitting is a bit of a pain and slightly trickier.Before you refit the rack,you need to centre the rack.Wrap a piece of old leather(you could use an off cut of an old belt) around the splined shaft and put a pair of vice grip pliers gently on it.Take care as to not damage the splines.Now turn the shaft left until it gets to full lock.Then turn right and count how many turns from left to right then find the centre and centre the rack.Centre the steering wheel the same.Make sure the steering wheel column union joints are aligned.
(10)then refit the steering rack, again feeding it through the drivers side.Attach the column clamp to the rack spline.Refit the rack mounts but dont tighten all the nuts and bolts just yet.Refit the column clamp bolt and tighten.No need to torque up at this stage.
(11)When you have done this,get in the car and turn the steering form one side to the other.You should be able to turn it equally from left to right.From memory its roughly 2 1/2 turns from centre in either direction to full lock.If this is not equal then the rack is not centred.You will have to remove and turn the splined shaft using the vice grips and retry until you get it right.This took me a few times to get right and would of been much easier and quicker if I had someone helping
(12)once you have centred the rack, tighten all the nuts and bolts.Refit the tie rods to the uprights and tighten the tie rod nuts.Refit the wheels.It should be close to centre.If you dont have to go far for an alignment then you can drive it otherwise have it towed
Hope this helps

 

Here is a link to the thread with pics courtesy of J Wise
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90608&highlight=steering+rack+removal

 

Thank you soooo much Maurice! This will definately help...like many, I enjoy working on my 308 myself..it's like therapy..I will post photos and results when I start the job probably next month. Thanks again