Okay heres what I had to do with that deal. Connect the upper linkage with bottom diconected first then attach the lower.

 

I never disconnected the lower one... was I supposed to?

 

Well I found it easier that way. I think 8mm will do it.

 

As I said previously, it's out to far. . . you have to push the linkage back (toward the firewall). You do know it is adjustable, right?

 

Did not know that, I feel like an idiot, must have missed your previous post.

 

Just went outside despite the rain and gave it a shot, wouldn't budge... does it take a lot of force? And you're talking about just the male part, right? Or is it that whole cylinder that comes out of the firewall?

 

Tried and tried and could not get the upper part to move towards the firewall, seems pretty firm to me. Tried busting the 11mm( or 7/16) bolt on the bottom of the linkage and doing it that way, no avail... sprayed PB blaster on it and now it's a waiting game.

I'm still curious about it moving toward the firewall... you're sure it's like that SnakeOiler?

 

right here:

 

As I recall, I removed mine at both ends (rack-and-pinion and steering wheel shaft). During the reinstall I slipped it on the shaft first, then on the rack-and-pinion without any problems. Then you reinstall the bolts after both ends are on.

WD

 

Can anyone confirm that it slides there? I tried there, and it won't budge. Then again, I can't get much leverage on it at all.

I tried again busting the bottom bolt loose, won't budge. Soaked it with PB blaster again and I'll try again shortly. It's in such an awkward position (both above and below the car) that it's hard to get a breaker bar or anything on there, and I can't get good leverage from above because I have to have extensions to reach it.

 

You need to take the bottom off and then put it on the top first.The bottom bolt MUST be removed...trust me.

 

Point taken, got the bottom out, put top on, now bottom won't go back in without hitting the 3 or 5 cylinder primaries... motor mount need to be replaced I guess?

 

IIRC, when it re-installed mine, I had to pry it a bit (making sure the flats were lined up)and when it got to the right spot, it just popped on. Just don't push too hard on the column end of the steering shaft. It is made to collapse on impact. If you cause the shaft to collapse, you will have to replace it.

 

Dark came quickly tonight, and so did the mosquitoes, so I'm done for the night. No matter how I maneuvered the shaft, I couldn't get by without hitting the header... then again, I never did get it locked in up top and bottom, so maybe that's the problem. It's looking like I need a new motor mount though...

 

I just went through this on saturday.. i pried on that bitch for hours trying to get it back on, then i took the bottom part off.. and dude, it literally took me 10 minutes to have it fully bolted back on..

Try taking the bottom bolt off, completely taking it off, the put the top part on, just start the bolt so it cant slide off, then putting the bottom part back on