Reattaching steering rack

[BobTheRussian]

I'm having difficulty getting the steering rack to attach back to the joint in the photo.

DSCF3175.jpg (48 KiB) Viewed 3808 times

Its like the bolts aren't long enough to get a nut on the other side

Everything else is attached (4 bolts and 2 hoses)

I tried loosening the screws at either end so the shaft will slide back and forth:

DSCF3179.jpg (45.75 KiB) Viewed 3808 times

Just wanted to make sure there's nothing blindingly obvious that im forgetting to do...

Anyone have any suggestions?

Cheers

[TardisDeli]

Wow, Bob, you are travailing where few delica captains have gone before. Hence the lack of replies. I will ask at the Deli Meat tomorrow evening. Might be worth phoning a good mechanic? Christine.

[BobTheRussian]

Thanks for the reply...

I cant be the only muppet trying to replace a steering rack with no prior experience- surely!

Wondering if I can smash out the lug nuts and put in longer ones...

I'll call Coombs Country tomorrow if I still cant get it. Guess its a bad idea to drive it with the steering not properly connected though!

There's only one way to learn these things...

Cheers

[sub-arctic]

With that kind of fun stuff i usually leave all the mounting hardware loose so I can get everything started, then torque down the main mounts, then the steering shaft etc. I have never done a steering rack specifically but that might be worth a try!

[BobTheRussian]

All done!

Woke up with a brainwave this morning and figured it out...

I was trying to put it on completely differently to how it should be (and was). Silly me!

Hope someone got a laugh out of this and could see the issue!

Not a hard job at all really... just another embarrassing thread about creating my own problems that don't exist!

One way to learn these things... :)