Need Help Removing Steering Rack, Now I Get IT!!! Options

[ericread]

HELP!!! I have read and re-read the prior posts on steering rack replacement. I am at the point where the following has been completed:
1. Removed fuel tank.
2. Removed right and left tie rods.
3. Detatched U-Joint directly inside driver compartment.
4. Removed two bolts that attach steering rack to the support.
5. Removed two bolts that attach support bar to body (off the tabs that face the rear of the car (shown at item 6 in the diagram).
6. Removed the two bolts that attach master cylinder to the bulkhead/pedal cluster.
7. Removed the two bolts that hold the steering shaft bearing (over the steering shaft bellows underneath the fuel tank).



Question 1: How do I move the master cylinder out of the way? The short brake line that goes to the tunnel doesn't give the master cylinder a lot of distance to back off, and the support bar (item #1 in the diagram) is in the way when I pull the master cylinder back.

Question 2: How do I actually remove the rack? The steering shaft directly connected to the rack seems to require that I drop the rack directly down. But the bolt tabs on the support bar itself (Item #1 in the diagram), as well as the bolt tabs that run a few inches to the underside of the body (towards the rear or the body) (item # 6 in the diagram) all seem to be in the way? What am I missing???

My thanks.

Eric Read

[ericread]

No answer yet.... Hmmmmm (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) Guess I need photos.

Another 914 site participant suggested I push the bellows up, and unbolt the steering shaft from the steering rack.

Here is a picture or the fuel tank area. As you can see, the steering shaft bellows is quite hard and takes up the entire area. Unless I cut the bellows (which I don't want to do), how can I push the bellows up? The bellows are already pretty well compressed, and do not seem to want to compress any further. Or am I just being a wimp, and the bellows is compressable, I'm just not trying hard enough?



Here's the inside of the cockpit which shows the steering shaft.



A picture from underneath the car showing the steering rack disconnected, but not yet removed. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)



And a final picture from underneath, showing the support bar brackets.



Is removing the bellows and unbolting the steering shaft still the best answer?

Again, my thanks!

Eric Read (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wavey.gif)