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]

Thanks everybody. I ended up dropping the entire front suspension. That allowed me to easily swap out the old 914 steering rack with the replacement 911 steering rack. I knew ahead of time that I would need to swap the 914 steering shaft for the 911 steering shaft, as the 911 steering shaft is too short.

When I removed the old 914 rack I determined that there was significant free play in the teeth of the rack! So I guess you can wear these suckers out. Since my odometer had just turned (I believe for the third time) 300,000 miles does present some wear on those "un-wearable" parts. Let me know if anybody out there wants a worn steering rack. It's yours for the price of shipping.

As for dropping the front suspension, I always fear what I don't know. But, like dropping the engine, once you have done it, it seems much less overwhelming.

Thanks again everybody for your advice! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

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