Mongo

Thanks Sean. Looks like that 3/8" trans hose and EFI clamps will do the job.

Back to work on removing the rack.

Mongo

Yup hence why I started the thread.

Just look at this mess!

Mongo

What a fun weekend. I had a nice bath in some exquisite Dexron III with a splash of Lucas Power Steering Stop Leak for some exfoliation. Both driver and passenger boots had enough fluid in them to refill a full empty quart bottle of ATF.

Mongo

10 minutes later.... the fluid was still streaming out. ATF should also not be flowing out of where the tie rod screws into. This steering rack was on borrowed time. Ironically the passenger side was not dripping at all from the boot until I opened her up.

On a side note, I already sucked all of the ATF out of the power steering reservoir. What you are seeing was still in the rack on the boots altogether.

Mongo

Behold the secret to getting tie rods off without grinding your 32mm wrenches to make them slim profile!

Assenmacher (my wife calls it the '***-smacker') 32mm BMW fan clutch tool. Picked it up off of Amazon. It is steel and will not get destroyed by the tough German steel that makes up our tie rods like any other POS fan clutch wrench from Harbor Freight.

Mongo

I finally figured out how to align the steering rack while awaiting for Roger's tool to come in the mail. Pull the plastic bolt off to reveal the dimple in the rack that indicates it is on center.

Mongo

Now onto draining the power steering feed lines from the pump and reservoir. Still a little bit in there.

wpgshark

Ah the smell filling your nostrils , the slime sliding in from above the gloves.

This is what 928 ownership is about.

Can't wait for spring.

Mongo

Exciting isn't it?

Mongo

And it's out.

I had some issues trying to separate the steering knuckle from the base of the rack. I didn't take addition pictures of the knuckle but I basically removed the bolt where the universal joint is clamped onto the steering rack. After separating it from higher up, I was able to have plenty of leverage to counter-hold the bolt on the lower knuckle's clamp.

I had a massive case of OCD when I saw all the grime on the knuckle. I soaked it with engine degreaser and let it sit in a pool of WD-40 to shine it up.

Mongo

Work has pretty much stopped as I wait for my alignment tool from 928s'r'us. However, I have decided to continue my campaign of degreasing the bottom of the car to remove any traces of serious grime and ATF. I took a steel brush to the control arms to the point where they are nice and shiny now on the underside. I also steel-brushed all the threads of the bolts on the crossmember that hold the steering rack and its retaining plate. A nice soak in WD-40 will make the nuts easier to thread on when I reinstall the new rack and plate.

In some of my pictures, you will notice that the areas where there should be red paint over undercoating are blacked out with dirt. What is a good cleaner to use on this to restore the red paint without eating through it, and can I use a brass brush, or a plastic/nylon bristled one? My tools are Simple Green and Gunk Engine Degreaser (non-foamy).

wpgshark

I've had really good luck with Simply Green HD, it is purple and you can mix it to any concentration you want, strong enough it will etch aluminum 1 part cleaner to 3 parts water will remove most things.

Wear protection including gloves, spray on, leave for sometime depending on level of filth, hose off.

Good luck

Mongo

Problem is I can't quite hose the underside of the car off in the garage while it is on jackstands. I have heard that Simple Green is corrosive to aluminum if left on. My other alternate idea would be to rub some WD-40 on bare aluminum components after using a damp terry towel to wipe off the SG. The WD-40 will drive the water away. Lastly, I am thinking of wiping it again one more time to get rid of any excess WD40, as it can attract dirt.

My memory is coming back to me on how I got that alternator and AC bracket so clean you see in the picture, and I believe that is the same technique I did back in '13.

davek9

"..I have heard that Simple Green is corrosive to aluminum if left on. My other alternate idea would be to rub some WD-40 on bare aluminum components after using a damp terry towel to wipe off the SG. "

I use a spray bottle (empty window cleaner or you can buy heavy duty ones at Home Depot) filled w/ warm water to rinse off SG, use a drip pan or plenty of old news paper on the floor.

I have this job to look forward to this week on Jack Stands too

Mongo

It is not so bad. Just make sure you don't carry the smell of your new 'A.T.Hefe' fragrance with you to bed. Found out the wife doesn't like that smell too much.