85 Coupe GT steering rack bolts

[Chris Hall]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions!  Good to know the holes
are threaded... that should help me if and when it winds up being a 1
man job.

Also fun to hear all the problem solving engineering techniques... lol
  I once used the square end of a nail punch to remove a drain plug
off a 1982 Renault Fuego, since the dealer wanted like $70 for the
"special tool" so I know how it is  haha.




On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 01:09:59 -0700, Jim Dupree <jdupree914 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> All 4 of the 4000 series car I owned had these bolts loosen up and I have
> found them loose on many customer cars. It is the first thing I look at if
> the steering feels loose.
> The bolts actually thread into the rack, they don't just go through a hole
> and have a nut on the bottom. So first you have to tighten the bolts from
> above and then hold them while you tighten the nuts below. It is easiest if
> you have a friend help and get a 17mm wobbly socket (or universal joint and
> socket) and long extension. You can position the rack where you can get the
> bolts from above with your long extension and wobbly socket by going at and
> angle next to the battery box. Tighten both bolts then have you friend hold
> one bolt with extension and wobbly while you tighten the nuts from below.
> You might be able to reach in thru the tie rod opening in the wheel well. Or
> maybe reaching around behind the cylinder head. Since the rack is threaded
> the torque on the bolts will hold the tight so you friend will not have to
> hold very much tension. I have even been successful tighten the top and then
> the bottom with out holding the top.
> Good luck
> Jim
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chris Hall" <badcomrade at gmail.com>
> To: <quattro at audifans.com>
> Sent: Saturday, October 16, 2004 5:20 PM
> Subject: 85 Coupe GT steering rack bolts
> 
> > The two bolts that connect the tie rod bracket to the steering rack
> > piston are loose on my car.  Seems from what I can see, you have to
> > have a wrench under and on top of the bolt / nut to tighten them.  I
> > moved the steering left to right to try and find a position that would
> > allow for the easiest access to the bolts, but I can't figure out how
> > I'd be able to get two wrenches in there to tighten the bolts.
> >
> > Anyone BTDT?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > --
> > Chris Hall
> > badcomrade at gmail.com
> > "making girls cry since 1974"
> > _______________________________________________
> > quattro mailing list
> > quattro at audifans.com
> > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/quattro
> 
> 


-- 
Chris Hall
badcomrade at gmail.com
"making girls cry since 1974"