steering rack - flange tube?

[Keith Lawyer]

So I'm confused on the flange tube.  I removed the bolt under the dash entirely and tried to pry back on it, but nothing really happens.  The flange tube is free on it's splines because I can pry it back maybe 1/8", and the steering wheel appears to move an equal amount, but it doesn't appear the tube is just gonna drop out of there at the moment.

Is this normal?  All the write-ups I've read seem to indicate the flange tube can be removed even if the rack is still in place?

http://www.ovalking.e7even.com/SteeringRack.html 

An archive search for "flange tube" came back w nothing relevant but the write-up in the KB.

Keith L