1998 C70 steering rack removal tips, coupler

vondoo · Post by **vondoo** » 03 Mar 2012, 20:30

Ok so, i have removed the outer tie rods, supported the sub frame, removed the sub frame bolts, do i need to remove the rear motor mount bolt to separate the the subframe from the engine? Also do the endlinks need to be separated from the sway bar? I'm in the middle of this and I'm a little stuck, thx

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 03 Mar 2012, 21:17

I have not yet had to remove a rack but I did need to free it from the subframe when I yanked the transmission to replace clutch on my '94.

As I recall, the rear motor mount bolt actually goes through a tab on the rack so yes, the rear mount needs to get unbolted.

My endlinks were off anyway so that I could remove the axles but removing them will certainly give you more room to get the rack maneuvered out and in.

...Lee

vondoo · Post by **vondoo** » 04 Mar 2012, 11:25

thx for the help , if anyone else has done this any hints would be very helpful, thx again

Post by **renns** » 04 Mar 2012, 19:04

vondoo wrote:Ok so, i have removed the outer tie rods, supported the sub frame, removed the sub frame bolts, do i need to remove the rear motor mount bolt to separate the the subframe from the engine? Also do the endlinks need to be separated from the sway bar? I'm in the middle of this and I'm a little stuck, thx

For a procedure, see attached. Getting the steering shaft coupler off (and even worse - on) was a pain. Beyond that, it was pretty straight-forward.

Lude850 · Post by **Lude850** » 09 Mar 2012, 16:53

I don't suppose you have any tips for removing the steering shaft coupler? I have everything else on the rack loosened. This is the only part I can not get to budge!

Thanks.

Lude850 · Post by **Lude850** » 09 Mar 2012, 18:31

nevermind ... a little dinner and a bigger hammer did the trick.

99volvonewbie · Post by **99volvonewbie** » 25 Mar 2013, 11:01

Lude and Vondoo,

I have everything loose from my rack EXCEPT the bottom hose connector and the steering shaft coupler.

Do either of you have any tips on these two things? I am fairly sure I have tried every possible configuration to fit my flare nut wrench in to get that stupid bottom nut. I have beat the living daylights out of that coupler too. I have even tried to pry the coupler at the seam like I saw on one of these forums. So close and so far away.

plantcity · Post by **plantcity** » 26 Aug 2014, 09:02

I know this is a really late post but I had a similar problem, could not remove the steering shaft coupling from my leaking rack to save my life. I wound up removing the coupling from the steering wheel shaft inside the passenger compartment- there is a rubber boot that seals it off, so the inside connection is MUCH easier to take apart since it isn't exposed to the elements at all. Remove the bolt at the end of the steering column and pull the shaft out of the coupling- it is identical to the one on the other end. Remove the rubber boot, too, it just pulls off. The hole in the floorboard is big enough to allow the coupling to be pulled through and into the engine compartment, and the rack will come out of the car with the coupling still attached. Once everything is out of the engine you can do whatever you need to remove it, clean it up, and then attach it to your new rack. Putting this out there cause I found this to be the hardest part of getting the rack out- everything else is pretty much accessible from under the car, but the coupling is up above and kinda hard to get to. In my case, once I had everything out I had to use a punch to dislodge the bolt and a puller to get it off the shaft. Needless to say it was tough. Volvo really doesn't want the steering to come loose, apparently, and mine was really corroded and stuck on there. No way it would ever have come off with the rack still in the car. Hope this helps!

Post by **abscate** » 27 Aug 2014, 00:49

Mod note - reformatted title for searching

Thanks for the helpful followup, plantcity !!!