Resolved 2G Engine Rebuild

[RubyEclipse]

Hello everyone! I just purchased my 1996 Eclipse GST a few months ago, had some issues with a few different things. Most recent was car was smoking and running very uneasy, so I decided to pull the engine. I am going to do a full engine rebuild-ish, I bought new wisco heads, still looking at the rods I want, if there’s anything anyone thinks I should buy and upgrade I would love help! Trying to push more power but not an insane amount seeing how I want this to be more of a daily but not quite. Thank you guys!

 

[CrackedDSM]

Teach Kung Fu? I couldn't teach paulyman Kung Fu - and he already knows Kung Fu!!

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Not only does he know it, he was there when it was invented!

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Paul.....We've met, I want to see those "Kung Fu" skills.
Just poking at you my friend!

 

[Bigbeanbird]

Thank you for your wisdom Master Po.

Paul.....We've met, I want to see those "Kung Fu" skills.
Just poking at you my friend!

Poking is a good thing, keeps the crew snug..

 

[pauleyman]

Paul.....We've met, I want to see those "Kung Fu" skills.
Just poking at you my friend!

I know war. It is a word men use to clothe the nakedness of their killing. - Master Pauleyman

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[RubyEclipse]

I’m trying to get my rack and pinion out. So far I’ve disconnected 2 metal hoses on the bottom, and 4 bracket bolts on the bottom. Now im going to take out the tie rod ends. But, it doesn’t even seem to be loose. I also don’t know what or where it’s connected to the steering column, I can’t find it. Would love any help from everyone and Master Pauleyman.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

I'll leave it to Master Paul.
I'm the engine builder is all. I did get TREMENDOUS help from Paul-ason, on my 5 speed rebuild. Thank you Master!!!

 

[pauleyman]

I’m trying to get my rack and pinion out. So far I’ve disconnected 2 metal hoses on the bottom, and 4 bracket bolts on the bottom. Now im going to take out the tie rod ends. But, it doesn’t even seem to be loose. I also don’t know what or where it’s connected to the steering column, I can’t find it. Would love any help from everyone and Master Pauleyman.

Its pretty obvious if you follow the line of the steering column. I would highly recommend marking the column and clamp so it goes back exactly where it was. The shaft is splined and is retained by a single bolt and clamp. It should be obvious. Look at a pic of a rack out of the car

 

[RubyEclipse]

Its pretty obvious if you follow the line of the steering column. I would highly recommend marking the column and clamp so it goes back exactly where it was. The shaft is splined and is retained by a single bolt and clamp. It should be obvious. Look at a pic of a rack out of the car

I have the rack unbolted from the steering column but I cannot get it loose to fully get out. I’m so close but I can’t get it fully.

I got it off the column, but I can’t get the top hose off, the metal one. And still it will not come out. It’s very loose though.

 

[pauleyman]

I have the rack unbolted from the steering column but I cannot get it loose to fully get out. I’m so close but I can’t get it fully.

I got it off the column, but I can’t get the top hose off, the metal one. And still it will not come out. It’s very loose though.

Well....you have to disconnect the lines.

 

[RubyEclipse]

Well....you have to disconnect the lines.

Yeah, I just picked up a flare wrench to pull it off. How do I fix this leak on the right side? Or do I just buy a whole new set up?

 

[pauleyman]

Yeah, I just picked up a flare wrench to pull it off. How do I fix this leak on the right side? Or do I just buy a whole new set up?

The rack is rebuildable. I just got another one. If you do this you might consider paying the core charge and keeping the old unit.

 

[RubyEclipse]

The rack is rebuildable. I just got another one. If you do this you might consider paying the core charge and keeping the old unit.

I am trying my absolute hardest to get this thing out. I have everything out and off, it sides freely side to side, but that plastic hose on the top is stopping the entire thing from coming out. I mean no matter what i do, it will not come out of the small hole.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

I'm sure you have it loose, can you rotate it to clear? I honestly haven't had one of these cars out, but sometimes you gotta "finagle" it around to come out the drivers side. Clearance, from what I hear, is sometimes an issue but I have a couple cars with no motors I could snap a picture of the rack in them, if it would help. I'm lucky my running DSMs have decent racks.
LMK

 

[RubyEclipse]

I'm sure you have it loose, can you rotate it to clear? I honestly haven't had one of these cars out, but sometimes you gotta "finagle" it around to come out the drivers side. Clearance, from what I hear, is sometimes an issue but I have a couple cars with no motors I could snap a picture of the rack in them, if it would help. I'm lucky my running DSMs have decent racks.
LMK

Nope, not able to do anything. All it does is move an inch each way and I can pull it side to side 2 inches. Nothing else. There is simply mo room it seems like.

 

[Bigbeanbird]

The rack is rebuildable. I just got another one. If you do this you might consider paying the core charge and keeping the old unit.

That rings a bell.. wish I would have kept a starter core on my 454..I back the motion to keep the old one and pay the core..

 

[RubyEclipse]

Finally got it out. Worst. Thing. Ever. Holy moly. That took me way way too long. There is a nipple on the top part of the rack that is sideways almost. It will block the rack from sliding out and coming down, and or rotating to come out. I took off the nipple and if fell right out!! It is also a lot easier to do this with the sway bar out, but you don’t have to take it out.

In this photo it is the bottom, bigger bolt hole. The top one is a hose inlet that will too have to come out. The bottom two hoses don’t actually have to come off, but they did help let out power steering fluid. Definitely use a flare wrench for those hoses, top is a 17 along with nipple I believe is a 16/17.

Since I got it all off, the passenger side boot is split down the middle. That’s where the huge leak was from. Do we replace or rebuild? What’s more worth it in the long run, and cheaper…

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[Justin DuBois]

Since I got it all off, the passenger side boot is split down the middle. That’s where the huge leak was from. Do we replace or rebuild? What’s more worth it in the long run, and cheaper…

If the internals are in good shape, and the CV wasn't run through a pile of dirt, you should be able to replace the boot and grease with a boot kit that includes clamps.

 

[RubyEclipse]

If the internals are in good shape, and the CV wasn't run through a pile of dirt, you should be able to replace the boot and grease with a boot kit that includes clamps.

It was leaking like out of the boot, I mean all of the fluid. I think racks internal seal was blown.

 

[Justin DuBois]

It was leaking like out of the boot, I mean all of the fluid. I think racks internal seal was blown.

My bad - I assumed split boot was your CV - not the steering rack. I had mine rebuilt. new boots were included.

 

[RubyEclipse]

My bad - I assumed split boot was your CV - not the steering rack. I had mine rebuilt. new boots were included.

How much did you pay to rebuild it? Is a new one not more trust worthy?

 

[Justin DuBois]

How much did you pay to rebuild it? Is a new one not more trust worthy?

New from where I would ask. My rack is OE - and still good after the rebuild. Just depends if its in spec or not. Have to have it looked at to know.

Sorry - the cost was buried in the list of things I owe John for doing. He really did do more than I asked - just cause.

 

[RubyEclipse]

New from where I would ask. My rack is OE - and still good after the rebuild. Just depends if its in spec or not. Have to have it looked at to know.

Ah okay, im just worried I’ll put it back and something else is gonna break. I feel like if I go new I’ll have less problems. But then again, I don’t know anything. Should I call a shop and ask how much for a rebuild? Or do it myself if I wanted?

 

[Justin DuBois]

Ah okay, im just worried I’ll put it back and something else is gonna break. I feel like if I go new I’ll have less problems. But then again, I don’t know anything. Should I call a shop and ask how much for a rebuild? Or do it myself if I wanted?

Well, If John had not done it when everything was apart on the lift, then I would have eventually learned what it took to do it - but as I have not yet learned this, I won't hazard any advice.

 

[RubyEclipse]

Well, If John had not done it when everything was apart on the lift, then I would have eventually learned what it took to do it - but as I have not yet learned this, I won't hazard any advice.

No worries at all, I purchased another one, but if everyone says return in and rebuild it, I will. Most threads I saw it seemed like they just bought new ones.

 

[SixBolt_16G]

Finally got it out. Worst. Thing. Ever. Holy moly. That took me way way too long.

Could you edit your post to give us some insight on what needed to happen to finally get it out? Doesnt have to be super long...just something like having to angle it a certain way or force it a little more than what you originally thought, etc. Thinking if someone searching steering rack removal might land on this thread and at the moment theyd be disapointed to not have some type of resolution to help their issue...