Steering linkage too short?!

[Scott Anderson]

My brother and I are putting a new Kmember into his 97 Formula and after we got everything back together the Steering linkage won't reach!??

It was fine until we put on the motor mounts. It was a wrecked car, but it seems strange that it won't fit at all. It's about 1 inch or so too short.

Any Ideas?!

[CKJ]

Is using the factory rack and pinion? I've heard in a few cases where people running a manual r&p have to get a linkage extension for one side, I think it was the passenger side.

[Scott Anderson]

??

I'm not sure if I'm using the correct terminology. The arm that comes out of the firewall won't reach the axle part where it's supposed to bolt onto.

I don't know why you mention driver or passenger side as the arm is only on the driver side where the steering wheel is.

[Scott Anderson]

If we are talking about the same thing where can you get an extension at?!

[CKJ]

ahhh sorry, wrong steering linkage, i'm talking about something else when using a manual R&P. But what brand K-member is he using, and is he using a factory R&P or an aftermarket one.

[Scott Anderson]

Everything should be stock.

The Kmember is from a 96 WS6 his formula I actually think is a 96.

Rack and pinion we believe is stock, but are wondering if they used another cars steering stuff after it was wrecked. It wasn't put back together very well.

I wish my car wasn't in the shop so I could just compare the two!

[CKJ]

So your brothers car is wrecked and he's trying to put another factory k-member thats not out of a wrecked car into his car that is wrecked. If it wont line up right then some part of the frame is bent. The k-member just bolts right up to the frame, and if its not lining up.. then something ain't right. A vast majority of frame/engine parts from 93-97 LT1 F-bodies are interchangable. There is no other reason for it not to direclty bolt up other then something is bent.

[03slowZ06]

The pieces suck into eachother on both ends of the joint. Maybe the upper is stuck?

[Scott Anderson]

See that's what I thought happened. It looks like the upper part was sucked back into the firewall piece. How do you go about pulling it out!?

Everything lined up fine, it was easily able to reach until we put the motor mount on that side and a loud thud happened and now the steering won't reach.

[03slowZ06]

pb blaster? also i think there is a locking bolt on the upper one. Im not really sure though. If they are rusted together it could take some heat to free them up.

[CKJ]

pb blaster?

= the greatest spray lube ever!!!! Sorry..:hijacked:

[03slowZ06]

But dont put heat to the pb blaster. It smells horrid.:barf:

[Scott Anderson]

Is there an actual procedure anyone knows of?! Pulling on it is not working. PB blaster didn't help.

Does anyone have a shop manual that says anything about this?

[cooter]

the 2 ends move back and forth wire wheel the 2 ends and use some grease tap it with a brass hammer until it is all the way short the all the way long do that a few times and you should be good to go . i just did it this weekend.

[Scott Anderson]

Wire wheeL?