Driving the other day and notices that when turning left, my steering wheel had some knocking like the steering wheel was getting stuck on something, then popping out. so i checked my gear box and noticed that both of the bolts for the mounting bracket were gone. I have the bolts and now trying to put them back in and cant get the bracket lined up. does anyone know an easier way to do this?

 

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Finally got those in, now i cant get 12 lined up. its like the bar has shrunk or something.

 

are the other 2 bolts loose?

if not, try loosing them.

 

yea they are loose, just seems like its shrunk a little. sounds wierd! but im going to get a new complete gear box anyway because its loose by where it connects to the steering wheel.

 

There is no way for it shrink.

 

It's a giant pain bolting the steering rack back in. Try getting a couple little jacks or something to help align it while putting the bolts in.

 

expand it outwards with your hands

and that looseness by the steering column may be a u-joint that needs to be replaced or something

properly diagnose the damage before you replace a possibly still good rack