Cannot connect intermediate shaft to steering rack.

[Moldy]

I ran into a problem on my 1999 Lumina

 

I cannot get the steering back together. I can get the intermediate shaft to drop enough to come within 1/4" to get the pinch bolt in the notch of the rack side shaft which the bolt goes through but no further. I have the subframe tightened up and even removed one of the steering rack bolts and tried to pry the rack up but no use. I can get the bolt through and it will start threading into the other side but when I pull the bolt out it looks like it is much too high to be fitting through the notch in the shaft.

 

Thanks

Edited December 10, 2011 by Moldy

[Crazy K]

try threading one of the typical W-body 7mm bolts(you know, typical interior bolts everywhere on our cars) into the pinch joint cut on the end of the intermediate shaft, that should spread the pinch joint slightly and allow the parts to slide together effortlessly. thread the pinch bolt through and make sure everything is properly positioned before removing the 7mm bolt, and tehm tighten the pinch bolt. ***Sometimes I have actually had to use two 7mm bolts to spread the part sufficiently..

[Moldy]

Ok. Hopefully this is the problem. What about threading the pinch bolt through the opposite side it normally thread in and use a piece of metal to spread it apart?

[Crazy K]

i've used my solution a dozen times? and 7mm bolts are plentiful? and what you describe would require alot of force?

 

threading it the wrong way does make a great handle though

[Moldy]

I'll give it a try. i spent 3 hours in the cold trying to get it back together! Thanks for your help.