slight trouble with steering shaft extender `98 outback

[turbo1600]

been fitting 2 inch sub frame spacers to me 98 outback. now i`ve been trying to fit the steering shaft extender ( about 1 1/4 inch thick) but theres no way it will go back in,..

i`ve tried sliding the extender all to one side then trying to get other end to go on the rack shaft , no go.
removed the coupling , then fitted extender , tried fitting it first on one end then the other etc... various combinations.

without the extender the , coupling JUST sits on the rack shaft .
if i tried to loosen / remove the rack and or steering colum it will still be too long...

would there be anything wrong i`m not looking at , OR would the extender have to be shorter ?

 

[NachaLuva]

There's a little trick to it. Loosen the steering wheel height adjustment (iirc use lowest position) then slide the steering knuckle & extension all the way up on the firewall end. Then you can slide it down onto the rack end.

Make sure the steering wheel is centred & the wheels pointing straight ahead.

What extension did you get? Photo?

 

[turbo1600]

steering extension

There's a little trick to it. Loosen the steering wheel height adjustment (iirc use lowest position) then slide the steering knuckle & extension all the way up on the firewall end. Then you can slide it down onto the rack end.

Make sure the steering wheel is centred & the wheels pointing straight ahead.

What extension did you get? Photo?

here is pic :, you can see the squarish extension its about 30 to 35 mm thick. then you can see the cast iron spacer for engine cross member, , .
i have used tube type eng xmember spacers and lower control arm spacers , similair to the one in the pic. but i had the shaft and spacer lined up against the steering colum end and rack shaft , and its still gonna be too long. spacer is 2 inch. the factory spacer is about 15mm thinner.
mark

 

[turbo1600]

extender steering

There's a little trick to it. Loosen the steering wheel height adjustment (iirc use lowest position) then slide the steering knuckle & extension all the way up on the firewall end. Then you can slide it down onto the rack end.

Make sure the steering wheel is centred & the wheels pointing straight ahead.

What extension did you get? Photo?

oh, i forgot to say, i tried what you said , its a no go.
mk

 

[NachaLuva]

oh, i forgot to say, i tried what you said , its a no go.

Did you try it with the steering wheel in both positions? Are you using both the factory 35mm spacer as well as the 50mm spacer?

 

[turbo1600]

Did you try it with the steering wheel in both positions? Are you using both the factory 35mm spacer as well as the 50mm spacer?

i am not using the factory spacer.
i am only using the 50 mm spacer..
with the extension slid all the way down towards the rack and without the shaft spacer , and with a bolt in, the top hole towards the colum is JUST , MAYBE , at the bottom of the flat that s on the steering colum shaft.

so its a tight fit to get bolt thru , and if i did leave it like that , the colum shaft isnt in far enough for my liking.

i`m just going to cut it and extend it 6 or 7mm . get a sleeve made up , drill a couple holes to plug weld it on side , then get it welded around the ends.
this be even stronger than factory , with the single skinny weld on each end only on one side of the knuckle.

 

[NachaLuva]

i am not using the factory spacer.
i am only using the 50 mm spacer..

That's why, you're meant to use both factory & 50mm spacers. By using just the 50mm spacers & not the 35mm factory spacers, you're effectively dropping the crossmember by only 15mm, but still using a steering extension designed for a 50mm drop

What strut top spacers are you running?

I've sent you a PM

 

[turbo1600]

spacers

i`m running 2 inch strut top spacers,and i measured the factory spacers and they 30mm...