So almost have the rack apart in my 99. For some reason it has fought me every step of the way. Now the input shaft won't come out. Am I missing something? Every bolt is out and the input cover thing came off. This is what I'm left with and no amount of PB blaster has loosened it up. Get angry? Never had this much headache with this before. Maybe I just have sissy hands. Figured I'd check wih you guys and make sure I didn't miss something. My 97's came apart in my hands.


Loaded from my phone

 

Never mind. All it took was a pair of ***** and a hammer. However I have seen pics of Hustlers and 99mx5s shaft being welded. That was my intent with this, but I cant find any play in my shaft. I can grab both ends with pliers and nothing moves. Do all shafts need or should be welded?

 

Put one end in a vise and locking pliers on the other end (rags to protect splines). You'll see it move. The reed valve in there directs the fluid to the right or left depending on where you twist the steering wheel. If you don't weld the pinion, the torque of the steering action is resting on the reed and the tabs on either side which they were not designed to hold on a recurring basis.

There will be the usual fight over the next 200 posts, but I responded first so I get to be right this time.

 

FM's method uses no welding.

 

No method "requires" it, but it gets rid of a little play apparently. I need to focus on the quick release play before anything, but it seems like a good, cheap mod. Hustler like it.

 

I didn't weld it the first go around. The shaft wore out over the course of about 6 months. It got worse and worse until I had probably 15 degrees of slop in the steering wheel. I just took the whole assembly back apart last weekend to do that one little welding step, and the difference was huge. At first you might not even notice, but trust me, you want to weld it the first time.

 

Good to know. I got a little violent with it and it didn't move. I'll reassymble the rest and have the shaft welded. When in doubt..... Overkill is better.