steering column stuck / rotated

[Fredward]

Im swapping an rb25 into my s13

as I was swapping the crossmember out for the r33 we elected to not drop the rack so we unbolted it from the stock crossmember

when we got the new crossmember bolted up and the rack and pinion moved horizontally to the right spot we realized the rack had rotated toward the firewall.

we noticed this because the driver side mounting bracket has that sharp angle in it on the top but the corresponding angle on the rack was pointing towards the firewall.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l307/fmmrz5/2012-10-03162338.jpg

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l307/fmmrz5/2012-10-03162222.jpg

so what we deduced is the telescopic part of the steering column (i should say steerishaft) telescoped out but we couldn't get it to go back in thus allowing us to rotate the rack back to the correct orientation so we could bolt it on.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l307/fmmrz5/2012-10-03162247.jpg

the telescopic part is under that whiteish rubber boot

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l307/fmmrz5/2012-10-03162529.jpg

Can anyone help with this? Ive tried searching in here and nico and cant find an answer.

I can get pics tomorrow if they are needed. Thanks

[Fredward]

bump

msglngth

[EnemyS15]

Definitely in for pics, hard to picture what you got going on.

[Fredward]

pics added. the main question is has anyone had a problem with the steering column extending and not going back in and if so how did you fix it.

my next plan is to take the crossmember back off and also take the rack off this time and bolt it to the crossmember while off the car then bolt everything back up and see if I cant get it to work.

[Fredward]

Bump for the day

[fliprayzin240sx]

You tried disconnect the shaft from the joint and see if you can push it back in? I'm not 100% sure but figured there should be something in there to prevent the shaft from popping out like that. Check the FSM on that.

The one thing thats popping in my head is maybe the steering shaft bushing broke off...
http://zilvia.net/f/chat/415885-best-setup-180sx-handling-response.html

[Fredward]

Figured it out. I just took the crossmember back off and also the rack and pinion. Once the shaft was disconnected from e rack I hammered it back in to the origional position. Oh I also bolted the rack to the crossmember while it was off