Fitted the steering rack well nearly, however I have come across a problem.
The gear linkage rod (1) pivots on a ball stud on the steering rack, whilst trying to re-engage the ball stud into the nylon type socket (4) the nylon socket has disengaged from the gear linkage rod.
My problem now is how do I re-engage the socket onto the rod. I can't get any clamps or anything to assist, just no room to locate the socket. So I think I need to remove the linkage from the car.
Does anyone know how linkage is removed, I fear that the only way is extracting it from the tunnel via the engine bay, this would mean I have to remove the engine.??
Any advice/ideas welcome.

Hi Dave
Only a possible way as I have never had to do any thing like it. If a g clamp won't fit in. could you possibly pull from underneath using a luggage ratchet strap.


Brian

Hi Brian, thanks for the call & the offer of assistance, much appreciated.
Your idea of the luggage strap is correct, except the force needs to be directly behind the nylon type cup, otherwise it just pops out of the selector arm. I bent a piece of ¼ bar into an L shape at one end the other a U shape
So today I removed the rack thinking I could locate the gear selector arm so that I could replace the nylon cup., no chance. The selector arm had to be removed from the car, to do this the remaining section of the exhaust was removed then the heat shieldand finally the cover that locates the gear selector arm. Once the arm was removed the nylon ball houshttps://www.fiatforum.com/gallery/data/500/medium/IMAG1191.jpging was pressed back in using a vice. Back under the car to re-fit the steering rack and to re-fit the selector arm.
Here are a few pictures of the pivot pin on the rack, the nylon ball housing and the selector arm.

Looks like you have done a good job! Although its too late now, plumbers often have tools for limited access jobs. I'm thinking water pump grips or even an articulated tap spanner! Anyway, glad you have it sorted! Well done. S


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