Date:         Fri, 28 Mar 2003 21:35:11 -0600
Reply-To:     Larry Alofs <lalofs@RCN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Alofs <lalofs@RCN.COM>
Subject:      Re: Spanner Wrench for Power Steering Rack
Comments: To: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi,

I'm not familiar with that ring, but I assume that it either has two
holes for pins or has two notches.  I have recently faced both types.

To disassemble a valve on our humidifier, I needed a pin wrench to fit
two holes in a ring.  I took two small drill bits to serve as the pins
and drilled holes thru a hardwood block to hold them parallel and at the
right spacing.

To take apart the struts from our '94 Golf I had to remove a ring having
two notches.  I found a socket of the proper diameter and using a fine
blade hacksaw cut away two sections of the edge, leaving two rectangular
prongs.  Of course I couldn't turn the socket in the normal way, because
an Allen wrench had to go thru the center to hold the shaft of the
strut.  So I roughed up the socket with a grinder and turned it with a
large Vise-Grips.

I don't care what they say, Vise Grips are an essential tool! :-)

Good luck, Larry A.


John Rodgers wrote:
>
> Anyone got  a spanner wrench that fits the ring on the power steering
> rack that they would be willig to loan out. Or have suggestions as to
> ways/methods to remove the ring for disassembly without the spanner. No
> punch and hammer recommendations please. BTDT, made a mess by breaking
> the ring. Couldn't find replacement. Had to have it welded and then
> re-machined to re-establish the threads. Worked, but what a PITA.
> Costly?? You bet. Could have been forced to buy a new rack, but I had a
> machinist friend!!
>
> Need to do the job again on a newer van, so this time looking for the
> proper tools.
>
> TIA,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
> Birmingham, AL