Metal pas pipe replacement

About to embark on the replacement of the 2x metal link pipes on the power steering rack on my Carrera 2. Just wondering how people tend to go about this, drop the front subframe to access the rack or try and slide tee rack out through the subframe gap between the subframe and body?

You do not have to drop the subframe, the rack will slide out of the drivers side. Joint to the steering column can be awkward, not difficult, that aside it's straight forward.

Yep was just wondering if anyone had done it by dropping the subframe at the front as this would avoid having to try extracting the two hose lines to the rack. I've seen a couple of posts where people have struggled to remove these without damage or difficulty. Dropping the subframe may avoid this issue.

I wanted to change the transverse brake pipe due to an advisory so did the rack pipes at the same time by dropping the subframe. New suspension went on shortly after so a geo check was planned anyway. If going this route ensure the fuel tank is low on fuel as you have to prop this up when the subframe is unbolted. Car is a C2 manual. I did try and undo the hose/pipe fitting on the rack, however, the bolt was v tight and I didnt want to risk snapping it! Dropping subframe is a 2 person job if you dont have any special lifting gear IMHO.

Depends I think if your car has PSM. Early 996 had no PSM and has a one piece steering column, you can't separate the lower steering shaft. My '99 has this. Later cars with PSM the lower UJ can be disconnected. I'm not sure of the cut off year I'm sorry but I think it came with the introduction of PSM. If yours is an early car then you will be dropping the subframe. Care not to damage the plastic coating on the end of the steering column splines. Mine flaked off and broke up so I had to change the complete steering column doing this job :eh!:

Thanks for the info. It's a 98 Carrera 2 non pasm. I'm a little confused by what you mean about the plastic coating. At a glance the column is attached to the splined stub on the rack by a pinch bolt. My plan was to undo this pinch bolt and the subframe to allow the subframe to drop enough for access. Where is the plastic coating you mention? Further up the column?

The plastic coating is sort of over the splines on the column and fits into the UJ.

What an utter twat of a job... got the subframe down and the old pipes off fairly easily. Fitting the new pipes went well until the last union on the front of the rack. Had it nearly done up but then without even applying much pressure it suddenly went lose again. Stripped the sodding threads out of the rack!! Not the end of the world, new racks are not crazy price BUT the high/return pressure lines are fully stuck in rack, they also have split crimps on them. Looks like I'm buying a set of those too. £1000 worth of parts coming up it seems. Utter rubbish design. Interestingly amongst the invoices for my car is one for..... a brand new high pressure line and a return line, fitted by the Porsche main dealer at 96,000 miles at a cost of £1300 (parts and labour). Replaced due to the crimped joints failing. Less than another 100,000 miles on they need replacing again, appears those crimps don't last.

Hmm Can you take the rack to a hydraulic hose specialist e.g. pirtek they may have a trick up their sleeve for the stripped thread (e.g. helicoil or an oversize connector. Failing that they may be able to supply some new ends for your hoses to go into new rack and crimp onto your old lines in situ. They do this stuff all the time on trucks and farm machinery. 20 years or 100k is par for the course really on a car part, these are past their "end of life" now so continuously need parts and labour.