I'm in the process of replacing my steering rack, and I loosened/removed all the suspension subframe bolts per the manual. The only problem is the subframe hasn't lowered enough to allow me to pull old rack out. I followed the directions in the manual but instead of using the "special" Honda subframe tool I just put a jack with a 4x4 across the rear of the subframe, but even with all the bolts out it only lowered it less than an inch and the book says I need to get it down 1 15/16".

Does anyone have any ideas why it's not coming down any further? It's not even resting on the 4x4 it's just kinda hanging down a little.

 

Are you sure you removed & loosened all the subframe bolts? 2 in the middle on the left, 2 in the middle on the right, in the front there's 1 on each side on a bracket you have to loosen down to an inch and 3/16, and in the back you need to remove brackets on the left and right (2 bolts each).

 

I'm positive, I even removed the bolts from the center shock/motor mount but it just won't go down any further. I'm thinking it may be because of my tein coilovers not allowing it to drop enough?

I can take a prybar and get it to come down a bit more but it just goes back to like 3/4" drop in the rear and the front is dropped maybe a 1/4". I'm gonna try undoing the tein coilovers at the shock mounts and hopefully that'll allow enough room to get the old rack out.

I literally followed the service manual step by step other than the "special" subframe tool. I knew replacing the rack wasn't going to be easy but this just doesn't make sense to me.

I wish Honda/Acura would would just recall their PS racks since it seems to be a pretty common issue, but of course since it's technically not a safety issue there's no reason to.

 

If the lower ball joints were removed from the LCR, the coil overs wouldn't be the problem.

 

That, yeah.


I assume the lbj aren't attached anymore, lol! There's nothing else that should be holding it.

 

That makes perfect sense, I actually thought about doing that. I wonder why my manual doesn't say to pop the lower ball joints. I've literally read the rack removal section a dozen times, and I did everything but use the "special" Honda jack.

 

What?? I'm pretty sure the manual does say to pop the lbj. Why wouldn't it??

 

My 04 manual only says to pop the tie rod, obviously. Nothing about the lbj though.

 

Checked the FSM and I was incorrect, you're right, nothing about the LCA BJ's.
Scanner is broke so:
Remove rt side eng component cover, rt rear cover and left rear cover
Drain fluid
Remove wheels
Remove steering wheel
Remove steering joint cover
Remove steering joint bolt, disconnect steering joint by moving joint toward column
Hold slider shaft on column with wire
Remove center guide
Remove steering joint cover do not damage mating surface
Replace cover seal if necessary
Separate the tie rod ball-joint and knuckle
Disconnect PS press switch connector
Remove splash shield
Remove under cover
Attach special tool
Remove front suspension sub-frame rt middle bolts
Remove the front suspension sub-frame left middle mounting
Loosen front suspension sub-frame front bracket mounting bolts on right and left of the vehicle so they are about 30mm (1 3/16") from mounting surface
Remove the front suspension sub-frame rear bracket on the right and left of the vehicle from the front suspension sub-frame
Lower the jack
Remove the P/S heat baffle plate
Remove the feed line holder mounting bolt on front suspension sub-frame
Remove the feed line holder mtg bolt and return hose from mounting bracket
Loosen flare nut and disconnect the feed line
etc

If you can see strain on the coil-overs, naturally, just undo the wishbone.

 

I third that Turbonut, my bad crbnfbr!

 

I took the bolt out of the fork that holds the shock to the lca hoping that'd lower it but even that didn't drop the subframe more. I haven't been able to work on it much today since it's over 100° and humid as hell. I'll take a better look at it tonight when it hopefully cools off a bit. I can't for the life of me figure out what's holding up the subframe, all the bolts are out and it's just kind of floating there.