I am replacing my oil pan and it looks as if the steering linkage needs to be removed to slide the pan out.

The FSM states:




But ... it looks like #3 needs to come off:






Do I need a pickle fork???
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wrong. Im tempted but I dont wanna make it easy for anyone. Experience pain so you wont forget. Im evil.

 

alllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllrighty then.....................

Well, thanks, for not telling me to look it up in the FSM....

 

Don't have my car here to look at... but maybe you just need to turn the wheels a different direction? (so the arm is no longer in the way...?)

 

A pickle fork may do more damage than you want, and you should not need one to drop the center link with the idler arm. You may also need to seperate the tie rod at #6 to get enoungh clearance.

The other option is to unbolt the motor mounts and jack the engine at the front mount, but I don't remember if that will give you enough clearance.

If you can drop the pan far enough to unbolt the oil pick up tube, the pan should slide out. Bolting the tube back in that way is a frustrating challenge, to say the least.

 

I think that maybe I'll remove the right side tie rod end then undo the 2 screws that hold the idler arm and let it drop.

I guess that unbolting the engine may work, if I can lift it about 2 inches.

I can't really see the pick up tube. I don't think it matters since the center link is in the way of removing the pan.

 

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...highlight=ROPR