Steering Linkage Flex Joint Problem

[dvmotorsports]

So I am doing a ton of stuff for a customer and right now I am doing a 95 M3 rack with the Zionsville (who i do not recommend) linkage between the rack and column. For the life of me I cannot get it of the steering column. It was a bitch to remove from the rack. I had to use a pickle fork for tie rods to remove it. The problem lies with the top half. I jammed two pickle forks in there and this thing has moved 0.25". And yes I removed the bolt and have opened up the gap. Bastard still won't come off.

Discuss.

[Choking Hazard]

I used BFH, liquid wrench, and beat a big ol' flathead into the gap.  I can't remember if it came slowly, or broke free, but it probably was a slow progressive thing that took more persistance than was expected.

IOW, no help from me.  Sorry.

[jpreston]

Mine took a hell of a beating too before it came off. I ended up having to take part of a jack handle (any steel tube that's long enough would work) and use it as an extension to hammer on so that I could really wail on it. Beat the hell out of it before it finally came loose. The joint got mangled up a little in the process, but nothing more than cosmetic damage.

Also, I laid a shitload of antiseize to all of the splines when I was reassembling.

[dvmotorsports]

I ended up getting it off after sticking the pickle fork in there and then attaching something to the end of the fork for added leverage.