Hi ive done some work on the front end of my megane we had to drop the rack & subframe to get the wishbones off .put it all back together& now the airbag & service light is on.so i put it on my mates diagnostic machine then it says steering check as well but no codes have come up.have you any idea what this could be?we just checked all the wiring & the steering column & rack we went back through everything we done but cant find anything wrong.

Usually dropping the subframe or pulling off a spindle is the only way to get it out...that's why it cost so much at the garage to have it done...

Put the vehicle on jack stands first. Then you pull the tie rod ends loose from the spindles on each side. There is 2 bolts that hold the rack and pinion to the subframe that you remove and it'll drop far enough that you can undo the powersteering lines and pull it out.

You need to take it out from underneath,which will include you having to jack up the engine and removing the front part of the subframe,before you remove the subframe though make sure you strap up the radiator as this will drop down!!!

YOU HAVE TO SAFELY RAISE SUPPORT VECHICLE ON JACK STANDS.MAKE SURE YOU HAVE VECHICLE PARKED ON LEVEL SOLID GROUND.ONCE VECHICLE RAISED.REMOVE FRONT WHEELS.REMOVE TIE RODS END COTTER PINS AND CASTLE NUTS.REMOVE TIE ROD ENDS FROM THE KNUCKLES.REMOVE FRONT STABILIZER BAR.POSITION THE DASH OPENING WEATHER SEAL FOR THE STEERING COLUMN OUT OF THE WAY.REMOVE OR DISCONNECT THE FOLLOWING.REMOVE PINCH BOLT RETAINING THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLING.REMOVE STEERING GEAR RETAINING NUTS BOLTS.REMOVE REAR SUBFRAME BOLTS.USE WIRE TO SUPPORT EXHAUST COMPONENTS UNLESS YOU ARE REMOVING THEM COMPLETELY.SUPPORT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM FLEX TUBE AND REMOVE THE FLEX TUBE TO DUAL CONVERTER Y PIPE ATTACHMENT.LOWER THE VECHICLE SLIGHTLY UNTIL THE REAR SUBFRAME SEPARATES FROM THE BODY APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES.REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD BAND AND FOLD THE HEAT SHIELD DOWN.ROTATE THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY TO CLEAR THE BOLTS FROM THE FRONT SUBFRAME AND PULL TOWARD THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VECHICLE.PLACE A DRAIN PAN UNDER THE VECHICLE AND DISCONNECT THE POWER STEERING LINES.REMOVE THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VECHICLE***** TO INSTALL ****** INSTALL NEW TEFLON O - RINGS ON THE POWER STEERING LINE FITTINGS. PLACE THE RACK AND PINION RETAINING BOLTS IN THE GEAR HOUSING.INSTALL RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VECHICLE.INSTALL POWER STEERING LINES ON THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY. INSTALL RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY ON THE SUBFRAME.INSTALL ******** HEAT SHIELD.INSTALL TIE ROD ENDS TO THE KNUCKLES TIGHTEN THE CASTLE NUTS AND INSTALL THE COTTER PINS.INSTALL STABILIZER BAR.INSTALL RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY RETAINING BOLTS.TORQUE THEM TO 85 - 99 FT LBS. RAISE VECHICLE UNTIL SUBFRAME CONTACTS THE BODY.INSTALL REAR SUBFRAME RETAINING BOLTS TORQUE THEM TO 83 - 112 FT LBS.INSTALL EXHAUST SYSTEM FLEX TUBE TO DUAL CONVERTER Y PIPE.INSTALL FRONT WHEELS.INSTALL A NEW PINCH BOLT IN THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLING ON THE RACK INPUT SHAFT TORQUE PINCH BOLT TO 25 - 33 FT LBS.POSITION THE STEERING COLUMN OPENING WEATHER SEAL OVER THE STEERING GEAR HOUSING.LOWER THE VECHICLE FILL THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR. START THE VECHICLE AND CHECK FOR LEAKS. CHECK FOR PROPER WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND STEERING WHEEL POSITION.BLEED POWER STEERING SYSTEM.

Removal & Installation Because the front stabilizer shaft is mounted to the powertrain subframe, the subframe (with the powertrain) must be lowered to service the stabilizer bar. This is a lengthy and exacting procedure requiring special lifting and jacking equipment. In addition, the rack and pinion steering assembly stub shaft must be disconnected from the steering column. GM specifies that the subframe-to-body bolts, once disturbed, must be replaced with new service replacement parts. Procure the necessary hardware before beginning this procedure. This is not a job for the inexperienced or ill-equipped.

In my opinion, removing the front subframe makes this job much easier.

Jack up and suitably support the front of the car so it is in a wheels free state.
With wheels removed;

• Remove the anti-roll bar drop links from the anti-roll bar
  
• Free off the lower arm ball joints off
  
• Remove the track rod ends from the swivel hubs
  
• Remove the nut and bolt and special clip on the lower steering column universal joint
• loosen off and disconnect the feed and return pipes to the power ram (beware stinking power steering fluid pouring everywhere!)

Steering and suspension wise, the subframe should be free!

• Remove the nut and bolt that secures the lower engine mounting to its bracket (the bolt that goes through the big round rubber mount at the back of the engine)
• Disconnect all relevant gear linkage rods (this will be clear when you are under there!)
• Support the subframe with a jack or somesuch and free off the 6, 18mm bolts that secure the subframe to the body shell.
• remove all subframe mounting bolts.
• lower the jack that is supporting the subframe, it should all drop quite nicely and then get stuck on the steering column universal joint! A good old college shove frees this and then you should be able to remove your subframe assembly from under the car.

The racks are a bit tough on these cars since theyre on the subframe. a lot of extensions and a swivel will help it come off the subframe but hate to break it to you : you will need to drop the entire subframe to pull off the steering rack. The subframe holds the motor and suspension. Its odd though that you need to remove the rack. Perhaps the rack isnt an issue. Can you post up what your issue is?

It is a fiddle but drop the l/h side of the subframe down, pull the shafts, jack the engine a bit and seperate the box and you can just unbolt the cover plate, slide it back and lift out the centre plate, then the cover plate comes out, you have to align the new ones by feeling the alignment in the 3 gaps round the edge, fiddly but save a heap of time

if fluid is flowing out the bellows, you need to replace the steering rack assembly. There is no fluid in the area of the inner tie rod. The seal is just before the tie rod.

Steering Gear
The power rack and pinion steering gear is serviced as a power steering short rack (3L547). The front wheel spindle tie rods (3280) and tie rod ends (3A130) are serviced individually. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• The power rack and pinion steering gear incorporates quick connect fittings for the power steering pressure hose (3A719) and power steering return hose (3A713) that allow the lines to swivel. This is normal and does not indicate loose fittings.
• If the fittings leak, check to make sure they are tightened to 14-20 Nm (10-14 lb-ft). Do not overtighten.
• If the leak is not corrected, replace the fitting seals.

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Section 11-02: Steering System, Power 1997 Windstar Workshop Manual
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Tie Rod End Steering Gear Installed
Removal

1. Remove and discard cotter pin and nut from worn tie rod end (3A130).
   

1. Disconnect tie rod end from front wheel knuckle (3K185), using Tie Rod End Remover TOOL-3290-D or equivalent.
   

1. Hold tie rod end with a wrench and loosen tie rod end jam nut.
   

1. Note depth to which tie rod end was located by using the jam nut as a marker. Grip tie rod end with a pair of suitable pliers and remove tie rod end from front wheel spindle tie rod (3280).
   

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11-02: Steering System, Power 1997 Windstar Workshop Manual
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Steering Gear Removal

1. Raise vehicle on a twin post hoist and remove wheel and tire assemblies. Refer to Section 00-02 .
   
   
   
   
   

1. Support vehicle with jackstands under front jack pads.
   

1. Remove tie-rod end cotter pins and nuts and remove tie rod ends (3A130) from front wheel knuckle (3K185). Refer to Section 04-01 .
   

1. Remove front stabilizer bar (5482). Refer to Section 04-01 .
   

1. Disconnect heated oxygen and catalyst monitor sensors.
   

1. Support flex pipe.
   

1. Remove bolts and disconnect flex pipe from the converter.
   

1. Raise dash opening steering column opening weather seal (3513) (secondary) above the steering gear housing (3548).
   

1. Remove pinch bolt retaining steering column intermediate shaft coupling (3A525) to power steering gear input shaft and control (3D517) and disconnect the shaft.
   

1. Remove nuts from steering gear-to-front subframe retaining bolts. Remove bolts.
   

1. Remove rear subframe-to-body retaining bolts.
   

1. Lower twin post hoist carefully until rear of subframe (5R003) separates from body, approximately four inches.
   

1. Remove heat shield band and fold shield down.
   

1. Rotate power rack and pinion steering gear to clear bolts from front subframe (5C145) and pull left to facilitate line fitting removal.
   

1. Place a drain pan under vehicle and remove line fittings.
   

1. Remove power rack and pinion steering gear through LH wheel well.
   

1. Remove and discard the O-rings.
   

Installation

1. Install new Teflon® O-rings on line fittings as outlined.
   

1. Place steering gear retaining bolts in steering gear housing.
   

1. Install power rack and pinion steering gear through LH wheel well.
   

1. Install power steering line fittings to power rack and pinion steering gear.
   

1. Position power rack and pinion steering gear into front subframe.
   

1. Install ******** heat shield.
   

1. Install tie-rod ends to front wheel knuckle. Install nuts and new cotter pins. Refer to Section 04-01 .
   

1. Install LH front stabilizer bar. Refer to Section 04-01 .
   

1. Install steering gear to subframe mounting nuts. Tighten to 115-135 Nm (85-99 lb-ft).
   

1. Raise hoist until rear subframe contacts body.
   

1. Install rear subframe to body retaining bolts. Tighten to 113-153 Nm (83-112 lb-ft).
   

1. Install exhaust system flex tube to dual converter Y pipe (5F250) and remove flex tube support.
   

1. Connect heated oxygen and catalyst monitor sensors.
   

1. Install tire and wheel assemblies. Tighten lug nuts (1012) to 115-142 Nm (85-104 lb-ft).
   

1. Using a new pinch bolt, install the steering column intermediate shaft coupling on the power steering gear input shaft and control and the lower steering column shaft. Tighten the pinch bolt to 34-46 Nm (25-33 lb-ft).
   

1. Position steering column opening weather seal (secondary) over the steering gear housing. Tighten nuts to 4.5-6.3 Nm (40-55 lb-in).
   

1. Remove jackstands and lower vehicle.
   

1. Fill power steering oil reservoir (3A697) with Premium Power Steering Fluid E6AZ-19582-AA or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESW-M2C33-F. Refer to Section 11-00 .
   

1. Check system for leaks and proper operation.
   
   

no your fram is fine just replace the bolt and the rack and pinon and the motor mounts, but make sure that when you put the subframe back together it linds up right and it is not bent or twisted. because if it is it will happen again and again. thaks