jlromines

I was behind my steering wheel to change my blinker switch"easy enough" when I realized my bearings for the steering rod were fubar. I got a new rack kit, and have the column down to the metal pretty much, but cant figure out how to get into the compartment that has the "ball" joint to do the back bearing. Also the Sleeve that comes out into the engine bay has 4 parts to it, a rubber gasket type ring, a white bearing, a lock sleeve and a retaining ring. WHen I get to the ball part of the inside column, will I be able to pull enough slack in the rod to disconnect the top steering knuckle enough to slide that lock ring over the rod?