Hello all. I know that there is a special 'crows foot' type tool to undo the hydraulic union bolts to the steering rack, but, has anyone done this another way using a more conventional or improvised tool? Cheers

I have to be honest, I don't even know what a hydraulic union bolt is!!

Pipe spanner? Same as brake pipe spanner just bigger size. If you have a cheapy ring spanner you might be able to get the grinder out and cut a slot in it to make your own spanner

Yes good idea...or maybe bend 90° an open spanner, and use a socket on the other end of spanner. Got nuisance bolt out with heat...was a bit mangled in there

It looks like that bolt is threaded!!

A bit of galling has gone on there, probably fired in with a windy gun at great speed at some point in its last to cause heat build up.

Yes I'm going to need to get another bolt....rack is off though...chuffed

Do you have any piccies please? A piccy says a thousand words. Thank you

She's off!

Thank you, I really enjoyed looking at those pics

O.P, from your pictures it looks as though you were able to get the rack off without dropping the subframe? (I query only because the Haynes says to drop it first but I'm thinking that IF I can clear the joint connecting the rack to the steering column it may not be necessary to drop it) I've just noticed that my rack is leaking  from the nearside, again it's a high mileage vehicle at 175k but it's getting to the point now where I fix one issue and discover another. I don't know how much longer I can be bothered to keep fixing it as the car isn't worth bugger all now and the rust is starting to creep in. If I can change the rack without dropping the subframe however, I might give it a go.