(My apologies to Meltedpanda for stealing the thread title)
OK, so if anyone has been following along, the other thread on this subject has progressed to the point where the box is now 'on the bench' and ready for new seals.
R/R steering box removal - scale of 1-10

The best write up on this IMO is that by David Petryk http://www.davidpetryk.net/Mercedes/Steering.htm What I'm asking here is some advice on a few of the steps in his procedure, which I will reference....

In Steps 3 - 5, removal of the pitman shaft, he undoes the locknut on the adjusting screw and turns the screw clockwise to push the pitman shaft bearing cap out of the gearbox body. Later, in steps 54 - 61, he describes how to set the torque, or freeplay, of the gearbox. Can the locknut be removed and the pitman shaft assembly pulled out without disturbing the freeplay setting, assuming of course that the socket screw is not disturbed throughout the procedure? I'd prefer not to mess with this setting.

In steps 9 and 10, he describes removing the steering shaft bearing cap and rack assembly, to "Turn the steering shaft fully clockwise", with a caution not to "by any means unscrew the steering shaft from the rack gear assembly. The balls will fall out and you don’t want that to happen.". He then advises turning the shaft so there is no gap between the bearing cap and rack assembly, as in the gap pictured in step 10 and none in step 12. Does turning the shaft fully clockwise not eliminate this gap before the unit is removed? Should this be the initial position of the gearbox before the pitman shaft bearing cap is removed?

Appreciate anyone's help who can answer these questions. My seal kit should be here next week, and I'd like to be sure of what I'm doing. (I also PM'd dpetryk...hope he can clear this up)

Edit Added: Would the initial turning of the pitman shaft adjusting screw, steps 3 - 5, create this gap in the steering shaft bearing cap/rack assembly?

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1986 560SL
2002 Toyota Camry
1993 Lexus