Primary Cats

[bigfoot007]

Hi All,

2003 turbo LHD

Got myself in a bit of a problem. My lambda sensor ahead of the cat on drivers side failed, so to make my life easier (or so I thought!!) i decided to remove the main cat then primary cat. Main cat came out easily enough once the seized flange nuts were ground off. Eventually manged to undo the 5 nuts for the primary cat to turbo, turns out that one nut was actually a set screw (£5 for a stud!!). Trying to get the primary cat out was very difficult even trying to twist and have someone try to move the steering wheel (almost impossible when on ramps), I damaged the rear most sensor getting it out (luckily have a spare). 

So I put the new sensors onto the primary cat and tried to put it back, but no matter what I do I cant get the flange on the primary cat to go past the steering shaft, POSES says:

 

Quote

 

Place primary catalytic converter on the studs of the turbocharger. To do this, carefully rotate and push the primary catalytic converter; if necessary, move the steering and move the primary catalytic into the installation position.

 

This clearly doesn't work, and I don't want to damage the sensors, so can I do one of the following:  Remove the sensors and push twist until I get it past the steering shaft (brute force!), then try and put the sensors on? but then how do I ensure the correct torque is applied? Undo the steering shaft at the point shown below (arrow),  but can the shaft be moved upwards enough to clear the steering unit? and would this give enough room to pass?   I have a feeling I might be having the car trailerd  to a garage to have this fixed.