power steering gear overhaul question

[shogun]

We have disassembled a complete steering gear with Servotronik function and replaced all O-rings and seals etc.
When disassembling the foreseeable happened that the steel balls fell off inside.
As the temperatures are presently cold we used grease and put the steel balls back into the system and then put on the counter part. But that is not the official way I assume.
Here is the pic of the part in question, on the right hand you see a plastic cover. After removing this one one probably can insert all the balls into the system there.
But as we were not aware how to open that plastic, we used grease and reentered the balls from the front.
Question: how to remove/open the plastic piece?
Is that screw type? Or just pull straight out? With clips?
Actually that was a steering gear from my parts E32 750 from 10/88, the steering gear is from ZF.
Numbers written on it: 252910/0918 ZF 8054991107 11340930
The gasket set for the overhaul has the p/n 32 13 1 134 768
The gear has the following part numbers
RMFD HYDRO STEERING GEAR SERVOTRONIC till 09/1989 32131134105
RMFD HYDRO STEERING GEAR SERVOTRONIC 09/1989 -04/1990 32131136827
HYDRO STEERING BOX SERVOTRONIC from 04/1990 32131138274
RMFD HYDRO STEERING GEAR SERVOTRONIC from 04/1990 32131138566
SERVOTRONIC till 04/1990 32431162703
http://www.bilder-speicher.de/080129...ting-page.html

More pics here on the German board
http://www.7-forum.com/forum/24/uebe...ebe-87034.html

[shogun]

That seems to be a very difficult question. So far I have asked in 2 E32 forums, 2 E34 forums, E31 forum Germany (E31 850 use the same type), no answer yet.
No one out there who disassembled a steering gear?

[Morgenster]

That seems to be a very difficult question. So far I have asked in 2 E32 forums, 2 E34 forums, E31 forum Germany (E31 850 use the same type), no answer yet.
No one out there who disassembled a steering gear?

Why open it up?
I don't think anyone here ever dissassembled one because I asked once before out of curiosity and to see if there's a cheaper way to rebuild the box and get better steering on center again.
I'd be curious to know if you can achieve it and how.
Maybe you should try talking directly to vendors of rebuilt steering boxes.

[shogun]

Why open it up?
I don't think anyone here ever dissassembled one because I asked once before out of curiosity and to see if there's a cheaper way to rebuild the box and get better steering on center again.
I'd be curious to know if you can achieve it and how.
Maybe you should try talking directly to vendors of rebuilt steering boxes.

I am going to reman another steering gear and change all gaskets, O-rings, shaft seals.
So I have to open that part up to properly re-insert the steel balls into the steering system. The first one I did works fine and the bals are right inside again with this 'trick' to use grease and stick them in from the front, but that is not the proper way. I want to know the proper way to disassemble that part, and I do not want to damage the plastic part, as it is not available as spare part and it is located on a moving part which is dangerous if fitted not properly.

Vendors of rebuild steering boxes will not tell you, at least not in Japan. Because if something like an accident happens, they are afraid that one can sue them in court that the information on how to do was given by them, and such work is not permitted by un-authorized certified people.