So is there some special way to do this? Cause Dan and I tried today to get it and it was not happening. Do we just have to find a tool to somehow spread the steering rack portion open more?

yeah try that also try some white lithium grease and just make sure everything is lined up. Steering racks blow

You pull it off as you drop the rack, or put it as you raise it. There is a 10 mm bolt you need to pull from the column side.
MCL