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09-28-2004, 08:28 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 70820
Join Date: Sep 2004
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Corvallis, Oregon
Vehicle:2004 WRX STi WRB |
steering rack bushing install. how hard to DIY?
I was thinking about getting the Whiteline steering rack bushing kit and I was wondering how hard is it to install? Is this something I can do in my garage? Also, does it really make a noticable difference? Thanks.
Tony
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09-28-2004, 08:46 PM | #2 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 10757
Join Date: Oct 2001
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: NJ
Vehicle:2013 BRZ Limited 6MT DGM |
Relatively simple to do. It will take about 1.5-2 hours if you take your time. Can be a little quicker if you work quicker. Drive up on ramps, mark steering knuckle, take everything apart, bend the power steering lines a bit to get the driver's bracket off, then reinstall. It made a difference on my car, steering felt much better.
Calvin |
09-28-2004, 11:02 PM | #3 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 22035
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: San Diego, CA
Vehicle:2014 Brocoma DCab 71 FJ40, 13 DRZ400SM |
well, i just did this mod this weekend in my apt parking lot
its less then a hr job. not too bad, and not as bad as everybody said. Shane |
09-29-2004, 01:03 AM | #4 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 24409
Join Date: Sep 2002
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: expensiveafornia
Vehicle:'03 Comatose WRX Wagon. Parked. |
Quote:
Definitely helps to have an extra set of hands to "massage" the driver's side bushing into place. BTW - this could be one of the best mods I have done so far. Very noticible in a small way. |
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09-29-2004, 04:31 AM | #5 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 7327
Join Date: Jun 2001
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Seattle, WA
Vehicle:2008 Mazdaspeed3 2006 Wrangler Sport |
15 minute job.
you need: -ramps -8, 10, 12, 14mm sockets and various racthets and extensions -pack of grease -new bushings -pair of big heavy needlenose pliers or some good serrated slip-joint pliers -shoplight procedure: -drive up on ramps and make sure your steering is centered -crawl under with all your tools and a shoplight -unbolt the small bolt holding the PS hardline where it goes up into the engine bay on the passenger side -unbolt the bolts holding the rack brackets on -pull the rack brackets down and out of there - you may have to bend the hardlines a little on the driver side to get it out don't bend it a lot, just enough -yank out the old bushings by moving the rack down as far as it'll reasonably go and gripping them with the pliers -install the driver side bushing first by greasing it up a LOT and then sliding it around... you should slide it around the front of the rack over top and around to the rear. A screwdriver may help push the leading edge of the bushing around the rack if your dexterity is that of a computer programmer. Position it fully and then push the bracket for that side into place but don't bolt it up yet. -install the pass side bushing in a similar manner. this one will be easier to slide around. put it's bracket on -bolt up both the brackets -bolt up the little bracket holding the hardlines up by the engine bay -wash hands and put on some clean pants -drive car off ramps and enjoy |
09-29-2004, 06:27 AM | #6 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 26607
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: socal
Vehicle:2002 wrx wagon |
did this last weekend. i like the bushings.
it took me an hr to get it done...including time spent jacking up the car etc.... lube up the drivers side bushing to get it in....and bend the power steering lines a bit with a screwdriver or something, to get enough room to move the bracket over towards the drivers side so you can get to the bushings. -gary |
09-29-2004, 08:32 AM | #7 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 15001
Join Date: Feb 2002
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Manchester CT or at any track
Vehicle:STi V8 Spec C Power NESIC TrackH0z # 10 |
The grease packet is your friend. Don't be afraid to grease that driver side bushing up. It makes a big difference.
-Keith- |
09-29-2004, 09:24 AM | #8 |
Scooby Specialist
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Granite Bay, Kalifornia
Vehicle:01 M Coupe, 05 Legacy GT, 05 Titan |
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09-29-2004, 10:31 AM | #9 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 34436
Join Date: Mar 2003
Chapter/Region:
SWIC
Location: Tucson, AZ
Vehicle:2018 Jeep Wrangler |
did mine yesterday and DAMN did it make a difference in steering response! I already have rear swaybar, endlinks, and front/rear strut braces, so maybe that amplified the improvement. Hardest part for me was also getting the damn square bushing around the rack... I got it three-quarters of the way, and it took forever to get it to peek around the front. Finally, some coercion with a screwdriver got it all the way around.
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03-11-2006, 01:10 PM | #10 | |
Street's closed, pizza boy
Member#: 17301
Join Date: Apr 2002
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: NoVA
Vehicle:2018 Focus RS 2006 Evo #17 STU |
Quote:
It took me more like an hour, because I stopped after the passenger side to look up information about loosening the steering column -> steering rack bolt (didn't want to screw it up). Fortunately it lowered about a half inch without dropping completely out, so I didn't have to worry about re-aligning it. It was Nick's technique for getting the bushing in that made this really easy for me. john |
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03-11-2006, 02:15 PM | #11 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 61884
Join Date: May 2004
Chapter/Region:
International
Location: buying guns
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Quote:
ps. gease the stuffing out of teh new bushings before installing. |
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03-11-2006, 05:12 PM | #12 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 60082
Join Date: Apr 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Minnesota
Vehicle:2004 Forester STI Silver |
There was a movie of a full steering rack bushing install floating around here somewhat recently.
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03-11-2006, 07:25 PM | #13 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 90438
Join Date: Jul 2005
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: New York
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Yea the driver side isnt as easy as the passenger side, but with a lot of grease it will slide in I lost most of the slop in the steerin wheel. Its good. I just installed em last night, as well as a helix front sway bar.
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03-11-2006, 07:54 PM | #14 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 88954
Join Date: Jun 2005
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Washington, D.C.
Vehicle:'05 Saab 92X Spec C desert silver metallic |
I just did it this morning. It took me about 2 hours but i took my time. I have the 05 sti steering rack so I don't think it was as hard as the regular rex install would've been anyway. I didn't really notice that much of a difference, and when I took the stock bushings out, they seemed pretty solid anyway...o well.
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03-11-2006, 08:07 PM | #15 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 65699
Join Date: Jul 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: S.S. Chicago
Vehicle:15 WRX WR Blue |
The 05 models got a new rack design so they aren't as helpful as they are on the older models. Though for $50, why not. I think I'll be throwing mine on tomorrow.
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03-11-2006, 09:26 PM | #16 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 108975
Join Date: Mar 2006
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Vehicle:2013 Impreza Marine blue |
where can I get one of these bushings for my GC8? I think it was a friday when they built my car and they used marshmallows on my steering rack.
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