DIY Daizen Steering Rack Bushing
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LSUGS430 (11-17-22)
11-05-06, 07:08 PM
#34
Pole Position
Gsteg -- I'm impressed. Great write up. I doubt I'd ever do this myself for fear that the steering wheel would come off in my hands driving on the highway, but your post made me think twice about it. Great job.
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Bushings
11-11-06, 09:57 AM
#37
Oh yea..I dont know about you guys, but everytime I work on my car, I re-grease my bolts. When I took out the bolts for the steering rack, they didn't exactly look corrosion-free (not too bad though), but I put grease on it just incase I need to take it apart again ($3 of valvoline grease comes a long way) 
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LSUGS430 (11-17-22)
11-11-06, 11:00 AM
#38
Lexus Test Driver
Oh yea..I dont know about you guys, but everytime I work on my car, I re-grease my bolts. When I took out the bolts for the steering rack, they didn't exactly look corrosion-free (not too bad though), but I put grease on it just incase I need to take it apart again ($3 of valvoline grease comes a long way)
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LSUGS430 (11-17-22)
11-11-06, 12:15 PM
#39
I did mine today, thanks GSteg, the steps you showed was right on!
Althought I did run into a probelm that took me extra 30 minutes to finish this job, details are follow
1) try not to use ramps
- the reason being that the weight on the fronts put loads on the tie-rod ends(the tie-rod ends are connected to the steering rack), so it limits the movement on the racks, I had tourble doing steps 6 because of this, no way I could move/pull the steering rack low enought to put the plier through the upper bushing (from the front of the car)
so I end up having to put the plier from the rear of the car, what a pain! it has so little room to get the bushing out
2) remove all the bushings before putting new ones in
- I tried to install the new passenger side bushing before removing the 2 driver side 17mm bolts,it is much easier to install it after the rack can be move around
also when install the passenger side bushing, it's much easier to put the bushing on the metal bracket first then slide both to the rack together
hope this help someone avoid the mistakes that i made
Althought I did run into a probelm that took me extra 30 minutes to finish this job, details are follow
1) try not to use ramps
- the reason being that the weight on the fronts put loads on the tie-rod ends(the tie-rod ends are connected to the steering rack), so it limits the movement on the racks, I had tourble doing steps 6 because of this, no way I could move/pull the steering rack low enought to put the plier through the upper bushing (from the front of the car)
so I end up having to put the plier from the rear of the car, what a pain! it has so little room to get the bushing out
2) remove all the bushings before putting new ones in
- I tried to install the new passenger side bushing before removing the 2 driver side 17mm bolts,it is much easier to install it after the rack can be move around
also when install the passenger side bushing, it's much easier to put the bushing on the metal bracket first then slide both to the rack together
hope this help someone avoid the mistakes that i made
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LSUGS430 (11-17-22)
11-11-06, 12:52 PM
#40
okay folks
i did mine this morning took me maybe 30 mins tops to do
the DIY that GSteg gave was great to use but i would like to add alittle time and effort saver here
seeing that you cant reuse the old bushings once they are out i took a real sharp box cutter and cut off the ears on the oem bushing form the side i was using the mallet and screwdriver against.. why try and fight making the lip pop thru when once you cut the ears off and hit it lightly a couple three times it just pops out , for the upper drivers side same thing but i used a 6inch 3/8 extension to use with my mallet and again poped right out
this is a great thing to do to eliminate all slop and whatever remaing vibrations were in the front end , my car now truly tracks straight as a arrow ( and my So3 bridgestones are almost done and those who know these tires know they tramline like crazy when worn) no more correcting the steering to go staright just plain smooth
steering wheel kickback is 95% gone like how a brand new car feels
my fellow gs er's get this $40 kit , it really works well
i did mine this morning took me maybe 30 mins tops to do
the DIY that GSteg gave was great to use but i would like to add alittle time and effort saver here
seeing that you cant reuse the old bushings once they are out i took a real sharp box cutter and cut off the ears on the oem bushing form the side i was using the mallet and screwdriver against.. why try and fight making the lip pop thru when once you cut the ears off and hit it lightly a couple three times it just pops out , for the upper drivers side same thing but i used a 6inch 3/8 extension to use with my mallet and again poped right out
this is a great thing to do to eliminate all slop and whatever remaing vibrations were in the front end , my car now truly tracks straight as a arrow ( and my So3 bridgestones are almost done and those who know these tires know they tramline like crazy when worn) no more correcting the steering to go staright just plain smooth
steering wheel kickback is 95% gone like how a brand new car feels
my fellow gs er's get this $40 kit , it really works well
Last edited by lexforlife; 11-11-06 at 01:46 PM.
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LSUGS430 (11-17-22)
11-11-06, 03:14 PM
#42
great tip guys! Yea I forgot to mention that you'll want to remove all the bushings before putting in the new ones.
I guess I didn't need to cut the old bushing out because they were so soft, it only took 4 or so hit before they popped out.
I tried to write that DIY off the top of my head. I'll re-edit my original post with tips.
thanks guys!
I guess I didn't need to cut the old bushing out because they were so soft, it only took 4 or so hit before they popped out.
I tried to write that DIY off the top of my head. I'll re-edit my original post with tips.
thanks guys!
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LSUGS430 (11-17-22)
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LSUGS430 (11-17-22)
11-11-06, 06:50 PM
#44
The stock Bushings on the Control arms and Steering rack are rubber. I know if you use the hard bushing on the Control arms you will get a hard stiff ride because is does not absorb the shock on bumps.
Will these steering bushing have anything to do with the ride quality as far as stiffness or only steering feel ?
Will these steering bushing have anything to do with the ride quality as far as stiffness or only steering feel ?
11-11-06, 07:06 PM
#45
The stock Bushings on the Control arms and Steering rack are rubber. I know if you use the hard bushing on the Control arms you will get a hard stiff ride because is does not absorb the shock on bumps.
Will these steering bushing have anything to do with the ride quality as far as stiffness or only steering feel ?
Will these steering bushing have anything to do with the ride quality as far as stiffness or only steering feel ?
actually the lower control arm bushings do not degrade the ride
the steering rack bushing imo actually improved the feel of the car giving me the sensation of more smoothness and comfort for the car tracks truer
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LSUGS430 (11-17-22)