steering coupler bush

[Bruce]

Hi guys,

I hope this doesn't sound like a stupid question!!!!

I just bought a new urethane steering coupler bush, however it doesn't come with the metal sleeves that are on the the old rubber bush. Can anyone confirm if the new bush requires the metal sleeves. The sleeves in the old bush are firmly embedded in it and I'll need to rip it apart it appears to remove them if they are required.

My trusty manual doesn't have enough detail about this :?

cheers

Bruce

[NR240]

Bruce,

 

The Nolathene steering coupler does not need metal sleeves, thsi is why it comes without them.. Just put the bolts through the bush and install it. you will notice a big difference to the steering.

 

How do i know this? Well i spent an hour cutting out the old metal sleeves from the original rubber bush only to find out that the sleeves do not fit into the new bush! They are not required.

 

Make sure you put in new rack bushes as well while you are at it

 

Nigel

[gav240z]

Hi guys, the steering coupler bush is the one that goes mid way up the steering shaft and is circular right?

 

I don't think mine has been replaced, does it really make that much of a difference?

 

I guess this is another reason why we wanted the group buy on the nolethane kit from the states. I should chase up Nathan over that.

 

I've done the rack bushings.

[Bruce]

cheers Nigel,

I thought that was the way to go, but I then saw a nolathane one on ebay (in the states) which came with the metal sleeves,

Bruce

[Bruce]

Gav,

I am not sure what sort of difference it makes yet. It was a Roadworthy item for me so that was the reason for the change. I got it from zspares for $12. The old rubber item didn't seem that bad but can't hurt to change it for those sort of dollars.

cheers

Bruce

[dorifticon]

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I have ordered a nolathane bushing kit from the states (msa) and it includes steering rack bushes, and a coupler bushing.

 

I was under the front of the car on the w/e, and looking at the steering rack bushes, there isn't a heap of clearance between the sump and the steering rack, particularly on the driver's side. 

 

How difficult of a proposition is it to change out the steering rack bushes in the driveway?  Are there any tricks - for example, would it help to unbolt the engine mounts and hoist the engine up slightly? 

 

Any clues greatly appreciated.

 

I would also appreciate any tips re: steering rack coupler.

 

*edit* even a scan of relevant pages from factory workshop manual might help!

[Zedman240®]

To change rack bushes with the engine in is a PITA. But as you said, you will have to hoist the engine up a bit to make it easier. Just remember to remove the locknuts from the top of the rack before you undo the bolts from underneath.

[dorifticon]

So, overall my plan worked pretty well.

 

I put 2 engine lifting points on the front of the motor, and took up the slack.  Then I unbolted the engine mounts and lifted the motor up about 4-5 pumps (had to unclamp the fuel return line and the air intake but everything else basically had enough movement in it to raise the motor about 1.5 - 2 inches).

 

That left me with heaps of room to undo the lock nuts and bolts holding the steering rack in.  Once the brackets are out, there *should* be enough room to lift the rack enough to pull the bushes out, and put the new ones in.

 

However, the particular bushes I had didn't have much 'give' in them.  I couldn't get them wrapped around the actual rack assy sufficiently well to bolt back in place.

 

Since I was doing other suspension work, I had the tie rods undone and the swaybar was pretty loose.  So I swung the sway bar out of the way, undid the steering coupler and had just enough clearance to lift the entire rack out.

 

I had to slot the bushes in place and then kind of stand on them to squeeze them in, but in the end it worked.

 

But yeah, the time to do it is when the engine is out of the car.