{"id":18545,"date":"2015-09-22T08:57:58","date_gmt":"2015-09-22T15:57:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/?p=18545"},"modified":"2016-05-27T15:28:41","modified_gmt":"2016-05-27T22:28:41","slug":"how-to-diagnose-and-repair-rack-and-pinion-bushings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/how-to-diagnose-and-repair-rack-and-pinion-bushings\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Diagnose and Repair Rack and Pinion Bushings"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"rack<\/a>
TRW illustration showing how the rack and pinion unit connects to the steering wheel and the front tires.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In this, Part Three of our suspension repair series, I’m going to discuss how to determine if your steering rack bushings are bad, and if they’re bad, how to change them. \u00a0Next we’ll go into how to diagnose and replace the steering rack itself. \u00a0I’ll also quickly rehash how to quickly and easily make sure both front tires are pointed straight down the road once you’ve completed the required repairs to your suspension.<\/p>\n

\"rack<\/a>
This picture of a simple rack and pinion unit is an excellent illustration of how they work. As the input shaft is turned, the orange gear spins against the yellow rack, pushing it in the direction needed to make the car turn as desired.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Checking Rack Mount Bushings<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rack mount bushings are semi-hard shaped pieces of rubber that go between the steering rack and the rack mounts. \u00a0Their purpose is to isolate the steering rack, and thus your hands, from oad vibrations which could over time cause your hands pain or numbness. \u00a0Determining their condition requires a multi-step visual inspection.<\/p>\n

\"urethane<\/a>
Pro-Thane urethane rack mount bushings. Urethane is used because it lasts longer and has less flex as it ages, among other reasons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After raising your car’s front end enough to comfortably and safely crawl under it, place jack stands under the frame behind the rear wheels and lower the car slowly onto the stands. \u00a0Slide under and use your Mark IA eyeball to look the bushings over. \u00a0You’re looking for cracking and fraying. \u00a0Just because you don’t see any obvious fraying or cracking doesn’t mean the bushings are good.<\/p>\n

\"Energy<\/a>
Energy Suspensions polyurethane bushings. If you look closely, you can see the split where it fits over the rack.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now you need to see if the rubber in the bushings has started to break down and weaken. \u00a0If this happens, the rack can move around in the mounts, causing control issues as well as some steering wheel vibration.<\/p>\n