How to fit steering rack bushes

[danmetallic]

Can anyone point me in the direction of a how to, pref with pictures (for a novice)? Thank you.

[danmetallic]

Any pointers anyone *tumbleweed*

[scottbott]

I had the luxury of using a hoist to do mine and found it easier to remove the whole rack and change the bushes on a workbench,mine just came out by levering them out with a screwdriver,very easily I might add,the polybushes from brickwerks were greased and slid straight in with finger pressure,the hardest part I found was tightening up the metal tiewraps jobbies,real pain in the a***,then refitted back into van,job done

[pirate-pete]

As said above pretty easy job this. Did mine when I needed to remove rack to replace a track rod after inner joint wore out so in my case I removed the complete rack. I understand you can do the job without removing the track rod ends too but you won't have as much space to refit the bushes so it is probably easier to remove the complete rack (four bolts, two track rod ends and the steering coupling)

The old bushes pressed out quite easily with finger pressure and I fitted the polyurethane replacements from Brickwerks. These come in two PU halves and an inner metal sleeve so need no fancy presses or other makeshift tools to fit. They come with a sachet of copper grease so just cover the metal sleeves and the bushes with this and fit each half to the rack. Then bolt back up to the van and refit the steering coupling and the track rod ends.

I suppose you could check beforehand that the rack bolts are going to come loose OK and if they seem seized then soak them with plusgas beforehand. Mine came undone quite easily with out plus gas.

Good time to check the steering flexi coupling too. Thought mine was OK last year when I changed the bushes and track rod but it was cracked this year when I did my pre MOT checks. Much easier to fit this when you change the rack.

Photo shows one bush fitted, the old bushes and the PU bush and sleeve ready for the other mounts.

[clift_d]

Apparently if you can get decent enough access under the van then it is possible to change them without removing the rack from the van. Just undo the bolts and let the rack hang slightly down and then you should be able to dig out the old bushes and push in the new ones.

[syncroandy]

I did mine in situ, as I recollect it was pretty easy, the old bushes came out with the merest push, and I was fitting two-part poly replacements so no probs getting them into place. I used fresh locknuts (stover nuts).

[danmetallic]

I did mine in situ, as I recollect it was pretty easy, the old bushes came out with the merest push, and I was fitting two-part poly replacements so no probs getting them into place. I used fresh locknuts (stover nuts).

Thanks for all the responses everyone!!

Syncroandy... Can you remember the process you wet through? Any tips?

[weimarbus]

As said above, just put the van up on ramps at the front, undo the four bolts and the rack will drop enough to give access, you do not have to undo any of the rack couplings, the old bushes should come out easily with a lever against the crossmember and the poly bushes are an easy finger fit the hardest one for access is the bush above were the steering wheel shaft goes into the rack. Good luck, should take 40mins max

[Bigjcc55]

As above there's no need to remove the rack just drop it down poke out the old ones and fit the new. I managed it on the camper with out jacking it up.

[lloydy]

There is no real knack to it, just remove the existing nuts and bolts, pull out the old rubber with some pliers or push them out the other way. Fit the new poly ones and refit the nuts and bolts. thankfully a simple job and easy to do in situ

[garry247]

I used a number 13 round ended spanner for the back and a long armed 13 socket wrench for the front.


Here is a pic showing the rack pulled down after wiggling. The easiest way to get the old bushes out is to push them from the front. I pushed them out with a flat end screw driver in the centre. The one by the steering column will need to be pulled out as there is not enough room behind it to push it. This one I used the screwdriver to lever it out. The hardest bit for me was the two bottom bolts. i used WD40 and brushed the rear screws with my fingers (a small wire brush / toothbrush) would have been better.

[keytouch]

Thread resurrection...
Does anyone know what size nuts I will need for this? M6? M8? M10?
I presume nyloc nuts are the ones to use?

[brandygangster]

M8 Mate

[Bubble Meister]

Yep, if they're a 13mm spanner then they should be M8.

spanner size / 3 then * 2 as a guide.

[kevtherev]

Nyloc not necessary
Use the correct torque