Steering Rack Bushings Replacement Guide

Howdy, I did this job last night a little differently/easier than anything I had seen.

Most people take off the trac bar & tie rod? ends at the wheels. I didn't remove either and worked around them. I shouldn't need an alignment because of this.

I left tires on for safety, jacked up front end and moved the tires with my knees to manipulate the steering rack once bolts were loose

1. two 19mm bolts on the far right D bushing.
2. one 19mm bolt (Middle) down from the top.
3. a 22mm nut and bolt (left) that goes through the crossmember thing.
4. a 12mm bolt holding the power steering lines to the frame. reach down behind drivers side inner wheel well onto the back side of the frame.

Trim rubber and pound out the old bushings with some sockets.

grease things and replace things.

loosely get everything in place before tightening.

 

Smart!

what were your signs you needed new bushings? Did the bushings fix it? Energy suspension brand or?

 

I learned about energy suspension after I had already purchased off rock auto. on RA I never buy the cheap ones and always look for the little heart recommendation.

I was having progressively looser steering (over six months) and could see the rack shift slightly when the wheel was turned back and forth. I didn't see any play while shaking tires- hands top and bottom as well as left and right.

I just pulled an injector out of her tonight so I haven't driven it yet.

 

Interesting! My truck feels like it floats or sails? on the freeway, not sure what it is.

This winter I welded my steering sleeve and shimmed the plastic steering knuckle to make it tighter. Oh man! It made such a difference on steering response, it feels very crisp on the roads now.

Have you seen that mod??

 

Thats what i would describe this as. constant steering wheel adjustment back and forth. My F250 does it too even worse and that has every single thing joint in the front end replaced. I think its the leaf spring bushing there.

I have seen the tack weld in the steering column mod somewhere but haven't done it because it seems hard to access?

Never heard of the shimmed steering knuckle. Ill look it up thanks

 

I guess it's time to replace my steering bushings then!

here is the link I used

https://youtu.be/xsOptgpfshg?si=M5Q3EJ3urbgtn72e

 

I did the tac weld and the plastic shim a second ago. pretty dang easy

 

Yes!!! I actually thought that one was pretty fun to do. Did you have much play on the column shaft where you welded?
Im excited to hear the results when you get to finally drive it!

 

I could definitely shift the column back and forth in my hands. I could feel knock back and forth offroad when on bouncy rocky stuff for sure.

Feels much tighter with that shim in there.

I have an injector on the way from Motor West and then we will see.