Any Good Experiences with Energy Suspension steering rack bushings?

Just ordered these for my 04 from wheelers, just wondering if other first gen guys have had good experiences and if the difference is noticeable. Mine have 155k miles on them and the steering has always been a little clunky so its time to replace them anyways. Also is an alignment needed after installing these since you have to disconnect the steering rack? I'll prob have to get them put on at the local dealership here so i'll just have them do an alignment as well (i'm at school so i have no tools or space to do any work unfortunately)

 

they didn't do that much for the feel for me, this is what really fixed it:

 

haha yea i have that link saved under my favorites, but i have no way of doing that until summer, so for now i'm just going replace the worn out bushings and hopefully get this done eventually

 

x2 on both parts of this!

Bushings didn't do anything, but welding that column changed my world!

 

i replaced my bushings over thanksgiving last year. I felt a small, but noticeable difference. i intend on getting the column tack-welded over the summer, probably, as i hear that's where the real difference is.

bottom line: would i replace the bushings, knowing what i know now -- absolutely.

 

I did mine (on the 96) many moons ago..... I could physically see they were worn and the entire rack was shaking. I replaced them anyway as part of maintenance. I can't say they made much difference in the steering/handling - but I know its not good to leave the bad ones in there. Yes, I used Energy Suspension bushings.

http://www.lieblweb.com/steeringbush.html

 

i replaced mine with ES bushings and they made the steering feel a bit firmer and also stopped the squeeking when i turned the wheel,but the real fix for me as well was the steering column mod.

 

thanks for all the infor guys. Sounds like that trac weld on the slip joint really helps