EnergySuspension, steering rack bushings, help please

[ralphdig]

Whats is the best way to do the rack bushings swap? I will also change all bushings, tie roads & ends and install new Nismo S Coilovers where to start?

[s13sr20chris]

pull off tie rods and ends. then unbolt rack bolts. try to lever rack up with pry bar and slip bushings out. pop new ones in. i have not done it but it should not be too hard. i stuck some strips of metal in my bushings to firm them up a little for free. did not do much but was easy.

[sileightysomeday]

I've changed mine, but the engine was out. i didn't have to remove the tie rods at all, there are four bolts that hold the steering rack on, that's it. just undo them and then slide the old bushings out, and slide the new ones in. you will have to wiggle the rack a little to get the bushings in there, but it wasn't hard, but then again like i said, my engine was already out. good luck.

[180fan]

lol duuuude this thread's back from 04! awesome use of the search function though. seriously.

[240esseckz]

was there a good difference in driving...vibration....after install

[ralphdig]

was there a good difference in driving...vibration....after install

Yes huge difference old rack bushings were worn so Steering had a serious lose play!Now not even 1 millimiter of play there. It was a great investment !

Time flies, I wasn't aware it was more than two years ago!

[positron1]

So you did this with the engine in? Was it as easy to do as they said above by loosening the steering rack bolts and sliding them off or was it pretty difficult to move around down there? I got a box of Energy Suspension steering rack bushings collecting dust here.

[ralphdig]

So you did this with the engine in? Was it as easy to do as they said above by loosening the steering rack bolts and sliding them off or was it pretty difficult to move around down there? I got a box of Energy Suspension steering rack bushings collecting dust here.

It was a little tricky to put the new bushings in as the rack was still in the car, we only take out the bushings fasteners, but with a good amount of grease and patience it worked fine. ( taking out the old bushings was a piece of cake).

[JDS Performance]

well I just did it on my s14 Zenki - but havent driven on them yet - 1 thing though my passenger side "new" bushing has alot of play in it? is this normal? Driver side "egg shaped" has 0 play.The kit is universal s13 & s14

[positron1]

I finally put my steering rack bushing in and it was well worth it. Pics included zerothread?id=213930
Modified by positronone at 9:59 AM 2/18/2007

[JDS Performance]

No my "new" passengerside bushing has alot of play in it? anyone else experience this problem?

[positron1]

Not me. Everything was snug. Is it bolted down all the way? When you say "play" what exactly do you mean?

[JDS Performance]

Ok update and problem actuallly solved

I did an *** load of searching

OK the s13 and s14 ES kits are not universal!

The driver's side will work on both chassis

But the Passenger side will not work on the s14 with out doing some doubling up!

SPL sells a kit with the ES driver's side bushing and a Nismo passenger side bushing - but its a $50 kit verses the $10 ES kit

I have emailed ES about this issue to see what they wanna do to resolve it.

So on the s14's you need to use the Nismo passenger side bushing or a stock OEM bushing - ES does not have one to fit the passenger side on the s14 chassis

If you got it to work on your s14 - then the former owner put a s13 or Z32 rack in there or you have the 94-95 cross over chassis which uses the s13 rack

[positron1]

Ok update and problem actuallly solved

I did an *** load of searching

OK the s13 and s14 ES kits are not universal!

The driver's side will work on both chassis

But the Passenger side will not work on the s14 with out doing some doubling up!

SPL sells a kit with the ES driver's side bushing and a Nismo passenger side bushing - but its a $50 kit verses the $10 ES kit

I have emailed ES about this issue to see what they wanna do to resolve it.

So on the s14's you need to use the Nismo passenger side bushing or a stock OEM bushing - ES does not have one to fit the passenger side on the s14 chassis

If you got it to work on your s14 - then the former owner put a s13 or Z32 rack in there or you have the 94-95 cross over chassis which uses the s13 rack

Dude, that sucks. So the oddly shaped bushing fits but the o shaped one doesn't. Someone at ES is a ball-dropper. If I took the time to break down my car and couldn't finish the job because of something like that I would be pissed! Good job on getting to the bottom of things. Let us know the outcome. They need to compensate the S14 guys for such a big mistake.

[JDS Performance]

yeah no doubt!

I bought 3 sets too from PDM-racing.com because you have to spend at least $20 on their site. Was going to be B-day presents to buddies with s14's

I emailed them too