Steering Rack & Pinion Bushes with Fitting Position Front Axle

Nolathane steering rack and pinion bushes hold your steering rack firmly in place, so every movement of the steering wheel goes straight to the front wheels. When factory rack mount bushes wear, the rack can shift sideways in its mounts before the wheels respond, creating a delayed, vague and disconnected steering feel. Nolathane polyurethane steering rack bushes remove that movement, restoring direct, precise steering and clear feedback through the wheel.

The range includes steering rack mount bush kits, rack and pinion shaft guide bush kits, and bump steer correction kits for applicable vehicles. They suit everyday passenger cars, performance vehicles, 4WDs, pick-ups, SUVs and classic restorations alike.

How a Rack and Pinion Steering System Works

Rack and pinion steering is used on most modern passenger cars and SUVs, and on many independent front suspension 4WDs and pick-ups. Turning the steering wheel rotates a small pinion gear at the end of the steering column. The pinion meshes with a long, toothed rack, moving it left or right. Tie rods at each end of the rack then push and pull the steering arms on the knuckles to turn the wheels.

The rack is housed in a tube bolted across the subframe, crossmember or body. It?s held in place by rack mount bushes, often one at each end, or a clamp-style bush on one side and a different design on the other.

What Steering Rack Bushes Do

Steering rack mount bushes secure the rack housing to the vehicle while absorbing some vibration from the road. Every steering input pushes against the rack, and the rack pushes back against its mounts. If the bushes are firm, the rack stays put and the wheels respond instantly. If they?re soft or worn, the rack housing shifts slightly before the force reaches the wheels.

This small amount of movement is enough to make steering feel vague, delay turn-in, and reduce the feedback you feel through the wheel, particularly at speed and in quick direction changes.

Shaft Guide Bushes

Some steering racks, particularly manual steering racks on classic and older vehicles, use a shaft guide bush inside the rack assembly to support and guide the rack shaft. When this bush wears, the rack can move within its housing, adding play and knocking. Nolathane rack and pinion shaft guide bush kits restore correct support on applicable vehicles.

Signs of Worn Steering Rack Bushes

• Vague or delayed steering response, especially on turn-in
• Steering that feels loose or disconnected around the centre position
• A clunk or knock from the front when turning the wheel from side to side
• The vehicle wandering or needing constant small corrections
• Visible movement of the rack housing when the steering wheel is turned with the engine running
• Cracked, perished, oil-soaked or squashed rubber at the rack mounts

A simple check is to have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth while you watch the rack housing. If the housing moves in its mounts, the rack bushes need replacing.

Why Steering Rack Bushes Wear Out

Modern steering systems work harder than ever. Power steering, aggressive wheel alignment settings, wider wheels and lower-profile tyres have all dramatically increased the loads on steering rack mounts.

At the same time, the rack is mounted low in the engine bay, where heat and oil leaks attack rubber bushes and speed up their deterioration. Over time, factory rubber softens, swells, cracks and compresses, allowing more and more rack movement.

Polyurethane vs Rubber vs Solid Steering Rack Bushes

Steering rack bushes are available in several materials, each with different characteristics:

• Rubber bushes are fitted by most manufacturers. They?re quiet and absorb vibration, but they deflect under load and break down with heat, oil and age.
• Polyurethane bushes offer a balance between control and comfort. They hold the rack firmly while still absorbing some vibration, and they resist oil, heat and wear far better than rubber.
• Solid metal bushes remove almost all rack movement, but they transmit much more vibration and road noise. They?re typically used in dedicated motorsport applications.

Nolathane steering rack mounts are engineered to outlast rubber and enhance steering precision and feedback. Nolathane?s superior polyurethane formulation delivers outstanding elasticity, memory and durability, and resistance to oil, grease, ozone and weathering, without the harshness of a solid mount.

Bump Steer Correction for Lowered Vehicles

Lowering a vehicle changes the angle of the tie rods relative to the control arms. On rack and pinion vehicles, this can cause bump steer, where the wheels steer themselves as the suspension moves over bumps. The result is darting, wander and unpredictable handling.

Nolathane bump steer correction kits for applicable vehicles restore the correct relationship between rack height and tie rod angle, reducing bump steer and improving steering consistency and handling balance on lowered cars.

Identifying the Right Kit for Your Rack

Steering racks can vary within the same model range, so it?s important to confirm the right kit. Check:

• Whether your vehicle has manual or power steering
• The outside diameter of the rack housing at the mounts, where specified
• The shape of the factory bushes, such as round or ?D? shaped
• The rack manufacturer, where noted on the listing
• Your vehicle?s build date and model series

Each listing shows the applicable vehicles, fitting notes and kit contents, so you can confirm you have the right kit before ordering.

Installing Steering Rack Bushes

Steering rack bush replacement is suited to professional workshops and experienced home mechanics. Depending on the vehicle, installation typically takes one to two hours. As a general guide:

• Support the vehicle safely, with the wheels pointing straight ahead.
• Support the rack, then unbolt the rack mounting clamps.
• Remove the old bushes, cleaning away any oil, grease and corrosion from the rack housing and clamps.
• Fit the new Nolathane bushes, lubricating them where directed in the kit instructions.
• Refit the clamps and tighten the bolts to the manufacturer?s specification.
• Check that the steering moves smoothly from lock to lock, with no binding or contact with other components.

Have a wheel alignment carried out after replacement, so toe is set correctly and the steering wheel is centred.

Who Nolathane Steering Rack Bushes Suit

Nolathane steering rack and pinion bushes suit drivers experiencing vague, delayed or wandering steering from worn rack mounts, and performance and modified vehicle owners wanting more direct steering feedback. They?re also used by 4WD, pick-up and SUV owners maintaining steering precision under heavy use, by owners of lowered cars correcting bump steer, by classic car restorers replacing perished rack bushes and shaft guide bushes, and by workshops carrying out steering repairs and upgrades.

Shop Steering Rack & Pinion Bushes

Play at the steering column end? Nolathane's steering parts range includes steering rack coupling bushes to fix it.

Find the steering rack bush kit for your vehicle, then order online with fast shipping or have it fitted by a Nolathane reseller. Our fitment guarantee means you get the right kit first time, and our local support team can help you identify your steering rack and choose the correct bushes.