Installed steering rack bushings, is this gap bad?

[khilgers]

I just got done doing the steering rack bushings on my S14 and now I have a gap where the new bushing doesn't seem to coming all the way together. Is this bad, or normal?

[Jung918]

You are probally using a s13 steering rack bushing on your s14. One side doesn't fit. Check out www.splparts.com they have the correct ones.

[khilgers]

I ordered them from SPLparts. And they verified that they are the correct bushings.

[brainfood]

Mine did the same thing so I didnt use that one. the odd shaped one fit fine though. I used my stock one for that side.

[khilgers]

I looked up the part #'s and IT IS the right one for an S14. Perhaps I didn't tightnen it down enough, but I torqued them at 75 lbs/in.

[MAGILLA]

my energy suspension bushings closed properly with no gap, but they also had a bit of play on the passenger side. even fully torqued

[seekanddestroy]

Originally Posted by khilgers

but I torqued them at 75 lbs/in.

Is that the correct torque spec? I highly doubt it is.

[khilgers]

got mixed up in my FSM, it's supposed to be 88-108 lbs. Hopefully that will take care of it.

[seekanddestroy]

Originally Posted by khilgers

got mixed up in my FSM, it's supposed to be 88-108 lbs. Hopefully that will take care of it.

88-108 FT/lb?


You stated IN/lb's earlier.

[khilgers]

........long day

[Shaminii]

Before I starting putting on my new Energy Suspension steering rack bushings onto my S14, does anybody know for sure that one of the Energy Suspension bushings will not fit properly. I'm worried I might have this gap problem. As stated from splparts.com: "Steering rack bushing combo for S14: Energy Suspension graphite black urethane bushing (odd shaped bushing) and Nismo high durometer rubber bushing (round bushing)." They have this combination for a reason but I just want to make sure. I've searched though other threads w/ ppl saying they are running S13 steering racks on S14's and other ppl having the same gap issue but nothing mentioned of it being fixed. So with anybody ever having experience w/ these bushings, let me know. I don't want to starting installing and find out they don't actually fit properly.

[garbury]

I put in S14 ES rack bushings last August, And I think I had trouble with the half oval shaped one. I just tightened it down as good as it would get (don't remember if I used the torque wrench) and I have noticed no issues from it. I don't remember if there was a gap, but I think there was and it didn't really bother me. I don't think its gonna make a difference.

[JDS Performance]

As far as the ES bushings they only have the s13 bushings - and the passenger side is too big for the s14 - drivers side works fine.

on the s14 "passenger side" you can use the nismo or oem bushing - thats it - you could shim the ES bushing but I wouldnt risk that on my car!

Also the gap is normal - where the ES bushing that is too big for the s14 will cause alot of slack and slop.

I made a video of this for my site to help others out;
http://www.ka24detdvd.org/Tech_Page.html

[Lith]

I installed the Energy Suspension steering rack bushings that I got from PDM Racing. I don't remember if I had that gap or not, but the bushings are amazing. I don't think you should worry much about it.

My steering wheel doesn't shake anymore what so ever. Although you will need an alignment after that. My steering rack moved couple of mm's and that was enough to have the steering wheel off to one side.

[projectRDM]

Originally Posted by JDS Performance

As far as the ES bushings they only have the s13 bushings - and the passenger side is too big for the s14 - drivers side works fine.

on the s14 "passenger side" you can use the nismo or oem bushing - thats it - you could shim the ES bushing but I wouldnt risk that on my car!

Also the gap is normal - where the ES bushing that is too big for the s14 will cause alot of slack and slop.

I made a video of this for my site to help others out;
http://www.ka24detdvd.org/Tech_Page.html

He's exactly right. When using an S13 rack in an S14 it's a perfect fit, but the S14 rack is slightly smaller in diameter, just enough to throw the S13 bushing off.

[JDS Performance]

Originally Posted by Lith

I installed the Energy Suspension steering rack bushings that I got from PDM Racing. I don't remember if I had that gap or not, but the bushings are amazing. I don't think you should worry much about it.

My steering wheel doesn't shake anymore what so ever. Although you will need an alignment after that. My steering rack moved couple of mm's and that was enough to have the steering wheel off to one side.

well if you installed the ES's on a s14 and had no slop - then you have the s13 rack on your car - alot of people swap them out because they are easier to come across when they go bad.

Trust me I did a test on this - the ES's passenger side rack bushing is too big for the s14's rack - the only (2) passenger side bushings I came across that will fit is the Nismo and the OEM.

I emailed ES about this and they have yet to respond - great customer service ES!

[Shaminii]

So if the ES bushings are too big for the S14, could you suggest trimming the bushing to fit on the S14 steering rack? Or what that be a no so good idea?

[JDS Performance]

Originally Posted by Shaminii

So if the ES bushings are too big for the S14, could you suggest trimming the bushing to fit on the S14 steering rack? Or what that be a no so good idea?

No they are not "thick" enough

[aznrib]

Originally Posted by JDS Performance

No they are not "thick" enough

I tried to trim the bushing and its just like JDS says, it is not thick enough. Even if you trim it, there is a significant amount of gap and play between the bushing and the bracket. So i just left the stock one.

[codyace]

I just recently isntalled mine as well, when redoing engine, and cleaning harness up:





No gap at all....lube them up slightly, and torque them down

[sncs14]

My ES bushing had gap all the way around on the passenger side. I just made some shims from thin gauge stainless sheet metal, problem solved.

[Silvia_S13]

do the tie rods need to be removed to install these? or are both bushings split so they can be slid around the rack and jus installed?

[Shaminii]

They are split and slide right off when you remove the bracket. Similar to how bushings come off sway bars.

[Silvia_S13]

cool, i didnt even know the sway bars bushings were that easy to install. thanks

[a_ahmed]

does engine have to be out lol?

If we have one of those hoists that lifts car up, can a S13's (real s13 haha not s14) have its steering rack bushings and steering column (two piece shaft instead of one piece as on s14) bushings be replaced?

[MELLO*SOS]

No, you can install the bushings with the engine in... It's actually really easy.

[DJ_Sunrise]

I put in ES bushings on my S14.. No gap, no problems... Anyone know where I can buy a reman rack for s13/s14????

-Bart

[Flybert]

I got a reman rack for my brother off of ebay recently. I think there's only one vendor selling them. It works fine. If you want a HICAS rack from them, don't count on them sending you the right one. They shipped us a regular one and we couldn't be bothered to try and find a place that could get a real SUPER HICAS one. They refunded us the difference on the pricing so that was cool but we ended up with a regular rack.

Same thing happened to me when I ordered one from a junkyard a few years back but I made them source me a real one.

[dopeassjackson]

that gap is fine. it will not harm or let the rack come lose.

[Silvia_S13]

sweet, thanks to this thread i jus installed mine yesterday. thanks guys. it was easy as hell and everything fit properly. can't wait to take it for a test drive.