Steering rack shifting? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

IchigoMae · 02-09-2004, 02:55 PM

I have a feeling my steering rack is shifting side to side on my s13. for example, my steering wheel will be straight, then when i go on a looping onramp driving at a fair speed my steering will not be aligned after i exit the onramp and get back to a straight highway road. maybe the bushings are worn out. Anyone have this problem? Has anyone replaced their bushings. thanks.

Flybert · 02-09-2004, 04:05 PM

How much is the steering wheel off after a hard turn? If it goes back to normal don't worry about what I'm going to say next. Another thing you can do is check your U-joint at the bottom of your steering column. Maybe the bolts are loose and the splines are stripping or something.

You can replace the bushings with Nismo ones. They are firmer but cost about $50. You can go the cheap route and buy firm Z32 bushings from Energy and they are only $13 or something like that from courtesy nissan. The only problem is that the weird shaped one doesn't fit right so you'll have to shave it down a good amount just so it can fit in there. Kind of a pain in the ass to get it to fit right. I wish I would have went with the Nismos but they are so expensive. Check the bar clamps and see if you can tighten down the rack some more and go from there. You probably have some worn to shit bushings.

IchigoMae · 02-09-2004, 08:21 PM

How is the difficulty with replacing the bushings? Do i have to take to whole rack assembly out? or is it like changing sway bar bushings where you just snap on the bushings?

MrSpArkle · 02-10-2004, 01:20 PM

I've had the same exact thing happen to me, check to see if grime on your rack has been scraped away revealing some clean spots. If so, your rack is sliding around, replace your rack bushings.

Flybert · 02-10-2004, 01:26 PM

I'm pretty sure you can replace all the bushings without removing the rack. You would just have to lift it from the right, trying not to mess up the PS lines on the left, and pull out the left bushing. The bushing on the right will be easy. Basically, you'll be doing everything that you need to do to pull the rack with exception of taking out those bitchass lines.

Wei240 · 02-10-2004, 02:51 PM

how hard is it to replace the entire rack? is there any particular reason why the power steering line could cause alot of hassle?
sorry to hijack the thread, but i'm thinking of replacing my entire steering rack and wonder if there are any tidbits that could be helpful... it seems like replacing the bushing isn't too hard...

Flybert · 02-10-2004, 03:23 PM

How to remove steering rack 101

1. Pull out cotter pins from tie rod ends
2. Unbolt tie rod ends and take a BFH and hammer them out of the ball joint
3. Unbolt steering rack clamps
4. Unbolt PS lines on the left side of rack. Have an oil pan under it so that you don't get fluid all over your drive way. Wait for the fluid to drain before you pull the lines out.
5. Pull the PS lines on the left out
6. Unbolt both bolts on the U-Joint from the steering column and slide the u-joint of the pinion assembly
7. Pull the rack out

Install is the opposite except getting those PS lines back on can be hard. Be careful when threading the bolts back in.

Wei240 · 02-10-2004, 04:30 PM

many thanks!!!

02-09-2004, 02:55 PM	#1
IchigoMae Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: socal Age: 41 Posts: 353 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	Steering rack shifting? I have a feeling my steering rack is shifting side to side on my s13. for example, my steering wheel will be straight, then when i go on a looping onramp driving at a fair speed my steering will not be aligned after i exit the onramp and get back to a straight highway road. maybe the bushings are worn out. Anyone have this problem? Has anyone replaced their bushings. thanks. __________________

02-09-2004, 08:21 PM	#3
IchigoMae Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: socal Age: 41 Posts: 353 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	How is the difficulty with replacing the bushings? Do i have to take to whole rack assembly out? or is it like changing sway bar bushings where you just snap on the bushings? __________________

02-10-2004, 01:20 PM	#4
MrSpArkle Leaky Injector Join Date: May 2002 Location: miami Age: 44 Posts: 78 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	yep I've had the same exact thing happen to me, check to see if grime on your rack has been scraped away revealing some clean spots. If so, your rack is sliding around, replace your rack bushings.

02-09-2004, 04:05 PM	#2
Flybert Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: none Posts: 3,862 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	How much is the steering wheel off after a hard turn? If it goes back to normal don't worry about what I'm going to say next. Another thing you can do is check your U-joint at the bottom of your steering column. Maybe the bolts are loose and the splines are stripping or something. You can replace the bushings with Nismo ones. They are firmer but cost about $50. You can go the cheap route and buy firm Z32 bushings from Energy and they are only $13 or something like that from courtesy nissan. The only problem is that the weird shaped one doesn't fit right so you'll have to shave it down a good amount just so it can fit in there. Kind of a pain in the ass to get it to fit right. I wish I would have went with the Nismos but they are so expensive. Check the bar clamps and see if you can tighten down the rack some more and go from there. You probably have some worn to shit bushings.

02-10-2004, 01:26 PM	#5
Flybert Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: none Posts: 3,862 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	I'm pretty sure you can replace all the bushings without removing the rack. You would just have to lift it from the right, trying not to mess up the PS lines on the left, and pull out the left bushing. The bushing on the right will be easy. Basically, you'll be doing everything that you need to do to pull the rack with exception of taking out those bitchass lines.

02-10-2004, 02:51 PM	#6
Wei240 Nissanaholic! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: socal Posts: 1,778 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	how hard is it to replace the entire rack? is there any particular reason why the power steering line could cause alot of hassle? sorry to hijack the thread, but i'm thinking of replacing my entire steering rack and wonder if there are any tidbits that could be helpful... it seems like replacing the bushing isn't too hard...

02-10-2004, 03:23 PM	#7
Flybert Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: none Posts: 3,862 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	How to remove steering rack 101 1. Pull out cotter pins from tie rod ends 2. Unbolt tie rod ends and take a BFH and hammer them out of the ball joint 3. Unbolt steering rack clamps 4. Unbolt PS lines on the left side of rack. Have an oil pan under it so that you don't get fluid all over your drive way. Wait for the fluid to drain before you pull the lines out. 5. Pull the PS lines on the left out 6. Unbolt both bolts on the U-Joint from the steering column and slide the u-joint of the pinion assembly 7. Pull the rack out Install is the opposite except getting those PS lines back on can be hard. Be careful when threading the bolts back in.

02-10-2004, 04:30 PM	#8
Wei240 Nissanaholic! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: socal Posts: 1,778 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	many thanks!!!