'05+ WL steering Rack Bushings

utah_gonz · 02-09-2007, 09:03 PM

INSTALLATION FOR WL 05+ STEERING RACK BUSHINGS

1. Get your car up on ramps or jack stands.
2. Remove the front under tray.
3. Remove the jack up plate.
4. If you have an aftermarket front sway bar you will have to remove all of the related parts and drop it down a little. You may have to remove everything even if you have a stock sway bar but I don’t so I don’t know. (If you are doing this, then you have probably changed a sway bar.)

5. Remove the two bolts on the passenger side clamp and the four bolts and plate on the driver side.

6. Remove the lower bolt on the steering rack coupling. You will have to use a little force to separate it. (Be sure to mark a index line so you can get it back in the same location)

7. Remove the bushing on the passenger side.
8. Use the provided bushing removal tool to remove the two bushings on the driver side. I used an impact which was very easy. Tighten the bolt all the way until it stops then wiggle the last of the bushing out of the hole. (The bolt w/washer goes through the cup and the nut threads on top.)

9. Clean the bushing areas before installation.

10. Apply white lithium grease to the four bushing halves and install them.
11. Push the two metal tubes into the installed bushings. (I used the butt of a mallet to push one of the tubes in because it is kind of tough.)
12. I found it easier to use the long bolts to make sure that the tubes were completely seated. Completely run in one of the long bolts and then use the butt of the mallet to knock the other one in completely. Then remove the long bolt.

13. Apply grease to the big bushing and install it with the thicker part down and the cut to the rear.

14. Now you are ready to put it all back together.
15. Align the steering rack coupling and completely seat it. Install the coupling bolt and snug it down, but not too much. (Your lines should touch, the picture shows the shaft not seated)

16. Slide the plate from the driver’s side in first before you attach anything, it will make it easier later.
17. Reinstall the clamp on the passenger side. (Not tight)
18. Reinstall the four bolts through the plate on the driver’s side. Tighten these first and then the two passenger side ones.

19. Put everything back together if you had to lower your front sway bar.
20. Reinstall the jack up plate.
21. Reinstall the front under tray.
22. Lower the car and drive around to feel the difference.

amg destroyer · 02-09-2007, 09:13 PM

Also interested.

SUBIRU · 02-09-2007, 10:08 PM

excellent write up. much appreciated!

kts262 · 02-10-2007, 09:49 AM

Great write up! I've been meaning to install my bushings for a while, this will be helpful when I do the install.

mx5_convert · 02-15-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utah_gonz

22. Lower the car and drive around to feel the difference.

And how is the difference?

Thanks. Nice write-up.

utah_gonz · 02-15-2007, 04:19 PM

The steering is MUCH tighter. No more slop. Very good upgrade.

***snorky*** · 02-15-2007, 07:45 PM

excellent write up, spot on. i have these installed on my 05 and i love them.

soob'n · 02-15-2007, 10:42 PM

when you say remove related parts to lower it a bit (sway bar), does this include the removal of the sub frame? Cause that is a

to remove and put back!

jtrafidlo · 02-16-2007, 06:53 AM

I installed mine last week and somehow now my steering position sensor now needs to be replaced. I don't know what the hell I did wrong, but be careful. Subaru is replacing it under warranty as we speak.

STI23 · 02-21-2007, 05:57 PM

You are a hero. Thanks!!

i_venegas76 · 02-21-2007, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtrafidlo

I installed mine last week and somehow now my steering position sensor now needs to be replaced. I don't know what the hell I did wrong, but be careful. Subaru is replacing it under warranty as we speak.

could U try to find out what was wrong with your install ?

**Digitalfiend** · 02-21-2007, 07:41 PM

Great write up and pics. Just one comment, the 05s have the plastic undertray too, no?

futureficus · 03-15-2007, 06:54 AM

Has anyone else had a problem completely seating the steering rack coupling after installing the WL steering rack bushings?

I was underneath my car yesterday and noticed that about a quater of the ridges on the gold part (steering coupling?) was still showing. I unbolted the rest of the steering rack (4 bolts driver's sided, 2 bolts pass. side, 1 bolt steering coupling) and tried to slide the rest of the coupling up to completely seat it. It wouldn't go any higher and I ran out of daylight. Any ideas or tips on how to get it completely seated?

futureficus · 03-15-2007, 10:05 AM

anybody?

4banger · 03-20-2007, 06:26 AM

futureficus - ever get your steering rack reseated?

02-09-2007, 09:03 PM	#1
utah_gonz Professional STI Driver Location: SLC, UT Posts: 439 Join Date: Jun 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	'05+ WL steering Rack Bushings INSTALLATION FOR WL 05+ STEERING RACK BUSHINGS 1. Get your car up on ramps or jack stands. 2. Remove the front under tray. 3. Remove the jack up plate. 4. If you have an aftermarket front sway bar you will have to remove all of the related parts and drop it down a little. You may have to remove everything even if you have a stock sway bar but I don’t so I don’t know. (If you are doing this, then you have probably changed a sway bar.) 5. Remove the two bolts on the passenger side clamp and the four bolts and plate on the driver side. 6. Remove the lower bolt on the steering rack coupling. You will have to use a little force to separate it. (Be sure to mark a index line so you can get it back in the same location) 7. Remove the bushing on the passenger side. 8. Use the provided bushing removal tool to remove the two bushings on the driver side. I used an impact which was very easy. Tighten the bolt all the way until it stops then wiggle the last of the bushing out of the hole. (The bolt w/washer goes through the cup and the nut threads on top.) 9. Clean the bushing areas before installation. 10. Apply white lithium grease to the four bushing halves and install them. 11. Push the two metal tubes into the installed bushings. (I used the butt of a mallet to push one of the tubes in because it is kind of tough.) 12. I found it easier to use the long bolts to make sure that the tubes were completely seated. Completely run in one of the long bolts and then use the butt of the mallet to knock the other one in completely. Then remove the long bolt. 13. Apply grease to the big bushing and install it with the thicker part down and the cut to the rear. 14. Now you are ready to put it all back together. 15. Align the steering rack coupling and completely seat it. Install the coupling bolt and snug it down, but not too much. (Your lines should touch, the picture shows the shaft not seated) 16. Slide the plate from the driver’s side in first before you attach anything, it will make it easier later. 17. Reinstall the clamp on the passenger side. (Not tight) 18. Reinstall the four bolts through the plate on the driver’s side. Tighten these first and then the two passenger side ones. 19. Put everything back together if you had to lower your front sway bar. 20. Reinstall the jack up plate. 21. Reinstall the front under tray. 22. Lower the car and drive around to feel the difference. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad. Last edited by utah_gonz : 02-24-2007 at 09:37 AM.

03-20-2007, 06:26 AM	#15
4banger Professional STI Racer Car: 05 WRB STi Fav Mod: TiC AST's - 7/6K Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 624 Join Date: Feb 2005 Trader Rating: (3)	futureficus - ever get your steering rack reseated? This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

02-09-2007, 09:13 PM	#2
amg destroyer Iron Fisted Car: '05 STi Fav Mod: Sparco seat Location: OC Posts: 4,163 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (4)	Also interested.

02-09-2007, 10:08 PM	#3
SUBIRU Silver Member Car: 05 STi Fav Mod: fix-it tickets Location: sj, ca Posts: 876 Join Date: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (3)	excellent write up. much appreciated!

02-10-2007, 09:49 AM	#4
kts262 HowTo Contributor Car: 2008 DGM (BBS+Navi) Fav Mod: stock FTL? Location: College Park, MD Posts: 2,117 Join Date: Jan 2005 Trader Rating: (9)	Great write up! I've been meaning to install my bushings for a while, this will be helpful when I do the install.

02-15-2007, 04:19 PM	#6
utah_gonz Professional STI Driver Location: SLC, UT Posts: 439 Join Date: Jun 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	The steering is MUCH tighter. No more slop. Very good upgrade.

02-15-2007, 07:45 PM	#7
*snorky* If in doubt, flat out Car: 32J GDFDYEH Fav Mod: Fullerton's Qrack on my car Location: Chicagoland Posts: 3,759 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (23)	excellent write up, spot on. i have these installed on my 05 and i love them.

02-15-2007, 10:42 PM	#8
soob'n Professional STI Driver Car: OBP 05 STi/silver Fav Mod: RCE Tarmac II's Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 425 Join Date: May 2006 Trader Rating: (6)	when you say remove related parts to lower it a bit (sway bar), does this include the removal of the sub frame? Cause that is a to remove and put back!

02-16-2007, 06:53 AM	#9
jtrafidlo Silver Member Car: 06 STi Fav Mod: Pro Tune Location: Doylestown, PA Posts: 334 Join Date: Dec 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	I installed mine last week and somehow now my steering position sensor now needs to be replaced. I don't know what the hell I did wrong, but be careful. Subaru is replacing it under warranty as we speak.

02-21-2007, 05:57 PM	#10
STI23 STI Driver Car: 07 SWP STI Fav Mod: Strength Shoes Location: Los Angeles, Oklahoma Posts: 255 Join Date: Jan 2007 Trader Rating: (2)	You are a hero. Thanks!!

02-21-2007, 07:41 PM	#12
Digitalfiend Super Moderator Car: 08 DGM STI Fav Mod: My wife :) Location: Brooklin, Ontario Posts: 5,517 Join Date: Oct 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Great write up and pics. Just one comment, the 05s have the plastic undertray too, no?

03-15-2007, 06:54 AM	#13
futureficus Amateur STI Driver Car: 06 WR Blue/Gold STI Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 42 Join Date: Aug 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Has anyone else had a problem completely seating the steering rack coupling after installing the WL steering rack bushings? I was underneath my car yesterday and noticed that about a quater of the ridges on the gold part (steering coupling?) was still showing. I unbolted the rest of the steering rack (4 bolts driver's sided, 2 bolts pass. side, 1 bolt steering coupling) and tried to slide the rest of the coupling up to completely seat it. It wouldn't go any higher and I ran out of daylight. Any ideas or tips on how to get it completely seated?

03-15-2007, 10:05 AM	#14
futureficus Amateur STI Driver Car: 06 WR Blue/Gold STI Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 42 Join Date: Aug 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	anybody?