Car Pulling post Steering rack bushing and spring install

TrackSTi · 05-17-2004, 10:00 PM

All-

Okay. This is an odd problem.

Over the weekend I installed harder steering rack bushings and the STi Pink springs with front hardened strut tower mounts. The rears are on backorder, so I plan on replacing them soon.

The steering rack as been torqued down to 44 ft lbs. I put lithium grease on the passenger side bushing only. The drivers side has no grease. I suspect the grease is only for aid in installation.

For the springs, I torqued everything down to spec. Strut to wheel bearing housing F 141 ft lbs., R 149 ft lbs., upper strut mounts 14 ft lbs., and the strut to upper mounts were 41 ft lbs.

Now, everytime I steer to lock left or right and accelerate, the car starts to pull that direction. To get it to stop pulling to the right or left, I need to turn hard in the other direction. Has anyone else experienced this? Any hints as to where to look?

Thanks,
Rich

adamantiumSTi · 05-17-2004, 10:48 PM

It sounds to me like the steering rack bushings are binding. I'm pretty sure they both need a liberal amount of grease to move freely...

Rev · 05-17-2004, 10:51 PM

Yes. This is the third time someone has mentioned the exact same problem here, and in the three cases, they didn't put the grease on the bushings.

So I'm now thinking that no, they're not for just slipping them on, but to allow lateral movement on the steering rack.

When I installed mine, I greased them good, and no binding issues whatsoever.

bekster43 · 05-18-2004, 12:06 PM

no grease was put on my steering bushings and they seem fine

TrackSTi · 05-18-2004, 03:04 PM

Bekster-

Could you try this: Steer quickly to 'lock' so that you get a 'thump', then accelerate away (slowly, no need to push it), and then see if the car pulls to the side you turned the car.

If three others have had this problem, and they greased their bushings, then I guess I try the same. I HATE that drivers side! Oh well...

Thanks again guys,
-Rich

adamantiumSTi · 05-19-2004, 01:47 PM

Don't you hate having to pull stuff apart again for something so small! :evil:

CloNeGTS · 05-19-2004, 02:56 PM

I'm going to be watching this thread. Ever since I put those bushings in (used most of the lube, but getting the bushings in...most is probably on the car and me, not the bushings), I've had a very unsettled feeling in the car. Doesn't corner right, feels wobbly on the highway.....I'm hoping it has something to do with the bushings because otherwise I have a real problem somewhere.

TrackSTi · 05-22-2004, 09:40 PM

Well, I pulled out the drivers side bushing again... :evil: and put some white lithium grease on them. Now, I have a squeak and a slight pull in the steering. The next time I pull this steering rack out, it's coming out with a sawsall!

I'm going to drive it a bit, and see how it goes. Hopefully, it smoothes out with some driving... I'll post back later.

-Rich

Rev · 05-25-2004, 05:44 PM

Updates? Rich, after greasing up the bushings, are you still having "memory" steer?

TrackSTi · 05-27-2004, 06:04 PM

Yep. But with an added feature.

Now, not only do I have "memory steer", I have a platicy 'squeek' when I turn the wheel. I added some lithium grease to both bushings. I *loved* pulling out the driver's side again. (!). i'm not sure how much grease finally wound up on the driver's side, but it was enough to reduce the memory steer slightly.

The bushing I bought did not come with grease, so I just used some lithium grease that I had in the house. The bushings themselves are the blue Fulcrums (?) from a place back east. They advertise on this board. They said they were made by the same company that makes the Whiteline bushings. Anyone else have similar problems with thes bushings?

-Rich

Rev · 05-27-2004, 09:02 PM

Interesting. So in fact, greasing reduced the memory steer effect.

Did the original POS Subaru bushing stick to the steering rack, did you have to scrape it at all? Or did it just magically and cleanly slide off?

TrackSTi · 05-28-2004, 10:34 AM

The OEM POS bushings seemed to be glued, so I did a bunch of scraping. I think it was only on the passenger side though. I scraped some off, but could have missed some. Thoughts?

-Rich

Rev · 05-28-2004, 10:44 AM

I did remember scraping the passenger side bushing, it was glued to the rack. Not so on the driver's side. But I tried not to leave ANY remnants of the bushing afterwards, as to have it smooth, because I was thinking that the new bushing might bind to the leftovers of the old one.

TrackSTi · 05-28-2004, 10:55 AM

I think you're right. Okay. Back under the car for the fourth time. Luckily it's pretty easy to do that side of the rack. Although I've gotten better that I ever wanted to be at the driver's side!

I'll report back on any changes...

-Rich

TrackSTi · 05-28-2004, 11:00 AM

I think you're right. Okay. Back under the car for the fourth time. Luckily it's pretty easy to do that side of the rack. Although I've gotten better that I ever wanted to be at the driver's side!

I'll report back on any changes...

-Rich

05-17-2004, 10:00 PM	#1
TrackSTi Amateur STI Driver Posts: 39 IWSTI Addict since: Apr 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	All- Okay. This is an odd problem. Over the weekend I installed harder steering rack bushings and the STi Pink springs with front hardened strut tower mounts. The rears are on backorder, so I plan on replacing them soon. The steering rack as been torqued down to 44 ft lbs. I put lithium grease on the passenger side bushing only. The drivers side has no grease. I suspect the grease is only for aid in installation. For the springs, I torqued everything down to spec. Strut to wheel bearing housing F 141 ft lbs., R 149 ft lbs., upper strut mounts 14 ft lbs., and the strut to upper mounts were 41 ft lbs. Now, everytime I steer to lock left or right and accelerate, the car starts to pull that direction. To get it to stop pulling to the right or left, I need to turn hard in the other direction. Has anyone else experienced this? Any hints as to where to look? Thanks, Rich This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

05-19-2004, 02:56 PM	#7
CloNeGTS S204 Racer Car: Solo II, WRC Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 2,776 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2002 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Lunch on May 23! I'm going to be watching this thread. Ever since I put those bushings in (used most of the lube, but getting the bushings in...most is probably on the car and me, not the bushings), I've had a very unsettled feeling in the car. Doesn't corner right, feels wobbly on the highway.....I'm hoping it has something to do with the bushings because otherwise I have a real problem somewhere.

05-28-2004, 11:00 AM	#15
TrackSTi Amateur STI Driver Posts: 39 IWSTI Addict since: Apr 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	I think you're right. Okay. Back under the car for the fourth time. Luckily it's pretty easy to do that side of the rack. Although I've gotten better that I ever wanted to be at the driver's side! I'll report back on any changes... -Rich This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

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05-17-2004, 10:48 PM	#2
adamantiumSTi Junior STI Driver Fav Mod: Mobile Electronics Installer Location: Allen, TX Posts: 105 IWSTI Addict since: Mar 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	It sounds to me like the steering rack bushings are binding. I'm pretty sure they both need a liberal amount of grease to move freely...

05-17-2004, 10:51 PM	#3
Rev STI Guru Car: 06 V70R Location: Hoffman Estates, IL Posts: 5,544 IWSTI Addict since: Dec 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Yes. This is the third time someone has mentioned the exact same problem here, and in the three cases, they didn't put the grease on the bushings. So I'm now thinking that no, they're not for just slipping them on, but to allow lateral movement on the steering rack. When I installed mine, I greased them good, and no binding issues whatsoever.

05-18-2004, 12:06 PM	#4
bekster43 Grassroots STI Racer Car: 04 STI Posts: 526 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	no grease was put on my steering bushings and they seem fine

05-18-2004, 03:04 PM	#5
TrackSTi Amateur STI Driver Posts: 39 IWSTI Addict since: Apr 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Bekster- Could you try this: Steer quickly to 'lock' so that you get a 'thump', then accelerate away (slowly, no need to push it), and then see if the car pulls to the side you turned the car. If three others have had this problem, and they greased their bushings, then I guess I try the same. I HATE that drivers side! Oh well... Thanks again guys, -Rich

05-19-2004, 01:47 PM	#6
adamantiumSTi Junior STI Driver Fav Mod: Mobile Electronics Installer Location: Allen, TX Posts: 105 IWSTI Addict since: Mar 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Don't you hate having to pull stuff apart again for something so small! :evil:

05-22-2004, 09:40 PM	#8
TrackSTi Amateur STI Driver Posts: 39 IWSTI Addict since: Apr 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Well, I pulled out the drivers side bushing again... :evil: and put some white lithium grease on them. Now, I have a squeak and a slight pull in the steering. The next time I pull this steering rack out, it's coming out with a sawsall! I'm going to drive it a bit, and see how it goes. Hopefully, it smoothes out with some driving... I'll post back later. -Rich

05-25-2004, 05:44 PM	#9
Rev STI Guru Car: 06 V70R Location: Hoffman Estates, IL Posts: 5,544 IWSTI Addict since: Dec 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Updates? Rich, after greasing up the bushings, are you still having "memory" steer?

05-27-2004, 06:04 PM	#10
TrackSTi Amateur STI Driver Posts: 39 IWSTI Addict since: Apr 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Yep. But with an added feature. Now, not only do I have "memory steer", I have a platicy 'squeek' when I turn the wheel. I added some lithium grease to both bushings. I loved pulling out the driver's side again. (!). i'm not sure how much grease finally wound up on the driver's side, but it was enough to reduce the memory steer slightly. The bushing I bought did not come with grease, so I just used some lithium grease that I had in the house. The bushings themselves are the blue Fulcrums (?) from a place back east. They advertise on this board. They said they were made by the same company that makes the Whiteline bushings. Anyone else have similar problems with thes bushings? -Rich

05-27-2004, 09:02 PM	#11
Rev STI Guru Car: 06 V70R Location: Hoffman Estates, IL Posts: 5,544 IWSTI Addict since: Dec 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Interesting. So in fact, greasing reduced the memory steer effect. Did the original POS Subaru bushing stick to the steering rack, did you have to scrape it at all? Or did it just magically and cleanly slide off?

05-28-2004, 10:34 AM	#12
TrackSTi Amateur STI Driver Posts: 39 IWSTI Addict since: Apr 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	The OEM POS bushings seemed to be glued, so I did a bunch of scraping. I think it was only on the passenger side though. I scraped some off, but could have missed some. Thoughts? -Rich

05-28-2004, 10:44 AM	#13
Rev STI Guru Car: 06 V70R Location: Hoffman Estates, IL Posts: 5,544 IWSTI Addict since: Dec 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	I did remember scraping the passenger side bushing, it was glued to the rack. Not so on the driver's side. But I tried not to leave ANY remnants of the bushing afterwards, as to have it smooth, because I was thinking that the new bushing might bind to the leftovers of the old one.

05-28-2004, 10:55 AM	#14
TrackSTi Amateur STI Driver Posts: 39 IWSTI Addict since: Apr 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	I think you're right. Okay. Back under the car for the fourth time. Luckily it's pretty easy to do that side of the rack. Although I've gotten better that I ever wanted to be at the driver's side! I'll report back on any changes... -Rich