Rack & Pinion bushing rplcmnt?????

johnmcgt · 09-30-2002, 07:19 PM

Hey everyone,

My mustang is creaking like crazy, I got underneath it and saw the rack moving ever so slightly while wheels were turned side to side.
My question is, do I have to do more than just take the rack bolts off and pull the bushings out?? I am sure it is not this easy, I have a manual on order but the bushings will beat it here, and I am impatient.
My suspension is stock. I ordered Poly ones from energy susp.
Any help would be aprreciated.

Thanks

Mustang_289 · 09-30-2002, 07:37 PM

Tie-rod ends and the two bolts where the rack meets steering linkage. If you've got long-tube headers a little tricky but not hard to do. Rack will come out and you can easily replace the bushings.

johnmcgt · 10-01-2002, 04:29 AM

Thanks for the know how, I figured I had to do something like that. It could'nt be as easy as just taking off the bolts and pulling the old bushings out.
Again, thanks for the help.

John

flyin 5.8 · 10-01-2002, 06:21 AM

If you have the offset bushings make sure that the bolt hole is at the 6o'clock position or it can effect your alignment (bump steer & steering wheel podition). Scribe a line along a vertical edge as a reference for left to right location when you reinstall. I'm not sure but I think the bushings are pressed in, if so you can make a press from a bolt and a couple of washers.

chris91LX · 10-01-2002, 08:49 AM

I just did this when I put in my new rack a couple weeks ago. As stated earlier it's the 2 bolts that hold the rack to the k member and the two that hold the tie rods to the wheel assembly. The headers never came into play either way for me

The bolts on the K member were a huge PITA for me. I'd say wait til your putting in the manual rack, otherwise it's just the four bolts and the new bushings can be tapped in easily by hand.

johnmcgt · 10-02-2002, 05:56 PM

Hey everyone,

Thanks for the great tips.
I have a very novice question, I have power steering. Why would I put a manual rack in??? I am doing the change this weekend, the creaking is driving me crazy.
I am new to the mustang altogether so maybe the rack question is out of line, but I am interested to hear the reasoning.

Thanks,

John

lx5091 · 10-02-2002, 11:26 PM

I THINK serious drag racers put them in to free up weight, get the extra accessory off the front of the engine and help stiffen the steering as to help it stay straight. But this is just a guess.

saltzstang · 10-02-2002, 11:40 PM

Manual racks are great! If u run skinneys up front its not much more effort than power. You lose a bunch of weight off of the front end( better 60 ft. times!)

drudis · 10-03-2002, 09:15 AM

Simply pull off the old rack, and remove the bushings. THen re-install the Poly (or aluminum) bushings.
I wouldnt get offset ones, unless you know what you are doing, as most of the time they are not necessary, and are actually worse for bumpsteer.
off with the old:

On with the new (ok, so I put a k-member in there too...)

johnmcgt · 10-08-2002, 07:34 PM

Hey all,

I finally got it in the air and did the deed. The hardest part was putting it in the air. I removed the 2 nuts, pulled the inner sleeves out of the rack and replaced the bushings.
Just that easy, probably 15 minutes of real work.

Thanks again for all the input

John

09-30-2002, 07:19 PM	#1
johnmcgt Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 31	Rack & Pinion bushing rplcmnt????? Hey everyone, My mustang is creaking like crazy, I got underneath it and saw the rack moving ever so slightly while wheels were turned side to side. My question is, do I have to do more than just take the rack bolts off and pull the bushings out?? I am sure it is not this easy, I have a manual on order but the bushings will beat it here, and I am impatient. My suspension is stock. I ordered Poly ones from energy susp. Any help would be aprreciated. Thanks __________________ K&N: 2.5" Flows(3-chmbr) & Offroad H-Pipe: Underdrive Pullies: Eibach Pro springs: KYB shocks/struts: Pro3I C/C plates:

10-01-2002, 04:29 AM	#3
johnmcgt Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 31	Bushings how to Thanks for the know how, I figured I had to do something like that. It could'nt be as easy as just taking off the bolts and pulling the old bushings out. Again, thanks for the help. John __________________ K&N: 2.5" Flows(3-chmbr) & Offroad H-Pipe: Underdrive Pullies: Eibach Pro springs: KYB shocks/struts: Pro3I C/C plates:

10-01-2002, 08:49 AM	#5
chris91LX Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Suburban Chicago, Hanover Park Posts: 695	I just did this when I put in my new rack a couple weeks ago. As stated earlier it's the 2 bolts that hold the rack to the k member and the two that hold the tie rods to the wheel assembly. The headers never came into play either way for me The bolts on the K member were a huge PITA for me. I'd say wait til your putting in the manual rack, otherwise it's just the four bolts and the new bushings can be tapped in easily by hand. __________________ My Ford Club http://www.midwestfords.org/ Best time N/A 12.9 @ 107 1.711 60' 125 shot - 12.04 @ 113 1.59 60'

10-02-2002, 05:56 PM	#6
johnmcgt Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 31	Great advice Hey everyone, Thanks for the great tips. I have a very novice question, I have power steering. Why would I put a manual rack in??? I am doing the change this weekend, the creaking is driving me crazy. I am new to the mustang altogether so maybe the rack question is out of line, but I am interested to hear the reasoning. Thanks, John __________________ K&N: 2.5" Flows(3-chmbr) & Offroad H-Pipe: Underdrive Pullies: Eibach Pro springs: KYB shocks/struts: Pro3I C/C plates:

10-02-2002, 11:26 PM	#7
lx5091 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fall River, MA Posts: 467	I THINK serious drag racers put them in to free up weight, get the extra accessory off the front of the engine and help stiffen the steering as to help it stay straight. But this is just a guess. __________________ '02 Explorer XLT 4.0L --Nice Vehicle '97 Saturn SL1--Soon to be ditched for a Ford!

09-30-2002, 07:37 PM	#2
Mustang_289 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 512	Tie-rod ends and the two bolts where the rack meets steering linkage. If you've got long-tube headers a little tricky but not hard to do. Rack will come out and you can easily replace the bushings.

10-01-2002, 06:21 AM	#4
flyin 5.8 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Holland, Michigan Posts: 73	If you have the offset bushings make sure that the bolt hole is at the 6o'clock position or it can effect your alignment (bump steer & steering wheel podition). Scribe a line along a vertical edge as a reference for left to right location when you reinstall. I'm not sure but I think the bushings are pressed in, if so you can make a press from a bolt and a couple of washers.

10-02-2002, 11:40 PM	#8
saltzstang Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: southeast texas Posts: 90	Manual racks are great! If u run skinneys up front its not much more effort than power. You lose a bunch of weight off of the front end( better 60 ft. times!)

10-03-2002, 09:15 AM	#9
drudis Moderator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Livonia, MI, USA Posts: 1,194	Simply pull off the old rack, and remove the bushings. THen re-install the Poly (or aluminum) bushings. I wouldnt get offset ones, unless you know what you are doing, as most of the time they are not necessary, and are actually worse for bumpsteer. off with the old: On with the new (ok, so I put a k-member in there too...) __________________ Darius Rudis, Moderator Corner Carvers Delight 1989 Mustang LX - Open Track Car http://www.dariusrudis.com

10-08-2002, 07:34 PM	#10
johnmcgt Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 31	Finally got around to it Hey all, I finally got it in the air and did the deed. The hardest part was putting it in the air. I removed the 2 nuts, pulled the inner sleeves out of the rack and replaced the bushings. Just that easy, probably 15 minutes of real work. Thanks again for all the input John __________________ K&N: 2.5" Flows(3-chmbr) & Offroad H-Pipe: Underdrive Pullies: Eibach Pro springs: KYB shocks/struts: Pro3I C/C plates:

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