95_SC400 Posted January 18, 2007 Posted January 18, 2007 Hey guys, i've had this problem for a while now but only now its finally starting to annoy me. Problem is my steering has WAY to much freeplay in it. I have to hold on to it like its going to fly away. the steering follows every single crack, bump, pebble in the road. I mean the steering wheel can turn about 30 degrees both way on its own. I have no clue what this could be.I've also had 3 allignments in past 6 months and it still seems to pull right. Any body know what this problem might be?
jzz30 Posted January 19, 2007 Posted January 19, 2007 your steering rack bushings probably have disintegrated. unfortunately they dont seem to sell replacements. and you need to buy a new rack. i suggest trying to search for them becasue the rack is an expensive item to replace. the dealer doesnt seem to offer them but you should search around. anyway you can diagnose this by taking your under pannel off and taking a pry bar to your rack on the driver's side. if it moves around then thats the cause.
95_SC400 Posted January 19, 2007 Author Posted January 19, 2007 your steering rack bushings probably have disintegrated. unfortunately they dont seem to sell replacements. and you need to buy a new rack. i suggest trying to search for them becasue the rack is an expensive item to replace. the dealer doesnt seem to offer them but you should search around.anyway you can diagnose this by taking your under pannel off and taking a pry bar to your rack on the driver's side. if it moves around then thats the cause. Wow, ok not the best news but thanks for at least letting me know. I am definitely gonna go to my mechanic to have him check this out. Do you know if its ok to drive around with it like this though? Thanks for the help.
imfauxreal Posted January 19, 2007 Posted January 19, 2007 your steering rack bushings probably have disintegrated. unfortunately they dont seem to sell replacements. and you need to buy a new rack. i suggest trying to search for them becasue the rack is an expensive item to replace. the dealer doesnt seem to offer them but you should search around.anyway you can diagnose this by taking your under pannel off and taking a pry bar to your rack on the driver's side. if it moves around then thats the cause. Wow, ok not the best news but thanks for at least letting me know. I am definitely gonna go to my mechanic to have him check this out. Do you know if its ok to drive around with it like this though? Thanks for the help. There is an adjustment below located in the rack and pinion, you just need to tighten the bolt its just loosen.
95_SC400 Posted January 20, 2007 Author Posted January 20, 2007 O ok well im definetly gonna try tightening bolts first because paying thousands of dollars isnt my idea of fun. Thanks for the help guys.
DomLee Posted January 21, 2007 Posted January 21, 2007 Steering Rack Bushings are available. http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread...ng+rack+bushing
95_SC400 Posted January 21, 2007 Author Posted January 21, 2007 Steering Rack Bushings are available. http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread...ng+rack+bushing Awesome! im getting new shocks and struts in about 2 weeks so im gonna get those bushings as well and have my mechanic change them out as well. Thanks a bunch, because last thing i would want is a new rack.
jzz30 Posted January 21, 2007 Posted January 21, 2007 ahh good find! here's what i made: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...c=11006&hl=
aliga Posted January 21, 2007 Posted January 21, 2007 it can be the bushings, or it can be the rack. jack up the car, and take a look to see if the bushings are shot. i have used racks, if you need.
95_SC400 Posted January 21, 2007 Author Posted January 21, 2007 it can be the bushings, or it can be the rack. jack up the car, and take a look to see if the bushings are shot.i have used racks, if you need. Great! im gonna jack the car up and see what the problem is. If i need the rack ill let you know. Thanks for the offer.
95_SC400 Posted January 21, 2007 Author Posted January 21, 2007 One more question then, since im going to be replacing suspension and rack bushings. Is there anything else that i should replace while im at it? By the way, im going eibach springs and tokicos struts, so the car will be lower. So if there is anything else i should replace, Let me know asap so i can order before i go to shop. Thanks!
95_SC400 Posted January 23, 2007 Author Posted January 23, 2007 Ok, just bought suspension and about to buy the daizen bushings. I just wanted to confirm with who ever might know. Is one quantity = bushings for both sides of rack? Second, what should it cost to have them installed? Thanks!
jzz30 Posted January 23, 2007 Posted January 23, 2007 the bushings will probably cost an hour of labor which is can be anywhere from $65-120?
92Lex Posted January 23, 2007 Posted January 23, 2007 Lowering the car calls for an upgraded sway bar set-up.
DomLee Posted January 23, 2007 Posted January 23, 2007 Ok, just bought suspension and about to buy the daizen bushings. I just wanted to confirm with who ever might know. Is one quantity = bushings for both sides of rack? Second, what should it cost to have them installed? Thanks! It is sold per kit, not per bushing. (Did you click on the link I provided earlier?) In each kit, you will get two small bushings and one large bushing. In my opinion, do it yourself. The link tells you everything you need for the job. I did it myself and it was extremely easy. If you can do an oil change, you can switch out the steering rack bushings.
95_SC400 Posted January 23, 2007 Author Posted January 23, 2007 Lowering the car calls for an upgraded sway bar set-up. 92Lex - Believe me, if it didnt cost 500 bux i would definately have bought it. I am getting a front strut bar though. If you know where i can the the sway bar for a lot cheaper, please let me know. DomLee - I would do it myself but im giving the car to get the suspension installed so i might as well have him do the bushings.I'll consider it though, after all i dont wanna spend extra money on something i can do myself. I have one more question for you though. The kit has 2 small bushings and 1 large one. Is that all i need for the entire rack? I mean, do i only need one kit? Thanks!
DomLee Posted January 25, 2007 Posted January 25, 2007 Having a mechanic do the work is fine, but he'll easily tack on half an hour to a full hour for labor to do the job. This is something that'll take you 30 minutes. Not worth it for the little amount of work a mechanic will do. You can't really f*ck it up when there are pictures in the link. And yes, the one kit is all you need, as it is a complete kit.
95_SC400 Posted January 25, 2007 Author Posted January 25, 2007 Thanks, i already bought the kit. The mechanic is a really good friend of mine plus ill be at the shop when its being changed so he wont tack anything extra on. Ill let you know how the upgrade goes. Thanks for all the help guys.
95_SC400 Posted January 31, 2007 Author Posted January 31, 2007 Well got everything done. Unfortunately the eibachs i was given didnt work so now i have only Tokico's and stock springs. I replaced bushings with those Daizen ones. Im really unsatisfied though. My old shocks were as dead as they could possibly be, so they needed replacment anyway. Unfortunately the freeplay still continues. I had my allignment done with install and again today because i wasnt satisfied. My mechanic just cant find why my steering has so much play and still pulls to the right after 5 allignments in less then 1 year. I am also very disappointed with the ride height. Since the shocks are new, my car lifted 1/2" up. I hated old height but now i just cant even look at my car without being disgusted. Im going back tomorrow once again to check my brakes and possibly bleed them to make sure im not rubbing brakes. If anyone has any more possible ideas as to what else to check please let me know. I am also really looking for some lowering springs but dont want to pay to much. So if you know where or if you have some you are willing to sell, Let me know.Thanks!
95_SC400 Posted February 1, 2007 Author Posted February 1, 2007 Yep. It is your control arm bushings. Well that sucks. Those are a bit expensive when added to the work to change them. Im gonna check them out before i do any work on them. Thanks for the info though.
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