Can I just say installing steering rack bushings on an 05 wrx is a PITA. Last night I had two installs lined, up my alk and sterring rack bushings. The alk went smooth this time-- last time I ran out of time and had to reinstall everything before I finished-- (once I pulled off the wheels, got an impact gun, and had a friend work with me) but the steering rack bushings, omg!

To get these ****** out we had to drill into the rubber which surrounds the metal housings in the stock part. Then it took a HUGE amount of force to pull those ***** out; I mean I almost broke a screw driver force. It took longer to install the steering rack bushings than it did the whole alk!

That being said, all the frusturation was well worth it. Car responds like none other into/out of turns and the slightest movement of the steering wheel = a positive steering response. These are must do mods fellas. :-)

 

Can't you just cut off the stock rubber steering rack bushings?

 

I wish it were that easy.... ;-) It's almost like the fit on my car was so tight that even when we "cut" into one side with the drill the old bush still wouldn't come out. I was doing the install with a Subaru swap star too, and even he said it was a pita.

 

Yeah, its a pain.. I just don't feel comfortable bending anything.. I bent my steering lines down a little bit, but other then that, there is simply no space to put the bushing in. I had to spray enough silicone to slide the bushing around.

I'd like to find a way to swap the steering column thingy in my wrx.. There is a rubber bushing in there that absorbs some steering feel also. I believe the STi does not have this rubber bushing. Unfortunately I can't remember what it's called.

 

Update guys: Whiteline is coming out with a revision for my05 steering rack bushings. This upgrade includes a tool to change the install from a multiple hour process, back to about a 15 or so minute task. New part number and everything. You can order this new one directly from whiteline or just wait till it comes to a local vendor.

 

Only for 05?

 

I dunno if they changed the steering rack AGAIN for 06, but if they didn't it's for my06 too. I believe there was a major rack change from my04 to my05 though....

 

I am having my bushings changed on the 06 STI. It was delayed because the bushings for the 05 which were sent by mistake are compeletey different than the ones for the 06. I'm having them put in Friday along with Perrin sways and endlinks.

Hope this makes a difference!!

 

From what you said, I think you're talking about the steering coupler. This joins the pinion to the steering shaft.