Symptoms of Bad or Failing Steering Rack Bushings

Steering rack bushings are critical to a driver's comfort and safety

What is a steering rack bushing?

A steering rack bushing, also known as a rack and pinion bushing, is a steel sleeve surrounded by neoprene rubber or solid polyurethane. It is sandwiched between the steering rack and the frame or subframe that the steering rack is bolted to.

It is designed to dampen the vibrations caused by movement in the suspension and steering components during regular driving. Because of the vibrations and wear that a steering rack bushing is designed to endure, it is a component that should be inspected whenever the front suspension of your vehicle is serviced or whenever you get an alignment.

Bad or Failing Steering Rack Bushings

Bad steering rack bushings have similar symptoms as many other suspension and steering components.

Ensure that all front suspension and steering components are inspected before choosing this specifically as a repair, but remember that ensuring that all suspension and steering components are in working order is not only critical to your safety, but to that of your vehicle's occupants and other drivers on the road.

Bad steering rack bushings have symptoms similar to bad control arms, tie rods, sway bar bushings, strut bearings, and many other suspension and steering components.

Symptoms of Bad or Failing Steering Rack Bushings

• Clunking or jerking while turning

• Clunking when going over bumps

• Shaking steering wheel

• Excessive free play in steering

• Inconsistent steering resistance

• Improper alignment, car can't stay straight

• Leaking power steering fluid

Let's take a look at each of these symptoms and what they mean below.

1. Clunking or jerking while turning

Bad steering components are easy to detect, as you hold a direct line to the system through the steering wheel and steering column. Bad steering rack bushings can allow the steering rack to move while turning causing noises that are only heard while steering.

2. Clunking when going over bumps

As with any worn suspension bushing, a bad steering rack bushing allows the steering rack to move instead of being bolted solidly to the frame or subframe of your vehicle. This may result in an audible clunk, or an irregular bumpy feel in your steering wheel. This isn't just annoying, but is a sign of increased stress on other steering and suspension components. If this symptom is noticed, ensure that your vehicle is inspected before other components begin to fail.

3. Shaking steering wheel

Since the steering rack can move with the suspension and steering components because of bumps in the road, these new vibrations will be transferred to your hands through the steering wheel. This is a common symptom of many different steering and suspension components and may develop slowly over time.

4. Excessive free play in steering

Since the steering rack can move relative to the vehicle because of bad steering rack bushings, there will likely be more free play near the center of steering. 'Free play' means there is a loose area in the steering, where turning the wheel seems to do nothing in steering the car.

5. Inconsistent steering resistance

Bad steering rack bushings can causing binding of the steering rack in one direction, and free movement in another. These directions may change, even while turning. This is a really dangerous symptom and should not be ignored under any circumstances. Your car is telling you that something is very wrong, whether or not it is just the steering rack bushings. Ensure that your vehicle is inspected as soon as possible.

6. Improper alignment

As with any bad or failing suspension or steering component, it may be difficult for your vehicle's wheels to be aligned properly causing your car to wander on the road. The alignment technician may advise you that certain steering components should be replaced if the toe of the front wheels cannot be aligned to specification. It is also possible that bad steering rack bushings result in alignment that feels like it is changing as your drive.

7. Leaking power steering fluid

Any worn component within the steering system of your car will cause undue stress on the steering rack and the power steering fluid system responsible for keeping it in working order. Because of this, leaks may develop as a result of bad steering rack bushings.

Again, many steering components share similar symptoms. It is best to have your vehicle diagnosed by a professional. Find one of our thousands of certified repair facilities near you.

Steering Rack Bushing Related Repair Advice

Bad steering rack bushings can be diagnosed with the vehicle safely lifted off the ground and having a helper move the steering wheel back and forth. If the steering rack moves while the steering is turned, then it is likely that your steering rack bushings are bad.

Unfortunately, some vehicles have steering rack bushings integrated into the steering rack itself. These variants will require a shop press to remove and replace.

Steering rack bushings should be replaced if any major front end suspension work is being done on your vehicle as preventative maintenance. Replacing these bushings alone may be a complex job depending on your make and model, as it may require decoupling the steering column from the steering rack.

1. A four-wheel alignment should be performed after replacing the steering rack bushings
2. Steering rack bushings should be inspected as part of any front end or pre-alignment inspection

Steering Rack Bushing Replacement Cost?

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