So I had some free time today and decided that its about time to install the whiteline steering rack bushings and get the rack back on the subframe. From what I could tell the steering rack has never been off before and I used hand tools when I was removing it. Well anyhow this is what I noticed when I went to go put back on the passenger side steering rack bracket.

Here you can see the bracket. I dont know if its the design, but the back hole seems to be oblong. Didnt really pay attention to that until now that I am putting it together. Anybody know if the hole is supposed to be oblong like that?



Here is a close up of it. As you can see somehow the area where the bolt sits got damaged,possibly when I was backing it out, BUT, I used handtools and it came out with no issues, so any guess why this got this way? Previously over torqued?



here is the other side, this hole is round but seems to have similar damage. Almost seems like the bolt wasnt torqueing down flush as the wear area is uneven. Bolts thread in by hand just fine btw.




Im trying to source a new piece, but I find this rather odd. The bolts used by the oem do have lockwashers on them, they arent the flat washer style, but unless the bracket was flexing or moving around I dont see how that would matter. FWIW, this car was being tracked and autoxed frequently.

 

The oblong hole would be to make installation easier for any small tolerance/misalignment.

Also that damage is typical from using spring washers with no flat washer.

I see no issue

 

That was my main concern about the oblong hole. I wasnt sure if that was normal, thanks.

 

TommiM, What did you do to get the factory bushings out of the rack itself? I haven't found any instructions on that, and they are not responding to good whacks from my sledge hammer. Pressing them out seems odd since many shops seemingly do this with the rack in the car, (I have no idea how, I have the subframe out completely).

Also, any idea on why the grease is needed? Those parts don't seem like there should be much movement, so lubing them up seems weird to me.

Update: used a press to push them out.

 

The way I did was I supported the tabs that the bushings are on and supported the rest of the rack so it was above the ground a bit but still firmly supported. I used a short 3/8" extension that I used to slide in the hole of the bushing. That gave me a place to tap on with a mallet then I proceeded to hammer with gentle application of force,haha. It actually worked pretty good this way, hope it made sense.

The grease from my understanding is for the other bushing, on the passenger side. Thats where I ended up using it anyways. I didnt put any on the ones for the driver side, I didnt think it would need it.

** update. I ended up replacing that piece. IT was only $7.50 from Mitsu and the way the metal was scraped off just wasnt worth it to reuse for the price of a new one. The surface was not flat at all anymore. Its also hard to see from pics but it is worse than what pics are showing.