How to replace front rack bushings??????

[CNIXZGO]

Hello there, Well I need to replace my front rack steering bushings and I want to use the urethane bushings from MSA. I have a 280z which is a 1978. My question is how do I go about doing this? I can see them from under the hood but i cant see them from under the car. Do i just need to jack up the car and access the bolts that way or do I need to go through the engine bay? I think I can just tear out the hold ones and then take off the bolts to install them. Any stepbystep instructions woudl be greatly appreciated!

Nick

[2ManyZs]

The absolute easiest way to replace the rack bushings is to remove the rack from the car and do it on the workbench....:sleepy:

I've tried it while it is still attached to the tie rods and steering column, and it is not an easy thing to do as the rack will barely lift up high enough to slide the bushings under and around the rack itself. If you look at the bushings, they are a diamond shape and feeding them under and around the rack is a lesson in cussing and fussing. The rack will only raise up an inch or so before it makes contact with the oil pan.

You can remove the rack fairly easily if you put the car up on jackstands, remove the tie rods from the steering arm, and then loosen the pinch bolt on the steering column and using a large screwdriver, wedge it into the slot on the coupler and loosen it from the splines on the rack. It is also a good time to check out your tie rod ends and replace them if needed.

It might take the better part of an afternoon to do this, but it is the easiest way IMO.

[Bambikiller240]

...........you can remove the bolts from the motor mounts to the cross-member and then jack up the ENGINE to get more clearance to raise the steering rack enough to replace the bushings. That is what I did and it worked well. Just be sure to have a piece of wood between the oil-pan and the floor jack, so you don't bugger up the oil pan. You only need about 2 or 3 more inches of clearance to do the job, and separating the tie-rods from the steering knuckles to remove the whole rack from the car usually destroys the tie rod boots if not the whole outer tie-rod ends. Not worth the $$ to me!

Just my opinion