cfc928gt

I know many of us have had problems with tramlining, I certainly have and it drives me crazy. I've finally eliminated 99% of it to the point all I get is a gentle tug on a certain section of road that used to throw me all over the place - and that's with front 8" wheels with an offset of 49mm. Based on what I'd read from others on the list I first I had an alignment and asked to have toe set to zero. They got it to .03 degrees total toe, that helped a lot but it didn't eliminate it. At the last Denver tech session Erik had complained that his steering was very bad and unresponsive so we put his car on a drive-on lift and turned the steering wheel back and forth, the rack moved all over the place. We compared that to Ralphs '88 with 34k and his only moved slightly. My '89 GT with 69k moved a bit more. Based on that I put in new rack bushings. When I pulled the rack plate off three of the bushings looked perfect and only one was just starting to show the rubber deforming but not very badly. I can't believe the difference new bushings have made to the feel and responsiveness of the steering, it's like a new car. I'm amazed at this since the GT has so few miles. The tramlining is pretty well gone, like I said, only a gentle tug now. I highly recommend replacing rack bushings if you've never done it.

AO

Did you go with stock bushing or Carl's solid ones?

cfc928gt

I went with stock. I was going to use Carl's but someone talked me out of it do to concern there would be too much harshness from the solid bushings. After seeing the difference the new bushings make I think I'd go with Carl's next time but I'd love to hear what others have experienced with his.

drnick

also setting castor all the way forward helps.

928drvr86.5

I replaced mine last year when i did the motor mounts and coil overs. Coil overs, motor mounts, tie rods, rack bushings, and new wheels all in one sitting. You can imagine how all of that improved things.

928drvr86.5

Incidentally, the shop that put my bushings in did it in a bench vise with a hammer and chisel. I Cringed when i walked in mid-job, never assume a shop has a good arbor press. Hell i could have taken it to the John Deere Proving Grounds where i work and did it myself. When i got it back one of the hard lines was crimped half-way closed (vise) and the threaded ends that mount the rack to the crossmember were twisted from it being pounded on in the vise. needless to say it leaks a bit now. Next on the list i guess. The more i let people touch my car the more convinced i am that i could do a better job myself.

a4sfed928

I was planning on making solid polyurethane for mine. I think Carl's rack bushings solid aluminum?

Nicole

Does replacing those bushings require realigning the car?

928drvr86.5

i suppose you could get away with not aligning it because you really are not changing length of the tie rods (toe), or the castor and camber. I would probably have it aligned anyway.

cfc928gt

Nicole, you shouldn't have to do an alignment, I didn't after putting my bushings in. Ben, I agree with you about doing your own work, you always know the quality that way. Erik's bushings were so badly worn his rack ends had twisted as well. They went back in place when we torqued the nuts down.

A4sfed928, you'd have a hit on your hands if you wanted to make them out of polyurethane and sell them.

Ron_H

Ever since I have owned my car I have had this *#$%@(*!!!*** problem. The car will NOT go in a straight line for more than a few seconds. New bushings did NOT help enough to make a difference. Three alignments later it is worse than ever. And in Denver I noticed that the inside edges of my "new" tires were almost bald. So after OCIC, I headed for SLC to let Dave Lomas look at the situation. He found loose wheel bearings, a worn steering rack, and collapsed motor mounts. Awful conditions, considering how I had driven to the event. So now I will change all of the above and the pan gasket and install new tires, and try another alignment. If poly bushings are available, where may I get them?? Another question: anyone try a rack other than the factory ZF?

cfc928gt

Ouch, Ron! How loose where the wheel bearings? That will definately cause the car to drift and tramline. Did Dave check the alignment? What were the specs? What was worn on the steering rack?

Nicole

Do a search here regarding ZF steering rack... If you remember my story, we ended up going back to a Porsche rack.

Ron_H

Dave's opinion (and from what I saw under the car while he moved the wheels) indicated a worn rack. The bushings had been replaced about a year ago. The bearings were slightly loose on both sides, enough to rock the wheel top to bottom. I simply put on some used tires with which to limp home and will deal with it as soon as I find some dirt on someone wealthy and influential enough to blackmail. I shall stick with the ZF rack. It is tempting to try a generic product, but I think not when dealing with steering.

zoltan944

how easy (or rather hard) is it to replace the steering rack bushing? if you dont' need an alignment then the rack doesn't have to come off, do you just jack the car and pull them off? (like sways?)