Powerflex steering rack bushings

Brickwerks · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 4:20 pm Post subject:

Not that simple.
I have a pair, big enough to fill 2 prams thanks.
Laughing

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joet · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 6:47 am Post subject:

I installed the Powerflex Steering Rack bushings yesterday. It was a lot easier than I was expecting, especially because it's the first thing I have done, ever, to the steering/suspension of a car.

I removed all four bolts so the steering rack was free, and with the key turned in the ignition so the steering wheel wouldn't lock, I rotated the rack side to side and removed the old bushings with needle nose pliers (grabbing the inner sleeves and pulling hard). I installed the new bushings in a similar manner, and rotated the steering column with one hand while lining up the bolts in reverse order to when I removed them.

How tight should I have cranked down the bolts? I gave each one a real good turn, but didn't yard on them or add any body weight.

Also, when I work on bicycles, I was always told to use grease on every bolt. I've carried over this practice to things I've fixed on the van, but I never see grease on any bolts when I remove them? Should I keep doing this or is dry bolts the proper way on an automobile? Park Grease is what I've used for bikes, though I've been using white lithium grease on the vanagon.

climberjohn · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 8:35 am Post subject:

JoeT,

Your tip about removing all 4 bolts, and then turning the steering wheel slightly is a good one!

I did the same, thru a bit of trial and error, to gain enough room on the driver side to slip in the rear half of the Powerflex bushings.

For anyone doing this upgrade, I suggest you try simply turning the steering wheel to get the needed room to install the bushings; no removal of any part of the steering rack hardware was needed other than the 4 bolts holding in the OEM bushings.

-CJ
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'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.

syncrodoka · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:04 pm Post subject:

wbx · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:45 pm Post subject:

IdahoDoug · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:01 pm Post subject:

In a simplistic way, grease is just oil with thickeners. When grease dries out, some of those thickeners turn into a hard crud that may make removal difficult. More importantly, grease's much, much higher viscosity can cause a bolt being tightened into a hole to hydrolock and the torque has been reached. However, the correct torque has not been reached and the fastener is not providing the correct clamping force between whatever you're installing.

Oil, by contrast, doesn't really "dry out" and leave crud. Also, it is more able to be squeezed out of the threads during the tightening process so it's much less likely to create that hydrolock effect. A very light coating on a fastener is what's called for. A normal oil drop off an oil can would be way too much, but that same drop on a finger and rolling the threads across the finger would be about right.

DougM
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

wbx · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:14 pm Post subject:

IdahoDoug · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:14 am Post subject:

Sorry I'll stop hijacking here after a VERY important point. Never put or get antisieze under the head of a fastener. This changes the intention of the head, which is to provide stiction force to prevent loosening. Threads only. Worst place is using it on wheel lug bolts where the tapered lug bolt and the wheel touch. Absolutely incorrect as described above. Just roll the threads across some anti sieze and you've got enough.

Carry on.....

DougM
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

Brickwerks · Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:42 am Post subject:

Some more Powerflex items coming soon.
Wink

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1621 · Samba Member Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174

insyncro · Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:28 pm Post subject:

Make a list of all bushings in the Vanagon suspension.
Subtract the Powerflex bushings that are available.
Bingo!

r39o · Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:35 pm Post subject:

madspaniard · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 10:11 pm Post subject:

joined the club and had the Powerflex steering rack poly bushings installed in the Westy today. If you are very familiar with how your van performs and steers you will notice the improvement easily. Tight steering and improved responsiveness. On the way back nome, it felt like a modern car, fun to change lanes, almost sporty feeling in the steering department, nice upgrade overall.
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1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD

"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali

windnsea · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 11:23 pm Post subject:

I also put in the Powerflex bushings today in my 83 1/2 sunroof vanagon. Also got half-way through putting in a BMW 3-series power brake booster and new clutch master and slave cylinders! I think that everything now new except for the body and glass!

Gary

madspaniard · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 11:31 pm Post subject:

timbo · Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 5:02 am Post subject:

Its been 2 weeks of driving since I've "Powerflexed" my front end. Loogy set me up with the steering rack bushings,LCA bushings, sway bar and endlinks too. These combined with Burley UCA's with heim joints instead of bushings, new ball joints and tie-rod ends and my front end feels nice and tight with a noticeable difference in sterring wheel feel and body lean. No squeaks or clunks.
For the few hours that it took to swap out the old,soft rubber bushings the urethane bushings are well worth the price. In the past 4 years Ive replaced the rubbers only to have them deteriorate in short time.

Go Urethane, go Loogy!
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1988 Vanagon GL/ 1991 2.2 Subie power
"Never tell a lie and you'll never have to play dumb" Anthony Kiedis

syncrodoka · Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 7:19 am Post subject:

I have still yet to have any problems with my PS rack poly bushings even with trail abuse and fast driving in mountain roads on a regular basis. I fully recommend these bits to anybody. Applause

j_dirge · Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 8:16 am Post subject:

insyncro · Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 8:30 am Post subject:

Besides the power, the first thing a driver will comment on while driving one of my personal vans is the steering "feel".
I have had Powerflex and a stiffer set mounted for years now.
Huge improvement over rubber!

If you like the slop and swaying of a van in the corners, don't bother upgrading these bushings...seriously, some prefer sloppy steering. Rolling Eyes

j_dirge · Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 8:39 am Post subject:


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Powerflex steering rack bushings
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