Steering rack bushings?

[GTRS Fiero]

Are the steering rack bushings the same between years?

Here are the bushings to which I am referring.

[TopNotch]

That one threw me off until I looked at the picture in your link. That's because the bushings that people usually talk about in reference to steering racks are the ones inside it, on the shaft that the tie rods attach to. Yours are the ones outside it, that hold it in place, and I have no idea if they are the same on all years. But Rodney Dickman lists "1988 Steering Rack Mounting Bushings", so 88's are probably different.

[GTRS Fiero]

Yes, that's what I figured.  I provided the link to clarify.

I've been trying to get Rodney to make his bushings for a while, but can't wait forever.

I ordered and received these (from rare car parts), but really can't tell.  I do have an '88 rack I'm rebuilding.  Perhaps I could try fitting these to that rack.

[GTRS Fiero]

These are that for which I'm looking.

”1988 Steering rack mounting bushings”

[GTRS Fiero]

I totally apologize for the blurriness of the pictures, but I took my original '88 steering rack with its original bushings, and compared those bushings to these new bushings.  I didn't remove the bushings from the rack, so the comparison isn't great, and no test fit, either.

Yeah, my steering rack is in poor condition.  I'm rebuilding it, which is why it's out.

Both sets of bushings:


This is the passenger side bushing.  It has a bit different design.  I'm not sure if the '88 needs the other design or not, but the big surprise was that where the old bushing was rubber, the new one is poly.  Notice the tapered edge of the original.


Another view of the passenger-side bushing.


The driver-side bushing.  Both the new and the original are rubber.


They appear to be identical.

[GTRS Fiero]

I have been communicating with Rodney on these.  He says that the '88 bushings are unique to other years.  He further stated that the earlier year bushings are the same for both sides.

Per his request, I sent him pictures of the ones here.  I'm awaiting his evaluation.

Based on Rodney's feedback, I'm wondering where these came from.

[GTRS Fiero]

Interesting.  The web image of the parts I received is similar to Rodney's, AND shows the tapered edge:


Mine did not come with the clamp, and the one on the left is poly, rather than rubber.

Notice the driver's side does not have the notch?

[GTRS Fiero]

Rodney's bushings are both poly.