Hi guys

has anyone changed their Hatch (2008) steering ratch bushing to these
KSR207 Front Steering - rack & pinion mount bushing?

how do you rate them? Improvement?

thanks

 

Yes, I have but I changed a few parts at the same time. I basically had the Litchfield handling pack but fitted by AST in Cheltenham. It consists of the following and the difference was night and day!

KDT902 Rear subframe bush insert
BSR49Z Rear roll bar
KSB568 Front strut tower brace
KCA334 Anti Lift/castor kit
KSR207 Steering rack bushes
Power steering mod (revalving)
Four wheel alignment

 

Hi Ben
what is involved in the power steering re-valving?
Is it a DIY or did you send it somewhere to be done?
did it remove vagueness from steering wheel feeling?

thanks

 

I didn't do it so unfortunately I am not able to explain it but I can tell you the whole package above transformed the vague steering feel. It feels much more composed in the corners and at speed.

 

I've just order the equivalent steering bush kit for my wagon KSR206, hoping to give the steering a bit more weight and feel.
The installation instructions do look a but daunting (I'm no mechanic) but I'm fairly confident I can do it.

 

I posted this on my build thread. Apologies if it's stuff you already know:

I've finally got round to uprating the steering rack bushes.
I considered doing this on the drive, but even with axle stands it was really cramped, so I booked a couple if hours here:

http://www.liftofframps.co.uk/

It's £15 per hour and I think money well spent. Getting under a lift makes everything much easier and faster. Lift off ramps also provide all the tools you could want and they've got mechanics to assist if you need advice or a third hand.

So, once the car was up in the air getting the undertray off was simple. The brace was a bit trickier, the backing nuts required a 12mm flexihead spanner to hold them in place:



But it came off in the end:



Then it was a simple matter of removing the brackets over the top of the old bushes.
The next two parts were by far the hardest. First was getting the nut from the bush removal tool over the top of the old bushes. No pictures of this as I was getting frustrated. The steering rack needed very careful manipulation to get the nut in. However, once the nut was on amd engaged they slid out no problem.
Second part was the hardest. Once I'd cleaned the rack and lubed the bushes and holes, trying to get the bushes over the top of the steering rack and into position was really frustrating, and at this point it's good to have another pair of hands about to move to steering rack while you get the bushes in position.
But they went in eventually:



Fiddly b*stards.

The other bush was throughly lubed and went in no problem. But I didn’t get any pictures as I was running out of time.
These bushes are far harder than the 11 year old, slightly perished, oem versions that came out. The difference it makes is quite subtle, the steering feeling much better weighted and tighter. As a result the car, to me, feels "newer". A worthwhile job.

 

nice work.

What you want to do now is look at getting the front wishbone rear most bushes replaced. terrible design and even subaru changed them from my11 cars onwards to a similar pillowball bush as powerflex do.

https://www.powerflex.co.uk/road-ser...able/1625.html

 

Cheers, to be honest there are a few bushes on my wagon that could do with replacing. I think the trailing arm bushes are on the way out, so they'll get priority, but the front wishbones will be next. They were replaced under recall in 2012 but still look tatty.
But those powerflex units look good.

 

Done on my 2012 saloon. I like them but it does introduce a very slight notchy feel to the steering on roundabouts etc. which I guess is because of the bushes not soaking up as much as the oem items. I know it isn't my car either as my Blob STi is the same since changing them.

Feels much better overall though.