Branflakes123
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- #1
In case anyone was curious, our steering rack bushing is different than previous BMWs.
(Supra on the left)
(Supra on the left)
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Steering Bushing Internals
- Thread starter Branflakes123
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mafia463
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Did you replace it with the one on the right?
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Branflakes123
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- #3
No, they are so different decided against it.
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Branflakes123
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I have no clue what a stock one looks like. Does it usually have more material?
exe36m3
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Yeah, A LOT more worn looking than mine at 25k miles on my 2022 Supra.
I've spent a good 15-20 minutes online trying to find other Supra and BMW Z4 guys who pulled the bushing and added grease as well as part photos. No luck.
The issue is so new, there's not a lot of info about it. I found the issue as part of comments around the steering, but no one's created a dedicated thread that I have found.
I've spent a good 15-20 minutes online trying to find other Supra and BMW Z4 guys who pulled the bushing and added grease as well as part photos. No luck.
The issue is so new, there's not a lot of info about it. I found the issue as part of comments around the steering, but no one's created a dedicated thread that I have found.
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Branflakes123
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I'll have to go back in and swap it to see if there is any improvement. Did you solve any issues swapping yours?
exe36m3
Well-Known Member
My 2022 was clunking like mad at 25k miles.
I swapped out the ceramic pads (as they rattled a bit) and replaced the upper and lower control arms (massive deflection). Noise persisted.
But I found a thread on this forum and a guy mentioned he was chasing a clunking suspension noise. I pulled this bushing and found it was completely dry/devoid of grease. He added grease and noise/clunking gone. Going on 2+ years.
Essentially the issue is, without grease, there metal rack rod just moves across the bushing. It'll wear on the bushing as well as make a lot of clunking noises over any suspension movement.
I guess I caught mine early enough as the wear was minimal. So all my fix took was greasing up that channel.
I've done a similar fix on my BMW 435i.
BUT caution, I ran the two bushings from your photo in Google AI.
The new bushing should fit.... BUT...
There is a difference in the "valley" of the new bushing you show.
So the Supra bushing you can see a round U shape valley. The F30-style uses a more square U. So if you just drop the new one in, the steering may bind on you.
Ai said the issue is so new, there's no repair kit yet from BMW.
So if you need a "new" part, you have to either machine the one you have OR find a wrecked Supra and ask for the bushing.
What year and how many miles are on your Supra?
And what made you want to pull this bushing? Noise, steering feel?
Asking as this may be a new thread that saves someone else a ton of money as the fix right now is replacing the entire rack (per BMW Z4 side).
And hope you don't mind, but pulling the larger community into this discussion here...
https://www.supramkv.com/threads/anyone-have-a-photo-of-the-supra-steering-rack-bushing.38997/
I swapped out the ceramic pads (as they rattled a bit) and replaced the upper and lower control arms (massive deflection). Noise persisted.
But I found a thread on this forum and a guy mentioned he was chasing a clunking suspension noise. I pulled this bushing and found it was completely dry/devoid of grease. He added grease and noise/clunking gone. Going on 2+ years.
Essentially the issue is, without grease, there metal rack rod just moves across the bushing. It'll wear on the bushing as well as make a lot of clunking noises over any suspension movement.
I guess I caught mine early enough as the wear was minimal. So all my fix took was greasing up that channel.
I've done a similar fix on my BMW 435i.
BUT caution, I ran the two bushings from your photo in Google AI.
The new bushing should fit.... BUT...
There is a difference in the "valley" of the new bushing you show.
So the Supra bushing you can see a round U shape valley. The F30-style uses a more square U. So if you just drop the new one in, the steering may bind on you.
Ai said the issue is so new, there's no repair kit yet from BMW.
So if you need a "new" part, you have to either machine the one you have OR find a wrecked Supra and ask for the bushing.
What year and how many miles are on your Supra?
And what made you want to pull this bushing? Noise, steering feel?
Asking as this may be a new thread that saves someone else a ton of money as the fix right now is replacing the entire rack (per BMW Z4 side).
And hope you don't mind, but pulling the larger community into this discussion here...
https://www.supramkv.com/threads/anyone-have-a-photo-of-the-supra-steering-rack-bushing.38997/
Last edited:
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Branflakes123
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- #10
Yes, I'm aware the bushing is from the previous generation, but I still might give it a try. I don't have a reference for a new OEM thrust bushing to know how much mine is actually worn and unfortunately an OEM replacement is not an available part yet
