Steering clunk !! 2026 Supra

[TheLastSupra]

Hi everyone,


I have a 2026 final edition Supra, and recently I’ve started noticing a slight clunk from i feel it on steering when driving over small bumps or uneven road surfaces.


I’ve inspected the suspension components and everything appears to be tight with no obvious issues. After reading several threads here discussing steering rack preload adjustments, I’m beginning to wonder if the steering rack could be the source of the noise.


I took a photo of the steering rack/preload area (attached). Does anything in the photo look abnormal or indicate a potential issue?



Thanks in advance for any advice or insights.

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[exe36m3]

I just fixed this very problem last month - after throwing a few thousand in parts and labor on it.
The easiest way to confirm this... start the car and pull the steering wheel left and right. If you hear it clunk, it's that stupid bushing and it's lack of grease.



And here is why...

The issue is universal across pretty much ALL BMW 2-3-4 series cars.
This video shows the rack bushing and how to get to it. For some reason, the assembly line didn't put enough grease on the bushing for the Supra.

 

[TheLastSupra]

Thanks. I don’t have any sound when i pul the steering left and right.

only when i hit small bumps! I feel the clunk!

 

[J29DB03]

Shipping spacers left in?

 

[itzTang]

Shipping spacers left in?

+1 to this. Check if the dealers left the shipping spacers on

 

[TheLastSupra]

No. No shipping spacers there. This checked the day i got the car

The car has more than 12k miles now and i just recently started to get this clunk.

 

[SilverBully]

did you ever figure out the issue? I am having a similar problem, here is my thread where I posted a video with the noise, maybe it's similar to yours?

I am getting ready to order that bushing replacement just to rule it out personally.

 

[TheLastSupra]

Not yet!
99% looks to be thrust and steering issue.
My Toyota dealer is unable to feel the clunk, he said it’s normal as usual to avoid replacing the steering on warranty. (I am still debating with them)

which pushing you are referring to?

 

[SilverBully]

Not yet!
99% looks to be thrust and steering issue.
My Toyota dealer is unable to feel the clunk, he said it’s normal as usual to avoid replacing the steering on warranty. (I am still debating with them)

which pushing you are referring to?

sorry not bushing but the thrust bearing piece in the steering rack - I am debating just replacing it to rule it out but can’t find a part #

 

[MK5_Ger]

Thanks. I don’t have any sound when i pul the steering left and right.

only when i hit small bumps! I feel the clunk!

Try again with the engine off and use some force from left to right.
If there is an issue, you will hear it.

I had the same issue with my BMW. A noise while driving over bumps or potholes.
I changed the thrust piece, and it's gone.

 

[MK5_Ger]

sorry not bushing but the thrust bearing piece in the steering rack - I am debating just replacing it to rule it out but can’t find a part #

I'm not sure if it's the same part for the BMW F series and the Supra.
This is the part that can be used for F-series BMW: 32106891974 (120-130€)
Or just get the part from eBay for like 30€.

Consider asking your local BMW dealership if this works for the BMW Z4 G29. If yes, order it.

 

[big_d]

I started having this issue as well. Thought it was the brake cylinder at first, due to only being heard a slow speeds, going over bumps, applying brakes at slow speed, and only after driving for an hour or so. Dealership dismissed it.

I was studying to be a materials science engineer until funding stopped. So take it for what its worth.

The engineers look like they chose silicone based grease to be slightly more compatible with the hard plastic bushing. But as noted earlier, not much was used. Maybe 2 mL visible inside the backplate spring, and an few crusty flakes between the thrust piece and the aluminum housing. I cross-checked the chemical compatibility with most types of hard plastic polypropylene, nylon etc. And what was assumed to be standard butyl rubber rings. Standard lithium based petroleum grease was chosen as a replacement as it was deemed to by me to be acceptable given the materials involved. However, when I went to remove the thrust bushing the thrust piece was frozen in place; no amount of torque or pulling with pliers would free it. This may have been due to silicone grease separation of the thin film at elevated temperatures under load. So I opted to just load it up the back with lithium grease, sans the ultra-high pressures of a diesel engine there was really very little risk. This may be an acceptable workaround if corporate does approve the procedure, but only in the summer months or where temperatures are above 37C otherwise replacement might be the best option.

It didn't seem to help for the first day or so, as expected, but after a day in the Texas heat, I think the viscosity may have been reduced enough to help to free the thrust piece to be able to freely apply pressure on the rack. If I continue to have problems. I will post up. But so far so good. If need be in the future, I will look into replacement with the BMW bushing, or if Toyota takes notice, their replacement part.

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