legacycentral bbs

Hello all...
I'm wondering if any of you have tried using the whiteline stiffened steering rack bushings for the gc impreza, I think I've heard they fit the bc/bfs, but I just wanted to make sure....I guess they must, since the racks are interchangeable....
thanks
Micum

Yes, they fit perfectly.

MK

make sure you get the KC202 ones....not the KC200 ones.....whiteline's part list is incorrect. The difference between the 200 & 202 is in the pass side bushing's width.

I got the 200 and made it fit.....but since that side is relatively easy to replace, I'll probably get the proper bushing at some point and replace it.

They sent me the "ksr200" when I asked for the gc bushings. I remember hearing something about whiteline changing their part numbers. Would that fact that the steeering rack I'm putting in is off a 2001 Impreza RS make any difference in which part number I need?
thanks
Micum

You need the 202's.

There is no US spec subaru that uses the 200.

The rack doesn't really matter, it's the width of the pass side bushing that is different. If you put the round bushing up to bracket on the pass side. You'll see it's not wide enough. Yes you can crimp it in there.....but why do that if you can get the right part.

Tell them they farked up and to send you the right shit.

Time to steer another thread off-topic

What benefit would stiffer steering rack bushings have? More responsive steering or what?

Yep, clean up some steering slop/delay during input.

MK

when you put in a steering input... the steering column actually flexes inside the bushings before transmitting all the steering input. think of the working plastic steering columns on model cars and how the shaft bends under force, this is what the stock bushings allow.

I am definitely looking into this. If the column delays an input at 165 ft/sec (my current top velocity at beaver run) for only 5 hundreths of a second it has just stole over 8 ft!! That is a lot to miss an apex by. Especially on the corner with the least amount of off-track space... And this delay or numbness in the steering is doubled or maybe tripled on a switchback. That goes for auto-x'ers, too.

Sport Compact Car recently did this to their project STi.

"A simple set of polyurethane steering rack bushings from Whiteline makes a ridiculous difference in how the car drives. Steering precision is vastly improved and turn-in is so much sharper, we almost ran over the curb on the inside of the first corner we went around. There is no downside. Is anybody at Subaru reading this?"

That's the quote from the mag, and you'll find tons more like it at the various Impreza forums. I've yet to hear a bad thing about them.

-Brian

I swapped them in when I changed my rack earlier this year, figuring that they would make a negligible difference. But the difference is pretty noticeable, especially as the old ones were pretty blown out. My suspension is stock too, if you have some stickier tires and upgraded suspension they might make a bigger difference. That’s why they make such a difference on the Sti.