Installing Billet Steering Rack Bushings - GEN II

[LifeIsGood]

Installing Billet Steering Rack Bushings on a GEN II

Parts:

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss78/kenandkristine/Viper/Viper%20Club%20DIY/Steering%20Rack%20Bushings/SteeringRackBusings-BilletPSRBushings-IPSCO.png


Billet Steering Rack Bushings (I got mine from IPSCO. The website states that they will work for 1992-2009 vipers.)


Tools:

Ratchet (3/8” or 1/2”)
Ratchet extension (12”-14”)
15/16” or 24mm socket
Torque wrench (capable of 150 ft.lbs.)
Pliers (flat-nose or channellock)
Slotted screwdriver


Remove the Air Cleaner Assembly.

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss78/kenandkristine/Viper/Viper%20Club%20DIY/Steering%20Rack%20Bushings/SteeringRackBusings-AirCleanerAssembly.png


Remove the 3 fasteners (air cleaner screws) that mount the Air Cleaner Assembly (2 on the air inlet housing to the radiator support, 1 on the air outlet housing to the cross car beam).
Remove the Crank Case Vent (CCV) hose from the air outlet housing.
Remove the Idle Air Control (IAC) hose from the air outlet housing with the pliers.
Disconnect the intake air temperature sensor electrical connector from the air outlet housing.
Remove the hose clamps from the air cleaner tubes at the throttle bodies with a slotted screwdriver.
Remove the complete Air Cleaner Assembly.

Replace the Power Steering Rack (PSR) bushings.

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss78/kenandkristine/Viper/Viper%20Club%20DIY/Steering%20Rack%20Bushings/SteeringRackBusings-RemovetheMountingBolts-FromAbove.png


Remove the Power Steering Rack (PSR) mounting bolts (2) with a 15/16” (or 24mm) socket using a 12”-14” extension.
Keep track of the shims for each PSR mounting bolt as they will be used when installing the new PSR billet bushings. The shims are located between the frame and the lower washer.
Also keep track of the upper and lower washers as they will also be used when installing the new PSR billet bushings.

The rest of these instructions are easier performed from under the viper.
Raise the viper via a lift or jack and jack stands.

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss78/kenandkristine/Viper/Viper%20Club%20DIY/Steering%20Rack%20Bushings/SteeringRackBusings-DriverSideParts-Before.png

Remove the stock PSR bushings.

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss78/kenandkristine/Viper/Viper%20Club%20DIY/Steering%20Rack%20Bushings/SteeringRackBusings-RemovetheMountingBolts-FromUnderneath.png


Lift the PSR off the frame.
Remove the stock upper and lower PSR bushings from each side by prying the edges from the PSR bushing housings.
The passenger side stock PSR bushings have O-rings at each end. Keep track of these O-rings as they will be used when installing the new billet PSR bushings.

Install the billet PSR bushings.

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss78/kenandkristine/Viper/Viper%20Club%20DIY/Steering%20Rack%20Bushings/SteeringRackBusings-MountingBoltsandPSRBushings.png

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss78/kenandkristine/Viper/Viper%20Club%20DIY/Steering%20Rack%20Bushings/SteeringRackBusings-DriverSideParts-After.png

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss78/kenandkristine/Viper/Viper%20Club%20DIY/Steering%20Rack%20Bushings/SteeringRackBusings-PassengerSideParts-After.png


Install the new upper and lower billet PSR bushings, upper and lower washers, shims, O-rings (passenger side only) and PSR mounting bolts.
Position the PSR back onto the frame. Thread the driver side mounting bolt first. The passenger side frame has a slot that provides that side more room for lateral movement while positioning the PSR.
Torque the PSR mounting bolts to 150 ft.lbs.

Install the Air Cleaner Assembly.


Position the air cleaner housing in place and line up the 3 fastener holes (2 to the radiator support, 1 to the cross car beam).
Connect the air cleaner tubes at the throttle bodies.
Install the 3 fasteners (air cleaner screws) that mount the Air Cleaner Assembly (2 on the air inlet housing to the radiator support, 1 on the air outlet housing to the cross car beam).
Tighten the hose clamps to the air cleaner tubes at the throttle bodies with a slotted screwdriver.
Tighten the 3 fasteners (air cleaner screws) that mount the air cleaner housing.
Connect the intake air temperature sensor electrical connector to the air outlet housing.
Connect the IAC hose to the air outlet housing with the pliers.
Connect the CCV hose to the air outlet housing.

[plumcrazy]

great writeup

[VIPER BAZ UK]

Still got this to do.... Did you notice any improvement

[XSnake]

When I did this I found one of mine cracked. Would recommend this to anyone as it's not very hard to do.

[Anonymous]

Ispco needs to make more viper stuff!!!

[LifeIsGood]

Still got this to do.... Did you notice any improvement

It's been a while since I did this mod. I didn't notice a huge difference...seems like the steering was tighter after the installation.

[RTTTTed]

My 2001 GTS bushings were cracked and deformed. There was enough difference to notice in the feel

[Angleiron]

I just did this mod today, and I wanted to add something that I thought would be very helpful. You have to pry the lower bushing out, and doing that is not too bad. The top bushing on the other is a pain...too much stuff in the way and plenty of sharp edges. So what I did was take a 4" long 1/2" bolt, placed it through the top bushing and PSR, and at the bottom I added a 1/2" nut. The nut will catch on the inside part of the bushing, and when you pull from on top the entire bushing will come out very easily...as within seconds. They will save a lot of time, and scratched up hands.