Hi there. I've bought one of the track focus steering bushes and my mechanic attempted to fit it yesterday. He had the car all day and when I picked it up he'd taken the old bush out but said it was impossible to fit the new bush - he broke it in the process! I've ordered another one but does anyone know of a good mechanic in the northwest area (I'm in Bolton) who has done this job before? Thanks, Art.
what a nob..those bushes are not exactly cheap. wont take long at all, with the correct tool to remove the old bush.
You could try Gary Burnett in Warrington, he's a Renault Specialist. Have to ask him the question if he can do it or not.
I had mine done..you need something long and thin to pull out the old bush. I am sure there is a thread with pics on here somewhere. The track focus bush defiantly makes the steering stiffer to. I have heard it eases up in time. It helped to tighten up my steering,but its still not 100%..pisses me off. I still might just put a new rack on it..so annoying,as the car has very low mileage.
this is the correct tool..like a pair of long collapsible fingers to hook the bush out. Old bush will be yellow..new one..this colour.
You should have been provided with downloadable fitting instuctions. With mine,the link was included in the package.
just out of interest..how did he break it..its solid plastic! and if he broke that one..what has he done with the original bush?? he must have taken it out,to try and put the new one in??
My bet would be that the rack wasn’t turned fully and he’s been smacking the bush trying to get it home. I needed someone to hold the steering hard to the left whilst I manipulated the bush in to position. Otherwise it creeps back slightly and there isn’t enough room to get the bush in. The instructions that tfd supply tell you to strap the steering wheel to achieve the same result.
You need to drop the drivers side arm off of the hub and that gives a bit more movement on the rack, then it's easy
That's what i thought, give another 10mm of travel and makes all the difference, it's easier to get the new one in than the old one out from what a have discovered.
The Renault master technician who fitted my inner tie rods said he'd had trouble before fitting the bush and didn't seem to want to fit my new bush. Didn't fit up in the end. Considering I bought inner rods, inner tie rod removal tool and bush, it might have been easier to just buy a new rack. Hope you get it fitted OK.
Both the old and new bushes were in bits when I picked it up! I'm running around now with no bush at all!
Thanks mate! Other comments say it took just 30 min to do so hopefully I'll find someone competent soon!
You don't need a special tool to fit the bush (obviously you to do remove the inner tie rods), but if you don't get everything in the right place it's basically impossible. Even with the steering wheel all the way over I struggled for about 30 minutes. In the end I popped the other side track rod end off and it was in in seconds - I just needed that little bit more movement to align it properly.
It's booked in with Gary Burnett. He has the bushes in stock and has done this job several times so should be a piece of cake for him! Thanks for your help everyone!
make sure to tell your other`mechanic`..that gary has achieved the`impossible`!! then just slip in`what about a fkn refund for the bush you wrecked pal`
Well I've been driving it like I stole it since! Steering is a bit stiff which I know will ease with miles but no play and can now point and squirt again!
I’ve done 2. If you have some one to hold the steering wheel and move it in and out as needed it makes it so much easier and 20mins is possible. On your own with a strap on the wheel is a pig to do but there’s worse jobs. I wouldn’t be going back to a garage that’s not been able to do it and ruined the bush in the process.
