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308 Steering Rack Replacement Bushing Seems Too Tight

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by F308fan, Jun 19, 2025.

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  1. F308fan

    F308fan Karting

    May 7, 2017
    162
    Peoria, AZ
    Full Name:
    Tony Pacini
    #1 F308fan, Jun 19, 2025
    I’ve got a 1981 GTSi with a Cam Gears steering rack and I’m replacing the (inner) steering rack bushing because the old one disintegrated. The new bushing is a bit different (has 3 external tabs) and is really tight on the rack, even when slipped on without the sleeve.

    I cut notches in the sleeve (for the tabs) so the bushing could be installed all the way into the sleeve. The sleeve is installed with one of the exterior flats under the screw hole in the sleeve (so the screw doesn’t contact or distort the bushing). The 3 exterior tabs of the bushing are aligned with the 3 channels in the rack housing and do not contact anything. I was able to press the bushing into the sleeve, press the sleeve into the rack housing, and secure the sleeve with the original screw. Before installation the interior diameter of the bushing has 3 equally spaced bumps that would seem to be contact points for the rack. After installing the bushing into the sleeve, though, the interior diameter is distorted and no longer round. Installing the rack (bar) through the bushing was a real battle and when the rack’s fully assembled the pinion is extremely difficult to turn (even with vise grips).

    Perhaps this bushing isn’t supposed to fit this rack. It is notably different, but I though maybe it was an update. Has anyone else run into this?
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  2. Ferrari Tech

    Ferrari Tech Formula 3

    Mar 5, 2010
    1,216
    Georgia
    Full Name:
    Wade Williams
    #2 Ferrari Tech, Jun 20, 2025
    I make oil impregnated bushing for the rack and they work really well. I find they need to be machined specifically for each rack.
     
  3. F308fan

    F308fan Karting

    May 7, 2017
    162
    Peoria, AZ
    Full Name:
    Tony Pacini
    #3 F308fan, Jun 20, 2025
    Thanks for your reply, and for the info about the bushing you make. Do you know any info about the new bushing I already have and whether or not it’s supposed to be so tight when installed?
     
  4. Phelips

    Phelips Karting

    May 30, 2025
    60
    Full Name:
    Russel Phelips Brown
    #4 Phelips, Jun 21, 2025
    Feels like the bushing might be a mismatched or updated part that doesn’t play nice with your Cam Gears rack. Those interior bumps are likely meant to center the rack, but if the bushing’s distorting and binding, it’s probably the wrong spec. Double-check the part number with the manufacturer or a vintage Alfa specialistsome aftermarket bushings need slight machining to fit right. If it’s still stubborn, an OEM or exact-match bushing might save the headache. Others on Alfa forums have hit this snag worth a search.
     
  5. Motob

    Motob Formula 3
    Professional Ferrari Technician

    Nov 11, 2003
    2,365
    Frederick, Maryland
    Full Name:
    Brian Brown
    #5 Motob, Jun 21, 2025
    It looks like the bushing that you have is a crappy plastic part, not unlike the original that failed. The Cam Gears LTD rack was also used in a bunch of other cars, one of them being the Detomaso Pantera. In the past I would just use replacement bronze bushings from a Pantera parts supplier to rebuild the 308 racks. There are a bunch of Pantera rack rebuild articles on the internet.

    Here is one for sale. I can't vouch for it's fitment, as I have never used one from this vendor: https://ipsco.org/newsite/product/ips128-steering-rack-bushing/
     

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