Steering rack bushings cheap options and alternatives. Reviews pending!

[redone17]

Same.

I have a bunch of rear end work to do sooner rather than later. But, thinking these + JKS before my big trip to Jericho NH this Fall.

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[NORCALGXP]

I have both BB and RC bushings. Took measurements and my take away is that the BB is thicker where it counts. The surface with the lobe is thicker BB is 4/32 RC is 3/32 this is the area where the steering shaft will rest on. The main hole that the shaft goes in is tighter on the BB at 1 8/32" the RC is 1 9/32" which means not as tight of a fit to the steering shaft. The over all thickness of the BB is 30/32" RC is 29/32".

I will be installing the BB on my rack, if I do not get my 3.0 Hoss rack installed before Moab.

Input is welcome as is questions i'm not an engineer.

BB on the left.

 

[Frankie945]

Got my driver side done today on my lunch break and everything seemed to go together just fine. I cut a piece of plastic pipe at work to use as a tool for pushing it in, the pipe I used was 1 7\8” dia. You don’t need one but I bet it would make it easier. It wasn’t a super snug fit but it was fairly sung if that makes sense. Took a pic of the hose clamp I used it fit around the boot perfectly. I did use snap ring pliers to get the snap ring in.

Even if this bushing wears over time it should be a easy swap for another one to pop in and still a cheaper solution.

 

[scotman623]

Made up my mind.. I’m ordering from RC today..

 

[Bikeric]

My RC bushings showed up yesterday, as did this spare tire delete kit for my buddies Jeep. (He pays me to order his Jeep stuff to be delivered to my house so his wife won't know about it LOL.) The Rebel Off Road kit is Made in U.S.A. and was only $260 + Shipping. Charging $350 for a single plastic bushing is absolute robbery.

https://rebeloffroad.com/Jeep_JL_Bak_Pax_Spare-Tire-Delete-Kit/

 

[Rkgzx9leftcoast]

All I will add is I put my BB Bushing in last Summer right before I went to Trail Hero at Sand Hollow in October. At the time he was the only one who had any products in market to use as a safeguard for the problem. I Had no issues with my rack related to the bushing, at Sand Hollow, and believe me it was tested.

Regardless of all of the banter on here...Tyler was the first to research what the problem was and why people were popping their cross shaft cover off and losing steering. In turn coming up with a solution which seems to work very well for the original issue. This took time and money to R & D and Machine a part to offer for sale. The money needed for a Small company to do this, ( CNC design, machine labor... ect) is far more expensive than a Big established company like RC to take that part make their own version and sell it.

This is part of why there is such a cost disparity. Not sure the price difference between the 2 needs to be as much as it is , but this part needs to be remembered.

 

[Snacktime]

All I will add is I put my BB Bushing in last Summer right before I went to Trail Hero at Sand Hollow in October. At the time he was the only one who had any products in market to use as a safeguard for the problem. I Had no issues with my rack related to the bushing, at Sand Hollow, and believe me it was tested.

Regardless of all of the banter on here...Tyler was the first to research what the problem was and why people were popping their cross shaft cover off and losing steering. In turn coming up with a solution which seems to work very well for the original issue. This took time and money to R & D and Machine a part to offer for sale. The money needed for a Small company to do this, ( CNC design, machine labor... ect) is far more expensive than a Big established company like RC to take that part make their own version and sell it.

This is part of why there is such a cost disparity. Not sure the price difference between the 2 needs to be as much as it is , but this part needs to be remembered.

5 minutes of Google says he adapted the idea to the Bronco.

https://www.viperpartsusa.com/product/steering-rack-stops/

https://xwebforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/steering-rack-centering-bushing.35264/

 

[Silence]

seriously. he didn't crack the Da Vinci code here. He "copied" another idea from other platforms and adapted it to the Ford housing. I for one would love to see this "R+D" process he went through that everyone keeps referring to. The shape, application and material are all well known entities.

 

[Silence]

I was just looking at the video comments and realized BB deleted some comments referring to RC being USA made and even lied that he didn't reference the video was in response to RC. I was interested in the billet housing previously but definitely can support this guy now given the complete meltdown and overall narrative he is trying to push that is false.

 

[darkscion0]

I also know the secret to getting them out again as well. BB initially sent me one that was too tight and my steering wouldn't return to center on it's own. The way to get them out was to wheel the shaft all the way in, then put 4 wood screws in the bushing forming a square and then use wire to make a web. Then turn the rig on, slowly steer to the left and let the shaft pop it out.

Got my driver side done today on my lunch break and everything seemed to go together just fine. I cut a piece of plastic pipe at work to use as a tool for pushing it in, the pipe I used was 1 7\8” dia. You don’t need one but I bet it would make it easier. It wasn’t a super snug fit but it was fairly sung if that makes sense. Took a pic of the hose clamp I used it fit around the boot perfectly. I did use snap ring pliers to get the snap ring in.

Even if this bushing wears over time it should be a easy swap for another one to pop in and still a cheaper solution.

 

[Tricky Dick]

I also know the secret to getting them out again as well. BB initially sent me one that was too tight and my steering wouldn't return to center on it's own. The way to get them out was to wheel the shaft all the way in, then put 4 wood screws in the bushing forming a square and then use wire to make a web. Then turn the rig on, slowly steer to the left and let the shaft pop it out.

I've used the wood screw method to pull shaft seals before, but the pulling was done with a pry bar or pliers.

 

[1979]

I was just looking at the video comments and realized BB deleted some comments referring to RC being USA made and even lied that he didn't reference the video was in response to RC. I was interested in the billet housing previously but definitely can support this guy now given the complete meltdown and overall narrative he is trying to push that is false.

They’re deleting literally anything that isn’t saying “I support you”. What a joke of a company.

 

[DallasCajun]

Wouldn’t mind seeing RC launch a version for the HOSS 3.0 Steering Rack…sending a note to RC asking for plans.

I’m on the fence with this whole BB v RC debate. I get that BB was the first to bring this to market but also haven’t seen any actual evidence of the time/investment/patent coverage to believe they are being infringed upon. Their product seems like slightly (VERY slightly) higher quality, but not 700% better quality.

To expect the market to remain without competition and prices to remain fixed is not reasonable; demonstrates the need for all businesses to adapt. There was a point previous in the thread regarding if they priced this around $100-$150 then they would sell more…and that’s probably true as I might consider paying an extra $50 for the higher perceived quality and USA manufacturing.

Price it reasonably, increase your quantity which in turns decreases production cost and maintain market strength. Keep it priced at a super premium and watch the competition take share in leaps and bounds.

 

[Silence]

Wouldn’t mind seeing RC launch a version for the HOSS 3.0 Steering Rack…sending a note to RC asking for plans.

I’m on the fence with this whole BB v RC debate. I get that BB was the first to bring this to market but also haven’t seen any actual evidence of the time/investment/patent coverage to believe they are being infringed upon. Their product seems like slightly (VERY slightly) higher quality, but not 700% better quality.

To expect the market to remain without competition and prices to remain fixed is not reasonable; demonstrates the need for all businesses to adapt. There was a point previous in the thread regarding if they priced this around $100-$150 then they would sell more…and that’s probably true as I might consider paying an extra $50 for the higher perceived quality and USA manufacturing.

Price it reasonably, increase your quantity which in turns decreases production cost and maintain market strength. Keep it priced at a super premium and watch the competition take share in leaps and bounds.

Agreed on all points.

Just as a side, RC states that item is made is USA on their page.

 

[Freedom5]

Just ordered mine from RC

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