Aluminum steering rack bushings or polyurethane?

[Kerpal]

I'm going to replace my steering rack bushings pretty soon and noticed that Maximum Motorsports sells aluminum ones. Are these liveable for a frequently driven street car, or do they transmit a ton of road noise/vibration? I'm going to be running solid tie rod ends (aka a bumpsteer kit), so that might already be adding some roughness compared to the stock stuff... Do stiffer rack bushings even make a big difference in steering response anyway?

My car is a daily driver so I need to retain some comfort... but I'm willing to trade a little luxury for much better handling & steering response. The car feels like trying to steer a wet noodle right now, there's no feedback or any feeling of precision. In the next week or two I'll be installing a UPR bumpsteer kit, poly strut mount bushings, possibly new balljoints, and eventually I'll do poly control arm bushings.

So what do you guys think, can I run the alu. bushings, or would polyurethane be a better choice here?

 

[Black Sun 5.0]

I hear the aluminum bushings can be harsh. I'd go poly myself.

 

[QDRHRSE]

Unless you roadrace or something like that I would just get the offset poly bushings. All the other enhancements should improve the steering feel. No need for solid bushings.

 

[Kerpal]

That's what I figured... and obviously the nice thing about the poly bushings is that they're around $10. Although I'm going with non-offset bushings since I'll already have a bumpsteer kit.

Do you guys have any brand preference for poly bushings, i.e., Energy Suspension vs. Prothane?

 

[vikingpower]

I wouldnt replace them unless you absolutley had too, too much of a pain in the ass to install. You should be ok with a bumpsteer kit. BTW I got Prothane ones in my car

 

[Gearbanger 101]

If you're going with the standard bushings, go with the urethane, but if you're going to offset at all, go with the solid bushings. Urethane bushings are still stiffer than rubber, which is good, but as still far too flexi to handle the additional stress placed on them by off-setting the rack.