Parts for your 2007 Mazda Cx-9-Steering bushes

2007 Mazda CX-9 steering bushes – are they a thing?

Short answer: not really. On the 2007 Mazda CX-9, there aren’t separate, serviceable “steering bushes” for the rack mounting the way some older vehicles had them. The CX-9 uses a rack-and-pinion steering gear that bolts directly to the front subframe, and Mazda services the rack as a complete assembly. This layout is shown in factory documentation and parts diagrams, which don’t list separate steering rack mounting bushes as replaceable items.

Technical sources backing this up include: Mazda CX-9 (2007) Workshop Manual – Steering System (Steering Gear and Linkage removal/installation), Mazda Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC), Group 32 – Steering, and common aftermarket catalogues for the TB-series CX-9, which list control arm and stabiliser bar bushes but no steering rack mounting bush kits for this model. Together, these indicate that “steering bushes” aren’t a relevant service item on a 2007 CX-9.

Why did Mazda do it this way? The big CX-9 benefits from a more rigid rack mount to sharpen steering response and reduce compliance under load. Any isolation from noise and vibration is handled elsewhere (subframe mounts, column joints, and within the rack assembly itself). If play or knock is present at the rack mounts, the proper repair path is inspection for loose fasteners or subframe issues, if confirmed internal or mounting wear exists, the steering gear assembly is replaced, not re-bushed.

So if someone’s chasing “steering bushes” for a 2007 CX-9, they’re usually after a different wear item. Common front-end culprits are:

• Outer and inner tie rod ends (steering linkages)
• Front lower control arm bushes and ball joints
• Front and rear stabiliser (sway) bar bushes and links
• Strut top mounts/bearings

Good servicing practice on a CX-9 includes checking tie rod end play, ensuring the rack-to-subframe bolts are torqued correctly, inspecting the subframe for movement, and looking for fluid leaks from the (hydraulic) power steering rack and lines. If there’s clunking over bumps or a shimmy, a proper front-end inspection will usually find the issue in the items above rather than a non-existent steering bush. Keep tyres at correct pressures, rotate regularly, and get a wheel alignment after any steering or suspension work to keep the CX-9 pointing true down the highway.

Popular questions

Does a 2007 Mazda CX-9 have steering rack bushes I can replace?
No. The factory design mounts the rack directly to the subframe and doesn’t provide separate, serviceable rack mounting bushes. If there’s movement at the rack, technicians inspect torque, subframe condition, and the rack itself, replacement of the rack assembly is the approved fix when wear is confirmed.

What should be checked if the steering feels loose or knocks?
Start with outer and inner tie rod ends, lower control arm bushes and ball joints, and stabiliser bar bushes/links. Also verify the rack-to-subframe bolts are tight and inspect for power steering fluid leaks. These are the usual suspects on a first‑gen CX-9.

Can aftermarket steering bush kits be fitted to solve play?
Aftermarket catalogues for the TB-series CX-9 generally don’t list rack bush kits because the rack isn’t designed for re-bushing. Fitting universal bushes isn’t recommended, it can introduce misalignment or noise. The correct repair is to address the actual worn component and align the vehicle afterwards.