Parts for your 2017 Ford Kuga-Steering bushes

2017 Ford Kuga steering bushes — are they actually used?

Short answer: steering bushes aren’t a thing on the 2017 Ford Kuga. Technical sources including the Ford Workshop Manual (Power Steering, EPAS section), Ford’s Electronic Parts Catalogue/Microcat steering gear diagrams, and general references like Autodata and Haynes confirm the model uses an Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) rack that bolts directly to the front subframe with dedicated fasteners and sleeves, not separate rubber rack-mount bushes. There are internal guides and bearings within the rack and column, but they’re not serviceable “bushes” in the traditional sense.

Why no steering bushes? With EPAS, Ford engineered a rigidly mounted rack to keep steering calibration tight and consistent. Any soft rubber isolators at the rack would add play and dull the on-centre feel the control system expects. Noise, vibration and harshness are managed elsewhere — through the subframe, control arm bushes and the body structure — rather than with old-school steering rack bushes.

So, if the Kuga’s steering feels loose or clonky, it’s almost never down to “steering bushes”. The usual suspects are:

• Outer tie rod ends or inner tie rods (play, toe change, knocks over bumps)
• Lower control arm bushes (especially rear hydro-bushes) affecting stability and tyre wear
• Sway bar (stabiliser) bushes and links causing knocks on rough roads
• Strut top mounts or a worn intermediate steering shaft joint

Good servicing practice for a 2017 Kuga is to check for free play at the wheels and tie rods, inspect control arm bushes for cracking or fluid seepage, and road test for knocks with the brakes lightly applied. If inner or outer tie rods are replaced, get a wheel alignment straight after. Rack mounting bolts should be torqued to spec — they don’t house bushes, but they do secure steering geometry. Keep tyres at the right pressures and rotate them regularly, as feathered edges can mimic steering issues. If there’s persistent play with no obvious external wear, a professional inspection of the EPAS rack or intermediate shaft is the next step.

FAQs

Does the 2017 Ford Kuga have steering rack bushes I can replace?
No. Technical documentation (Ford Workshop Manual, Ford EPC/Microcat) shows the EPAS rack is solid-mounted to the subframe with bolts and sleeves, and there are no separate, replaceable rubber rack bushes listed for this model. Any “bush-like” components in the rack or column are internal guides or bearings and aren’t service items.

What causes a clunk or looseness in the steering if it’s not bushes?
Most commonly it’s wear in the outer tie rod ends or inner tie rods. Sway bar links/bushes and lower control arm bushes also contribute to knocks and vague steering. Less often, a worn intermediate steering shaft joint or a failing strut top mount can make similar noises. A thorough check on a hoist will pinpoint the culprit.

How often should the steering be checked on a 2017 Kuga?
At every service or 10,000–15,000 km, whichever comes first. Inspect tie rods, sway bar links/bushes and control arm bushes, and perform a road test for knocks and play. After any steering work, book a wheel alignment to keep tyre wear and handling spot on.