Parts for your 2020 Lexus Is-Steering bushes

2020 Lexus IS steering bushes — are they actually a thing?

Short answer: no, not as separate, serviceable parts. On the 2020 Lexus IS (XE30 series: IS300/IS350), the factory Lexus Repair Manual (Lexus TIS, Steering — Electric Power Steering), the New Car Features manual for the IS, and the Lexus/Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue for “Steering Gear &, Linkage” don’t list conventional, replaceable steering rack bushes. The electric power–assisted rack-and-pinion gear is rigidly mounted to the front subframe, and any isolation is engineered into the assembly rather than handled by removable rubber bushes.

That design choice is deliberate. With EPS, Lexus chases sharper steering response and better on-centre feel, so the rack is bolted up solidly to limit compliance. Noise and vibration are controlled elsewhere — via the steering column damper, subframe tuning, and the suspension arm bushes — instead of squishy rack mounts. Because of that, if there’s play at the rack, the prescribed factory fix is to repair or replace the steering gear assembly rather than press in new “rack bushes”.

If the car’s making a clunk over bumps, feels vague, or wanders, a good workshop will look beyond “steering bushes” and check the actual wear points that do apply to a 2020 IS:

• Inner and outer tie rod ends for play
• Lower control arm bushes (hydraulic rear bushes) and ball joints
• Sway bar D-bushes and links
• Intermediate steering shaft/universal joints
• Rack mounting bolt torque and, if needed, steering gear condition
• Wheel alignment and tyre condition/pressures

For anyone chasing a tighter steering feel, proper diagnosis is key. If movement is traced to the rack housing, Lexus documentation indicates replacement of the gear assembly rather than separate bush renewal. That’s why aftermarket “poly rack bushes” aren’t commonly offered for this model — there’s nothing separate to swap. Referencing the Lexus TIS Repair Manual, IS New Car Features, and the EPC will keep the job on the right track, using parts and procedures that actually apply to the 2020 IS.

Popular questions

Does the 2020 Lexus IS have replaceable steering rack bushes?
Not as separate items. The EPS rack is solid-mounted to the subframe, and Lexus doesn’t list standalone rack bushes for this model. If there’s movement at the rack, the factory path is to service or replace the steering gear assembly.

What symptoms feel like worn steering bushes on a 2020 IS?
Clunks over sharp bumps, vague steering, and tramlining are more often caused by inner/outer tie rods, lower control arm bushes, sway bar D-bushes/links, the intermediate shaft joints, or simply alignment and tyre issues, rather than any missing “rack bushes”.

Can aftermarket polyurethane steering bushes be fitted to tighten the steering?
They don’t apply here. The rack doesn’t use separate bushes on the 2020 IS, so there’s nothing to replace with poly. To improve feel, focus on bringing the front-end wear items back to spec and getting a quality wheel alignment.