Parts for your 2020 Subaru Xv-Steering bushes

2020 Subaru XV steering bushes: what’s actually fitted

After checking Subaru’s technical information, there isn’t a separate, serviceable “steering bush” used on the 2020 Subaru XV (GT/GK platform). Subaru’s Service Manual for the XV/Impreza with Electric Power Steering, along with the Subaru FAST parts catalogue for the Steering Gear & Linkage group, shows a rack-and-pinion EPS unit bolted directly to the front subframe without replaceable rack-mount bushes. Aftermarket catalogues that typically list rack bush kits (for example, performance bush brands) don’t offer a steering-rack bush kit for the 2017-onwards Global Platform XV either. All of that points to no standalone steering bushes on this model.

Why is that? On the Subaru Global Platform, steering precision and crash performance are prioritised with a rigidly mounted electric power steering rack. The rack uses solid mounting hardware and locating sleeves, so there’s no conventional soft rubber rack bush to flex or replace. Noise, vibration and harshness are managed elsewhere: through the subframe design, column isolators, and the use of bearings in the steering column, plus a firewall grommet. Where you will find traditional bushes up front is in the suspension (control arm bushes, sway bar D-bushes), not in the steering gear itself.

So if someone’s chasing “steering bushes” on a 2020 XV, they’re usually trying to fix play, pull, vibration or a knock. On this car, the usual suspects are different:

• Outer tie rod ends and inner tie rod joints (ball-and-socket joints, not bushes)
• Front lower control arm rear bushes (hydraulic type) and front pivots
• Front and rear sway bar D-bushes and links
• Strut top mounts, wheel bearings, and tyre wear/pressures

Good servicing practice for the XV’s steering is to inspect inner and outer tie rod joints for play, check rack boots for tears or fluid (EPS is electric but the boots still protect the joints), scan the EPS module for fault codes, and perform a four-wheel alignment after any front-end work. If the rack develops internal wear or mount damage, it’s handled as a complete rack assembly rather than by pressing in replacement bushes.

If there’s a clunk felt through the floor, it’s worth checking subframe and crossmember fasteners are at spec, and confirming control arm rear bushes haven’t split. Tyre choice and pressures can also make the XV’s steering feel vague, so a quick tyre health check is always smart before diving deeper.

Popular questions

Does the 2020 Subaru XV have steering rack bushes I can replace?
No. The electric power steering rack on the 2020 XV is rigidly mounted and doesn’t use separate, serviceable rack-mount bushes. If there’s movement or noise at the rack mounts, the fix is typically inspection of hardware and, if needed, replacement of the rack assembly rather than pressing in bushes.

What should be checked if the steering feels loose on a 2020 XV?
Start with the outer tie rod ends and inner tie rod joints, then look at the front lower control arm bushes and sway bar links/D-bushes. Confirm wheel bearings, tyre condition/pressures, and get an alignment. If warnings are present, scan the EPS for codes and carry out the steering angle sensor calibration.

Can aftermarket bush kits improve steering feel on a 2020 XV?
Not for the steering rack itself—there’s no rack bush to upgrade. However, quality upgrades to front control arm bushes or sway bar bushes and links can sharpen front-end response and on-centre feel, provided alignment and tyres are spot on.