Why Upgrade Your Steering Components?

The Nissan 370Z is a factory-engineered sports car built for balanced performance, but its stock steering system prioritizes daily comfort and low maintenance over raw driver engagement. The hydraulic power steering system, while predictable, introduces a degree of vagueness in the center and a slightly slower steering ratio compared to modern supercars. Enthusiasts who push their cars during track days, autocross events, or spirited canyon runs quickly notice that the wheel doesn’t always telegraph exactly what the front tires are doing. Upgrading specific steering components addresses the inherent play in rubber bushings, the softness of factory tie rods, and the chassis flex that dulls steering response. The result is a more direct connection between your hands and the road, allowing you to place the car with surgical precision. Beyond improving lap times, these upgrades build driver confidence; you feel the onset of understeer earlier and can catch slides before they become dramatic.

Another often overlooked aspect is longevity. Factory steering parts are engineered for a predictable wear cycle, but aggressive driving accelerates that wear. Bushings crack, tie rods develop play, and steering racks can lose their centered feel. Performance-grade components not only sharpen response but also endure higher loads from wider tires, stiffer suspension bushings, and repeated hard cornering. Whether you are a weekend track warrior or a daily driver who values every nuance of steering feel, investing in these components transforms the 370Z from a competent GT coupe into a telepathic weapon.

1. Aftermarket Steering Racks

Your steering rack is the heart of the system. The factory rack has a ratio of roughly 14.5:1, which translates to about 2.8 turns lock-to-lock. That is acceptable for daily driving but feels lazy when you need to catch a slide or transition through a chicane. Aftermarket racks from top-tier manufacturers like SPL Parts and Z1 Motorsports offer quicker ratios, often around 12.5:1 or even faster, reducing lock-to-lock to about 2.2 turns.

Hydraulic vs. Valved Options

The 370Z uses a hydraulic assist system, and aftermarket racks are typically remanufactured units with modified internal valves. These valve mods increase pressure gradients so that steering feel ramps up more linearly with cornering load. Some specialist companies offer fully custom racks with bespoke valve tuning for specific conditions such as autocross (where rapid transitions are key) or endurance racing (where consistent feedback is critical). When selecting a rack, pay attention to the assist curve: too much assist masks road texture, while too little can make low-speed parking a workout.

Installation and Compatibility

Most aftermarket racks are direct bolt-in replacements, but you will need to reuse your original tie rod ends unless the rack comes pre-assembled. The pinion valve adjustment is delicate; if you order a rack with a custom valving profile, request a graph of pressure versus steering angle to ensure it matches your driving style. Prices range from $600 to $1,500 depending on the complexity of the valve work and whether it includes new tie rods.

For the most extreme use, some racers remove power steering entirely and convert to a manual rack. That dramatically reduces weight and parasitic loss, but the steering effort becomes very high. This is generally not recommended for street use.

2. Steering Rack Bushings

Steering rack bushings are small, inexpensive components that have an outsized effect on feel. The stock rubber bushings deform under load, allowing the rack to shift slightly inside the subframe. This movement deadens the signal from the road and introduces a lag in steering response.

Polyurethane vs. Solid Bushings

The two main upgrade paths are polyurethane and solid aluminum bushings. Polyurethane is a popular choice for dual-purpose cars because it reduces play by about 70% while still absorbing high-frequency vibration. Solid aluminum bushings completely eliminate any movement but transmit every imperfection in the pavement into the steering wheel, which can be fatiguing on long drives. Brands like Whiteline and Energy Suspension offer polyurethane options that are easy to install, while SPL Parts and Hardrace produce solid aluminum versions for track-dedicated cars.

Installation Tips

Replacing the bushings requires dropping the steering rack from the subframe. You will need a press or a large vise to push out the old rubbers and insert the new ones. Lubricate polyurethane bushings with the supplied grease to prevent squeaks. Lock-tite on the rack bolts is essential, and an alignment check is mandatory after reinstalling the rack. The time investment is about 1.5 to 2 hours, and the cost of bushings is typically under $100 – one of the best value mods for the 370Z.

3. Strut Tower Bars and Chassis Bracing

Chassis rigidity is the foundation of accurate steering. Even small amounts of flex in the front structure allow the suspension geometry to change mid-corner, making the steering feel lazy or inconsistent. Adding a strut tower bar is the first step to stiffening the front end.

Front Strut Bar

A well-designed front strut bar connects the two top mounts, resisting the compression and rebound forces that try to push the towers together. The 370Z benefits significantly from a triangulated bar that also ties into the firewall or a fixed bulkhead. Products from Z1 Motorsports and Cusco offer either a single-piece fixed bar or a two-piece adjustable design. The fixed bars are stiffer but harder to install; adjustable ones allow preload tension. For maximum stiffness, look for a bar made from chromoly or aluminum with heim-joint ends instead of rubber isolators.

Lower Front Brace

Combining a strut bar with a lower front brace (sometimes called a lower control arm brace) creates a rigid cube of metal around the steering rack. The SPL Parts lower brace ties the front subframe to the chassis rails, reducing lateral flex. This complementary upgrade further sharpens turn-in response and stabilizes the steering wheel under hard braking.

Rear Chassis Bracing

While often overlooked for steering, the rear chassis also affects steering feel. A stiff rear prevents yaw delays that make the steering feel disconnected. A rear strut bar and a V-brace (connecting the rear cradle to the chassis) can improve on-throttle steering response, especially when powering out of corners. The effect is subtle on smooth roads but becomes pronounced on uneven surfaces.

4. Upgraded Tie Rods and Ends

Tie rods are the final link between the steering rack and the wheel hub. Factory tie rods are non-adjustable and designed for a fixed alignment that compromises between tire wear and handling. Upgraded tie rods offer adjustability for toe and, in some designs, for roll center correction.

Adjustable Outer Tie Rods

Adjustable outer tie rods allow you to fine-tune toe settings without shims or eccentric bushings. This is valuable for track setups where you want a specific toe-out for sharper turn-in. They also feature heim joints that eliminate the rubber compliance in the factory ball joint, delivering a more direct mechanical link. Brands such as SPL Parts and TEIN offer rods with Teflon-lined joints that require periodic lubrication but last hundreds of track miles.

Bump Steer Correction

When you lower a 370Z, the tie rod angle changes, leading to bump steer – unwanted steering input when the suspension compresses. Some tie rod kits include offset spacers or revised mounting points to correct the tie rod’s arc. Correcting bump steer makes the car feel stable on rough surfaces and during kerb strikes. It is especially important for cars that are lowered more than 1 inch or for drift builds where steering angle is extreme. The GKTech bump steer kit is a popular choice among the 370Z community.

Inner Tie Rod Ends

While inner ends are often considered a wear item, upgrading them to a higher-durometer material (like polyurethane or bronze) reduces play in the rack itself. This is a rarely performed modification but one that tightens up the very beginning of steering input. It pairs well with solid rack bushings but may increase road noise slightly.

5. Quick-Release Steering Wheels

Replacing the factory steering wheel with a smaller diameter aftermarket wheel and a quick-release hub is a popular modification that directly affects steering response physics.

Smaller Wheel Diameter

The factory 370Z steering wheel is approximately 365mm in diameter. Dropping to a 330mm or even 320mm wheel reduces the lever arm, meaning your hands move less distance to turn the wheels through the same angle. This makes the steering feel noticeably quicker and more connected, as if you have a faster ratio. However, the physical effort increases because you lose mechanical advantage. Most drivers find a 330mm wheel a good balance between quickness and effort.

Quick-Release Hubs

Quick-release hubs allow you to detach the steering wheel for improved entry/exit or anti-theft purposes. They also introduce a solid metal coupling that removes the compliance of the factory steering column bushing. The NRG Innovations and Works Bell hubs are widely used. Be aware that deleting the factory airbag is a safety trade-off; many track events require a harness and HANS device when you remove the airbag. The quick-release itself should be a two-piece design with a friction lock to avoid any slop. Some hubs also accept steering angle sensors needed for electronic stability control and traction control systems.

Steering Column Bushings

While you have the steering wheel off, consider replacing the factory rubber steering column bushing with a polyurethane or brass bushing. This small part mounts the column to the dashboard and prevents column flex during aggressive inputs. It is an inexpensive addition (around $30) and complements the quick-release wheel perfectly.

6. Additional Steering Modifications

Power Steering Cooler

If you plan extended track sessions, the hydraulic power steering fluid can overheat, causing fading assist and eventually seal failure. A simple aftermarket cooler (often a finned aluminum bar that mounts in front of the radiator) keeps fluid temperatures in check. Mishimoto and Setrab offer universal coolers that can be plumbed into the return line. This is not a direct handling upgrade but prevents performance degradation during sustained use.

Electric Power Steering Conversion (EPS)

A handful of aftermarket companies have begun offering electric power steering conversion kits for the 370Z. These replace the hydraulic pump and rack with a motor driven EPS system similar to modern cars. The advantage is variable assist programming that can be tuned for autocross (fast, light) or track (heavy, linear). However, the cost is high – over $3,000 – and the tactile feedback from an EPS system is different from a well-tuned hydraulic system. This is a niche modification for dedicated race cars that need precise assist tuning.

Steering Dampener Delete

The factory steering dampener is a small hydraulic cylinder that suppresses low-frequency oscillations. It also masks some feedback. Removing it can increase steering feel at the cost of potential vibration, especially on cars with aggressive alignment. Many track drivers delete it and report a noticeable improvement in road texture perception.

Choosing the Right Components for Your Driving Style

With so many options, it is easy to overspend on parts that don’t match your needs. Start with the steering rack bushings and a front strut bar – these are the highest-return upgrades for the lowest cost and effort. If you are still craving more precision, move to adjustable tie rods and consider a quick-ratio steering rack. For track-only cars, a quick-release wheel and bump steer kit make a significant difference. For daily drivers, stick to polyurethane bushings and avoid harsh solid aluminum components that increase NVH.

“The single best upgrade I made to my 370Z was swapping the stock rack bushings for solid SPL bushings. It transformed the way the car responds to initial steering input. Combined with a strut bar, it feels like a different car.” – 370Z forum recommendation

Finally, always budget for a professional alignment after any steering component change. A bad alignment masks the benefits of upgraded parts and can cause unpredictable handling. The investment in parts can be wasted if toe, caster, and camber are not set to your application. Trusted online sources like Z1 Motorsports and SPL Parts provide detailed product descriptions and often have community-tested alignment specs. Other valuable resources include AMS Performance and GKTech for bump steer solutions.

Conclusion

Upgrading the steering components on your Nissan 370Z is one of the most rewarding modifications you can make. Unlike engine upgrades that only matter at full throttle, steering improvements affect every corner, every lane change, and every parking lot maneuver. By selecting a combination of rack bushings, chassis bracing, adjustable tie rods, and a well-suited steering wheel, you can tailor the car’s response precisely to your preferences. The result is a car that doesn’t just go fast – it communicates, reacts, and inspires confidence. Whether you are chasing tenths on a racetrack or simply enjoying a Sunday morning drive, these upgrades make every mile more engaging.