steering couplings

[daimlerman]

Whilst I have an empty engine bay in the cabbie I would like to modify the steering coupling to eliminate the rubber whatsit,and slim the whole thing down.
I will,eventually,want a second one for the touring as I am not happy with the rubber damper being so close to the exhaust.
How have others done this,please?

[zaust]

I went to manual steering which has the guibo join closer to the bulkhead.