Vague steering

Hi all, my 83 carb tin top GX passed its MOT with an advisory of:

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (strong advice)

I had noticed that the steering felt a bit vague beforehand so I checked both tie rods and they seemed solid with no movement. This is what prompted me to get it tested.

As a ‘repair as soon as possible (minor defects)’ the inspector wrote:

Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt Font (both fronts)

However, as I say he did pass it.

I double checked both sides again afterwards and I couldn’t even see the dust cover damage referred to, but I’m no expert.

Please can one of you experts please tell me what could be causing the free play?

Thanks

Assuming the play is in the steering rack, there is an adjustment screw underneath the rack, which could potentially be tightened to compensate for any wear in the pinion There is a lock nut around the screw which has to be loosened first. From the manual, access looks a bit tricky. You'd obviously need to take care not to cause any tight spots.

Re the tie rod end boots, damage can be hard to spot. I usually give them a squeeze to see if any grease escapes

Inner rods can go bad. If you have the single piece tie-rod on the right side you can swap it out for the 2 piece one that the later cabriolets came with.

Thanks guys,

I'll have another look at the tie rod end boots and give 'em squeeze as advised. I'll also see if I can find that adjustment screw for the pinion.

Briano1234, Is there an advantage to the 2 piece tie-rod?

Thanks again

The fixed tie-rod was only ever a factory fitment - the spare parts were always 2-part.

No real advantage, other than potentially more precise control of steering wheel alignment, and a much easier replacement of the track rod end in future

over here in the 90's you could still order the single rod. IIRC I could still find it in 2018.

VW's running gear manual dated 1985 says fixed rods are not available, and historical parts diagrams specify separate rods and ends - 2 of each. IIRC it was the same on the Derby Mk1 and Polo Mk2 I worked on in the 80s and early 90s.

That's obviously for genuine VW parts, so maybe you've come across aftermarket, or used ones for sale?