Steering Rack issues?

I've just got my car back after two weeks without it. I was supposed to get the steering rack replaced with a new one but the garage could only get my existing one reconditioned! So, first problem is does anyone know where I can get a new rack for a 1991 Cabby GTi?

Second problem and it might be related, is that I have an annoying knocking coming from what sounds like just behind the steering wheel. Imagine there was a glove box just under steering wheel with an 80's mobile phone in it. That's what it sounds like. It only occours when I go over rough ground or hit a join in the Tarmac causing a sudden jolt to the front wheels. Has anyone got any idea what this could be because I can't find anything loose at all and Lord knows it'sspoinling my driving pleasure

Thanks

Tian :dontknow:

you can get a new rack from the dealers but they are about ?300 iirc. I got mine from BigBoysToys/Volkspares, its not a genuine item but seems ok to me.

The problem your having could be anything from a shot track rod end to worn out steering column bushes.

GSF ones look cheepo but seem to work fine! I had one on my old cab…

http://www.vwgolfmk1.o…0&highlight=steering+rack

Thanks for that Ross, I'm not sure I've been having the same problem as yourself but that's interesting! I'm probably going to have to take it to a more specialist garage rather than my local who are better at modern cars where you just plug a new part in after the diagnostic computer has done its thing.

Tian   :roll:

@ TIAN,

I had the exact same problem, whenever you turn your wheel going round a corner its almost as if your wheel is clicking around while you turn it…and when you travel on rough roads you get every single bit of feedback through the wheel and gets annoying….
i had mine refurbished and a few weeks later it started again!!!! do not get them refurbished!! i am taking mine back, luckyly i got a warranty with mine 8)

i have the same problem with my mk1 golf. when i corner at high speeds or drive over bumpy roads i get far to much feedback through the steering wheel. its almost like a shuddering of the steering wheel. i have just had a new steering rack put in and the problem is still there. could it be that my strutmounts are worn and that is causing slight sideways movement of the shock around corners translating movement into my steering? i have lowerd my car 35mm with Jamex springs and using gabriel gas ryders as shocks. PLEASE HELP ANYONE!!!!!

etienne

cv joints? worn wishbone bushes? cv bolts all tight? hub nut tight? top mounts ok? strut bolts tight?

Check the pinch bolt at the bottom of the steering column where the column meets the universal joint. I think you can get some play there. Waggle the steering wheel while feeling around this area. If you can feel some it might be the bolt is loose of the splines are a bit warn or the lower steering column bush/bearing bit is worn?

the problem lies with the 2 bearings that support the steering colume.you'll have to remove the steering wheel and the electrical fittings and the ignition switch to gain access to the upper bearing, to remove the lower you have to undo the pinch bolt at the universal joint and remove the steering colume but leaving the support bracket in place.  you'll find that the inner bearing race moves very freely side to side with respect to the outer, no doubt due to 25 years of wear.

i replaced my steering rack last week, (100 euro from vw but then it is a lhd as god intended )and while there was a big improvement in the steering, there was still the problem with the colume.
the upper bearing is a push fit into the mounting for the ignition, the lower is loose.

i didn't replace the upper bearing but instead tightened the inner race by sqeezing the inner race with the aid of 2 sockets in a vice, worked a treat and replaced the lower one.



part numbers for the lower bearing is 171 419 517 B

not sure if the upper bearing is available separtly from the ignition mount, but the mount number is 155 905 851

hi there…

I have been having the same problem for a while too…

firstly i had me steering rack refurbished….then is stuffed out again… it almost seemed that there was a ratchet for a column and would click when turning a corner… i also had mucho feedback from the road surface…

I took it in to get it looked at and they said that the problem lies with the column- they replaced my universal joints and bushes, top and bottom… now my steering is 100%. :wink:

What size rims do you have? i have 17" rims,  think thats when my problem started in the first place… im going down to 15" now though….

Thanks for that, I'm only on 14 inch rims but it's been lowered by 30mm and is as stiff as Hell. Not sure what the set-up is but I'm thinking of changing it sometime soon wen I get this problem sorted. It's just too stiff and not great to drive around London's rough roads.

I'll have to get the universal joint replaced too as the boot's been missing for some time and that can't be good! As for the bushes this is never a bad thing to do but I'll stay standard otherwise it'll be even stiffer.

I just need someone to do the work who I can rely on.

Tian