I've had the car since new in 2002 and it's done 198k. The steering went really stiff and started to leak hydraulic fluid. The garage says the rack is okay but It would appear that there is pipe which equalises the fluid in the rack. A relatively small pipe/hose. Does anyone have one from a deconstructed car or indeed a whole rack. The parts are getting harder to find. Is there a specialist supplier anyone might know. Email or website?
Steering Rack Equalising Pipe
- Thread starter Barts134
- Start date
Ami
A2OC Donor
I sold it Robin, but maybe able to help with the pipe if I know which pipe is required.
Ami
A2OC Donor
This guy is breaking a tdi ,He may be able to help, Just found on FB:
Opening multiple threads for the same problem within a few hours of each other isn't going to get your problem fixed quicker as A2oc is reasonably compact. The fact that these posts are only 4 entries apart mean that those of us who are active have seen them both.
Is it worthwhile merging the threads? @Proghound ?
Is it worthwhile merging the threads? @Proghound ?
Proghound
Admin Team
Done
To be fair, the thread with no information on it was probably started by mistake, I moved it from the 'Spotted for sale' section of the Market last night. I hadn't spotted that there was already another open thread from the same member.Bizarrely I've just been down the garage that replaced my steering rack for another reason, and they've given me back the old one off my car in case I want to refurbish it. The pipes that were causing the problem on mine are the small metal ones on the body of the rack - they were corroded through and seeping. However, what they told me is to take the rack to Pirtek in Dundee who can make up replacements - and having just checked, Pirtek appear to be nationwide (including Glasgow area). Could that be a solution?
Is that the same issue as yours has? @Barts134 ?
Is that the same issue as yours has? @Barts134 ?
I'm going to investigate - I have a little spare time on my hands for the next few days before I find gainful employment again and I need to stay out of the house as I will be employed ungainfully by domestic HR if I am apparently available!
They are hydraulics and other pipework specialists, but appear to be capable in all trades. If it's that simple then it may be possible even to get a few sets made up on behalf of A2oc requirements. I'll see what I can find out.
They are hydraulics and other pipework specialists, but appear to be capable in all trades. If it's that simple then it may be possible even to get a few sets made up on behalf of A2oc requirements. I'll see what I can find out.
kp 115
A2OC Donor
Pirtec is a franchise covering a local area but have been around 20 yrs approx.
I've been down there with my spare steering rack. After explaining the situation in the workshop, the guy there has whipped off the union and banjo connectors at either end and identified (he thinks) the thread sizes.
He's preparing quotation options based on using 2 lengths of flexible stainless or "mild steel" steering hose and fittings, using 90 degree banjos at the far end to replace the small radius U-curves in the originals that go into the unions.
The only stumbling block at the moment is that I don't have (in my minds eye) an image of how much clearance there is around the steering rack when it is built in on top of the subframe - as this dictates the precise length of hose that needs to be cut, then have the ends fitted to allow routing from one banjo to the one at the other end, with the hoses then clipped in place to prevent them flopping around with something akin to a cable tie.
Does anyone know if there is anything close by the upper surface of the rack unit along where the pipes run - we're only talking about needing airspace of 30-50mm around the main tube that the toothed shaft runs in from one end of the pipe run to the other.
I've just seen some photos on an rhd steering rack of a heat shield with an 8Z2 part number that covers the pipes - so the bottom line is that if the new parts fit within the physical envelope described by this heat shield (which I've never seen on a rack before) - they have to be able to fit. Can anyone see a flaw in my logic?
will keep you posted.
I've just answered that question myself in my AMF project car.
in the second image of the entire steering rack above, there is clear air above the right hand end of the heat shield - I hadn't realised how far back the steering rack is in the engine bay, but it is in a gap in front of the bulkhead and physically behind the engine block. Probably the tightest pinch point appears to be where the exhaust flexi / downpipe from the turbo are positioned - it appears a couple of inches inboard of the splined steering pinion box itself where the heat shield goes upwards - but even there I think we do have clearance providing the new pipework doesn't project any further outwards than the existing, and that is defined by the heatshield (of which there is one on my steering rack!).
Will trundle back to Pirtek this afternoon.
Next question - how does it work with the petrol-engined cars as the exhaust comes down from the front of the block, through a cutout in the subframe and along to the tunnel. Presumably it passes under the steering rack?
in the second image of the entire steering rack above, there is clear air above the right hand end of the heat shield - I hadn't realised how far back the steering rack is in the engine bay, but it is in a gap in front of the bulkhead and physically behind the engine block. Probably the tightest pinch point appears to be where the exhaust flexi / downpipe from the turbo are positioned - it appears a couple of inches inboard of the splined steering pinion box itself where the heat shield goes upwards - but even there I think we do have clearance providing the new pipework doesn't project any further outwards than the existing, and that is defined by the heatshield (of which there is one on my steering rack!).
Will trundle back to Pirtek this afternoon.
Next question - how does it work with the petrol-engined cars as the exhaust comes down from the front of the block, through a cutout in the subframe and along to the tunnel. Presumably it passes under the steering rack?
Yes it does.
I've managed to look down the back of the engine on the AUA at home, and this not only has no heatshield over it, but I can follow the two pipes that are in discussion here across the steering rack until they curve upwards towards where they are screwed into the casing ; about the only thing I can think of around there behind the AUA is the oil scavenger. So I think we're home free with the petrol-engined steering racks - 1.4s at least. Assume 1.6s are similar?
audifan
A2OC Donor
Nice work Robin. Slight concern about using flexi pipes on a steering rack as they may flex rather than apply the full pressure to the rack. Once flexed that is where the increased risk of contact occurs.
Would have thought they would have all the tooling needed to make tight bends in any type and diameter of metal pipe.
My feeling with flexi pipes is 3d printed mounting brackets would be required to try and locate them in as near as possible similar condition to the rigid pipes.
Would have thought they would have all the tooling needed to make tight bends in any type and diameter of metal pipe.
My feeling with flexi pipes is 3d printed mounting brackets would be required to try and locate them in as near as possible similar condition to the rigid pipes.