Steering Rack Replacement 2.7tdi Manual 2wd A6 C6

[philfingers]

sorry I didn't get around to it. Humphrey999 have you changed it yet?

[humphrey999]

No not yet, I'm going to replace the inner joints first before I jump in and buy a new rack...

[philfingers]

sent you my number if you need any advice
mine, the main shaft in the rack had the chrome worn away, due to ingress of water I suspect
the inner joints were fine. I still have them sitting on my bench if you need a picture of them, or any other part of the rack

[humphrey999]

Thanks Phil, really appreciate your support - to be honest I'm waiting for the weather to improve having done the steering rack on the wife's Discovery 3 only two weeks ago and not having suitable cover against the elements. I doubt it's going to get any better soon though

[philfingers]

what's the issue with yours? are you getting play in the rack? Mine was a tiny bit of play, almost like too much back lash in the gears but I've since stripped the rack and it was ok. All I can think was barely perceptible play at the bearings at the outer ends of the rack casing, where the seals had perished due to hard chrome corroding away and damaging the seals
I've had this issue [worn bush] on the 205 rally car, it makes for loose steering and along with a fierce LSD makes it a right fight to drive hard! the diff pulls the car all over the road!

[humphrey999]

Hi, sorry for the delay in replying, I've been flat out at work (literally, around Rockingham!)

On fidgety roads i get a knocking from the left front suspension direction. All the suspension arms bushings, TREs and ARB bushes are new, the ONLY bits that are original are the inner steering joints and the rack, the knocking can't be coming from anywhere else. Nothing through the wheel though...

[philfingers]

i think if the rack itself was shot like mine then it would be losing fluid, gaiters were full of fluid, only one side leaking out tho

[humphrey999]

Well I would have agreed before I did the Disco one - that rack was loose as hell, and knocking through the steering but there was no loss of fluid. Shame the Audi rack seems so inaccessible in comparison...

[micheal balbrig]

Could it be loose mounting bolts on the rack.
Some take a short cut by not replacing one of the bolts which is in a difficult position,but this would only apply if the rack was already replaced.

[dan2485]

did you do the rack adjustment procedure to rule this out?