Steering Rack Clonk

[Guest maz]

Hi

 

I have an odd fault with my Galaxy. I have only bought it a month ago and have 2 months before the warranty runs out.

 

When you rock the sterring wheel (gently or harshly, moving or stationery) there is a clonk or thump. It doesn't matter where the wheels point - what makes the difference is that the steering wheel was stationery before you rock it.

 

There is no play in the steering - I've checked that and I went back to the dealer and said I wasn't happy with the clonk.

 

The mechanic (who I trust as he has serviced my other cars for years and is both knowledgeable and honest) said that the noise comes from the rack - not the power steering. He confirmed that there was no wear or play in the rack (and it had passed an MOT only a month ago).

 

He said that with the engine off, turning the rack at the UJ at the base of the steering column still produces a thump, but it is amplified by the power steering which is why it is noticable when the engine is running.

 

Does anyone else suffer from this? Having not owned a Galaxy before, I don't know if this is one of those "quirks".

 

He finally said something about the rack possibly needing shims and he was trying to investigate this further.

 

I thought - I know where I can ask!!!

 

Any advice or info would be helpful.

 

Thanks

[Ivor_E_Tower]

No noise from my steering - perhaps your rack mounting bushes are worn and the rack itself moves a little each time you move the wheel? How many miles has it done?

[Guest maz]

Thanks for the reply.

 

It has done 110000.

 

The mechanic said that the bushes were fine and he was sure it was coming from the rack but he was positive that there was no wear. I wonder if he looked at the right bushes. I know he checked track rod ends, upper/lower swivells and anti-roll.

 

Is the steering rack attached via bushes ?

 

The joys of not being able to get a manual!! (other than for the 2.0 or TDi)

[Guest nimrod]

The joys of not being able to get a manual!! (other than for the 2.0 or TDi)

 

 

and yet strangely the only major differences between the 2.0 or TDI models covered in the Haynes book are the engines! the rest of the book covers all the other parts that are fitted to the 2.8

[Guest maz]

Yes - well..... I did think about getting one and trying to track down a different manual for the engine (I don't know if there is one for the Golf variant).

 

Just thought it might be more than the engine, with the possibility of brakes, suspension, wiring being different/uprated.

 

If that isn't the case (wiring excluded), I might be making a purchase tomorrow :o

[Guest nimrod]

Best manual for the engine is available at WHSMITHS

[Guest maz]

Nimrod

 

Thank you for that. I didn't know it existed!

 

:o

[Guest nimrod]

no problem its a little known book but apparently its one of the best available for the VR6 engine

[Guest maz]

Book unfortunately out of stock (being reprinted). Hope it comes back in soon !

 

Back to the original question:

 

Are there such things as shims in the rack that will stop this clonking - or am I sadly deluded ?

 

The mechanic says a new rack is about

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Not shims, but bushes - there should be some rubber between the rack and the vehicle body or subframe (not sure how it is mounted) to stop vibration. If it's covered by warranty, I wouldn't worry about it.

[Guest nimrod]

Book unfortunately out of stock (being reprinted). Hope it comes back in soon !

.

bummer :( try AMAZON

[Guest nimrod]

this company may have it stock.......vwbooks

[Guest maz]

Thanks again Nimrod.

 

Amazon also OOS, but will ring vwbooks tomorrow.

[seatkid]

you've checked the fluid level of course....

 

clonk suggests to me either

 

1. worn (or loose) uj where column attaches to rack or

2. worn ball joints on trackrod ends which are a known problem or

3. mounting bushes on the rack or

4. even possibly worn or loose droplink

 

note that very little wear causes a disproportionate noise

 

 

OR AS AN OUTSIDE CHANCE

 

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN No.72/1998

Car and Light/Medium Commercial 04.02.1999

 

Section: 13

Model: Galaxy, RHD only

Markets: All

Subject: Knocking noise from front whilst cornering

 

Summary

 

Should a customer express concern over knocking noises from the front of the vehicle whilst cornering, it is possible that pressure fluctuations in the power assisted steering (PAS) system are being transmitted through the vehicle body. This can be resolved by installing a revised PAS low pressure pipe assembly which damps out the vibration.

 

This bulletin supersedes TSB 72/1998 dated 25.06.1998, and includes changes to the Model. Please destroy the previous edition of this bulletin.

 

Parts Required

 

Description Finis Code

 

PAS low pressure pipeassembly 1 000 041

Clip (2 off) 1 000 062

 

Labour Time

 

Install revised PAS low pressure pipe assembly 0.9 hours

[Mussey1]

I don't know if this will help, but I had a similar problem with one of my previous Toyota Avensis. It was a known problem where the steering column clonked if the steering wheel was rocked from side to side.

 

The fix was for the dealer to re grease the steering rack.

 

Have you tried this??

 

Mussey1.

[Guest maz]

Thanks to all for advice so far.

 

Seatkid. The UJ is fine, as are the trackrod ends. Not sure about the mounting bushes nor the droplink.

 

I have to say I don't know what the droplink is!! However all this I can pass on to my mechanic.

 

My problem here is that this car is under warranty and the dealer's mechanic is the same one I use (which is very handy) - however I need to let them sort it out. The mechanic is concerned that this could be a simple (and cheap) problem to repair - not an expensive one. He is absolutely confident that the rack is not worn, nor the other bits I mentioned before. I even passed on info to him that I had picked up from this forum about the possibility of loose power steering pumps or broken/cracked brackets. He's checked that.

 

So this information is really helpful and I am also very tempted to start my own investigations. I have about 2 months left of warranty.

 

Mussey1 - I will pass that on too.

 

Thanks again - all advice gratefully accepted!

[seatkid]

droplink = antiroll bar link (which reminds me that the antiroll bar mounting bushes are known to wear allowing that to flop about)

 

Surely its a two man job - one to turn the wheel and clonk constantly while the other is underneath observing ang listening...

[Guest nimrod]

Thanks again Nimrod.

 

Amazon also OOS, but will ring vwbooks tomorrow.

Ok then how many of us VR6 owners have ordered the peter russek book? the lady on the phone said there's been a bit of a rush on it as its been mentioned on a forum and loads of people have since bought it!

maybe we should start sorting out bulk buys? here's a few things on the list to get us started......

pollen filters, door looms, anti roll bar links, R134a :lol:

[Dally]

Nimrod

 

Are you aware of any books on the 204 ps VR6? - everything seems to always cover just the old VR6.

[Guest nimrod]

Nimrod

 

Are you aware of any books on the 204 ps VR6? - everything seems to always cover just the old VR6.

No, not that i'm aware of :lol: I'l trawl my VW and VR6 websites later and see if i can find one, the American equivilent of Haynes (cant remember the name!) may do a tech manual; on the later 24V engine?

[Guest nimrod]

(cant remember the name!)

 

Bentley manuals, the Americans rave about these manuals and say how much better than Haynes they are!

[Guest maz]

Picked up the Haynes today.

 

Doesn't say a great deal about the steering rack. It doesn't mention the bushes when describing how it is attached to the vehicle. It talks about the four bolts that attach it to the cross-member.

 

The thick plottens.......

 

Well, at least I've got the book now. Still hoping WHSmiths will come up with the goods on the VR6 book.

 

Nimord, what are the VR6 websites that you allude to ?

[Dally]

Thanks for you efforts nimrod. Just find it abit frustrating that all references to the VR6 seem always to be referring to the 16v version - very little available re the 24v version.

 

Will look at the vr6 forums you mention when I have a moment.

 

Cheers

[Guest nimrod]

 

Well, at least I've got the book now.  Still hoping WHSmiths will come up with the goods on the VR6 book.

 

Nimord, what are the VR6 websites that you allude to ?

VW books has the Peter Russek book in stock.

 

heres a couple of VR6 sites they mainly deal with cars that have the VR6 fitted into but some of the reading is quite interesting

 

http://www.vr6.org/main.shtml

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/volksw...?yguid=58141347

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vr6/?yguid=58141347

http://forums.fourtitude.com/zeromain

[Guest maz]

Nimrod - Thanks for the sites.

 

Car is now back with the mechanic. I've given him a print out of this topic and he was quite happy to follow up on the suggestions. In fact I think he was quietly amazed.

 

Thanks again to all. I will post the results when I get them.