Wobby Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Today i have changed my front discs and pads, went well and no problems. I have had a handling problem with my car for a few months now, quite bad now and definately time to get it sorted. Also on certain bumps i get a vibration though the car, can last 5 seconds! As if a wheel is vibrating! I have noticed slight play in one wheel for a while, today it is much worse. I have a side to side movement on the wheel of towards 2cm!!! With the steering wheel held firm. All bushes and link joints feel fine with no play in them. The movement seems to come from the steering rack and is only evident on one wheel. I can see anything else in the rack without cutting off the gaitor, but its not a servicable part so no point. One track rod end seems slightly loose to move although there is no play (this is on the other side). How much will VW charge me to fit a steering rack and both track rod ends? Can they do it in a day? I can look at fitting it myself, but the part is £500 (towards) with delivery and VAT. I will still need the alignment doing by VW and thats £170 at least! Needing to know what labour costs and times VW will charge. Also could i be barking up the wrong tree and it be something else? Seen on here of rack securing bolts falling out, not sure that applies as i cant feel any other movement on the rack except in and out! Advice needed before i lose my wallet at VW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulkbear Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Have you checked the ball ends on the rack end of the track rods ? as i have know them to fail ? Normaly when there is play in the rack, there is play on both sides not just one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobby Posted November 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Have you checked the ball ends on the rack end of the track rods ? as i have know them to fail ? Normaly when there is play in the rack, there is play on both sides not just one! [/ QUOTE ] Can you explain where you mean? IS there a ball joint at the other end to the track rod end? Is the part you mean inside gaitor? Thats where the movement is (i think). Are the parts inside the gaitor servicable? Thanks for the quick respose Mulky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulkbear Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 The full track rod can be removed, by pulling the gatior off, there is a ball joint that can be undone (52mm or large pair of big grips), then the all of the track rod is removed and replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobby Posted December 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2006 Oohhh dear, this isn't going to plan! Thanks for the advice Mulky , there is a ball joint mid way along the track rod and it has dried out is totally knackered. I cant seem to find one available today. Parts place can't show me one that looks like mine in a book, the ones available don't have the ball joint. Then i tried a few local VW dealers, only one had the part in stock and closed at 12.30, i didn't get there in time. He had the part in his hand and said it was correct based on my reg and chassis number. However, it had no ball joint mid way, it was the same as the local parts suppliers book. I tried to get through to look but failed. Can anyone help me identify this part? I am wondering if the VW part came with the gaitor pre fitted so he couldn't see the joint? Going to try and get my ELSA WIN working!!! The track rod definately changes direction and the ball joint is big enough to see, does this look a normal set up for a Passat? I have one on order to pick up Monday but it doesn't show a joint mid way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulkbear Posted December 2, 2006 Report Share Posted December 2, 2006 Told you so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobby Posted December 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2006 Yeah, yeah, you show off!! Should there be a plastic piece that seperates the ball from the socket? Thanks Mr Mulky, your a star. Note, on the first pic you can see a bit of leaf crap that (i am guessing) is part blocking the drain under the battery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulkbear Posted December 2, 2006 Report Share Posted December 2, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Should there be a plastic piece that seperates the ball from the socket? [/ QUOTE ] No, just a little bit of grease Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobby Posted December 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2006 Wow, so the movement i have is all wear. I have packed it with grease until i can get the part and its not rattled since Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durrsaku Posted December 2, 2006 Report Share Posted December 2, 2006 The symptoms your car is experiencing reminds me of my old S111 109 Land Rover. used to get through those ball joints like nothing. It used to scare me everytime it went over a bump as the steering used to shake really bad. Hope you sort it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobby Posted December 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2006 Fitted new track rod and track rod end. Totally differant on the road now. All vibration has gone and the steering feels normal. Going to get the other track rod end done (its slightly loose but no play) and get the alignment sorted. Feels ok so it will wait a week! Thanks for the help Mulky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazthecab Posted December 4, 2006 Report Share Posted December 4, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Fitted new track rod and track rod end. Totally differant on the road now. All vibration has gone and the steering feels normal. Going to get the other track rod end done (its slightly loose but no play) and get the alignment sorted. Feels ok so it will wait a week! Thanks for the help Mulky. [/ QUOTE ] Can you tell us where you bought the track rod from and how much please Wobby. I checked the n/s and I have about 5/10mm of play which could explain why it feels vague. The play is not there on full lock though........strange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobby Posted December 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2006 I never tried on full lock, but with the wheel straight i had about 1cm of sideways movement (at least). You have to get someone to hold the steering wheel tight. I am guessing full lock may hold the ball joint tight. Did you change the arms and shocks etc because of this? Just done a few miles in mine and TBH it feels like a new car! Not got it on the motorway yet but i think my lost MPG may be back. Will know tomorrow. Looking for receipt and will post what i paid. Not VW parts in the end, they pi$$ed me about and talked rubbish so i went somewhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobby Posted December 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2006 Parts from Bullseye Motorist Centres. I would have prefered VW or OEM but time didn't allow. Track Rod End Passat £11.06 +VAT Inner Rack End £14.37 +VAT Power Rack Gaiter (Universal) £ 7.14 +VAT Inner rack end was £76.06 at VW and if one local dealer could work out what it was and operate their stock computer i would have had a VW part. Track Rod ends from VW are £25-£30 each. The gaiter has to be cut to fit and was a bit cheap looking, but did fit ok, not sure of VW price for a gaiter. VW prices include VAT. Hope this helps, let me know how you get on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobby Posted December 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Just done a few miles in mine and TBH it feels like a new car! Not got it on the motorway yet but i think my lost MPG may be back. Will know tomorrow. [/ QUOTE ] Hmmm, who wrote this $hit Just had a stready run to manchester and back and averaged exactly 60mpg on the DIS. Sadly the car feels anything but new!!! The rattle and vibration the track rod inner was causing has gone. But now i feel something else! Steering feels ok except when you take your foot off the accelerater pedel! There seems a knock on the steering wheel, you can clearly feel it through the steering wheel. If you touch the throttle it goes, foot off and its back! Feel it more if i am approaching a lorry and the middle lane is blocked. As i lift of the throttle its as if something is causing a clear knock somewhere. No matter how bad its doing it, press the throttle and its gone! WTF can it be Could it be shockers? I am sure i have one thats not right, feels that way to me. Could it be driveshafts or gearbox? Or am i still looking at the rack/ steering area? Having a look this afternoon so any advice appreciated. Its how it vanishes when i touch the throttle thats got me! It must indicate something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazthecab Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Engine/gearbox mounting?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobby Posted December 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Didn't think of that!! I wondered if it could be driveshaft wear at either end causing free rotational movement when at idle (edit... i mean when when in gear but no throttle applied (not sure what thats called?)). Thanks for the advice Gaz, was yours loose on the inner track rod ends? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazthecab Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 I don't think so.......I pulled the pads on the n/s and just checked it wasn't a sticky caliper, couldn't find anything. Gave all the joints a good spray with WD40, hoping it would manage to seep through into any joints, hadn't heard the noise from then until today, the trouble is with this multi link set up on the front it could be any one of several things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swil00 Posted December 14, 2006 Report Share Posted December 14, 2006 I'm starting to wonder if mine has problems with the rack/ball joints. The steering on mine has had a dead feeling for a while.. Feels ok on the O/S, just feels dead on the N/S... I also had a creak from the N/S on a decent lock... Mine is a 99 car that are supposed to be the worst for Suspension arms.. Had the O/S Lower rear arm done earlier in the year. Just had the N/S Lower rear arm done... Creak is now gone, but the dead feeling is still there.... BTW also had all four top arms replaced as the the bushes were almost done.. I was thinking that maybe the N/S lower front arm needed done too.... That was until I read this.. When getting the arms done.. I also had all the Shocks and springs replaced.. Now running an Eibach Prokit... Car sits and rides nicely now.. I don't notice any play through steering... Could it maybe be a dry/ceased joint ? If I could just cure the dead feeling from the nearside.. I'd be well happy.. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulkbear Posted December 14, 2006 Report Share Posted December 14, 2006 [ QUOTE ] WTF can it be Or am i still looking at the rack/ steering area? [/ QUOTE ] Have you checked the steering mounting bolts are tight ? have had a similar problem in the past Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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