Re: Steering Rack Problems - Any experience?

["Michael & Carmen Keith" <mikeandcarmen@pdq.net>]

That's it exactly!  I'm gonna have to kick someone's ass at my dealership.

Thanks for the info.

Michael Keith
Pasadena, TX
'98 Jetta GLX
'85 Golf SCCA ITB
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Newton <Jeff_Newton@pmc-sierra.com>
To: jettaglx@igtc.com <jettaglx@igtc.com>
Date: Wednesday, September 15, 1999 1:27 PM
Subject: RE: Steering Rack Problems - Any experience?


>
>Mike,
>
>If I sit in the car will its running in neutral, and rock the wheel
>back and forth, I hear faint clunking noises.  It doesn't feel like a
>bushing problem to me.
>
>In any case, I will keep you posted.
>
>Cheers,
>
>>I think my '98 has the same problem (stock suspension & OEM tires).  
>Does 
>>yours feel like the tie rods are loose?
>>
>>If your problem turns out to be the same as mine, I'm gonna be really 
>pissed 
>>at my dealer because I brought it to them for this problem about 5 
>times.  The 
>>first few times, they said that they could not find a problem; then 
>they 
>>replaced the struts & strut bearings.  I went back one final time 
>before my 
>>warranty expired (no extended warranty), & a tech told me that it is 
>normal 
>>for the steering in some VW's to feel like that after the car has 
>some miles 
>>on it because of the rack bushings that VW uses.  He said that there 
>was 
>>nothing wrong with the rack & the performance of the car was not 
>affected.  
>>Therefore, VW would not make any repairs under warranty.  He went on 
>to say 
>>that his own personal car had started to do the same thing.  I 
>checked a 
>>friend's '98 GTI VR6 which has less miles than my car, & it did the 
>same 
>>thing, but not nearly as bad.  Therefore, I concluded that it was 
>normal & 
>>made plans to have rack bushings fabricated from delrin at some point 
>in the 
>>future to resolve the problem.
>>
>>My car now has 28,000 miles on it.  If it does turn out that my rack 
>is bad, 
>>I'm probably gonna have to fight my dealer & VWOA to get it fixed 
>because my 
>>car is out of warranty.
>>
>>I wish I could give you some advise, but I'm getting shafted just 
>like you.  I 
>>would appreciate it if you could keep me posted about your problem.  
>I'm 
>>interested to see if my dealership lied to me about the rack in order 
>to keep 
>>from having to replace it under warranty.
>>
>>Good luck!
>>
>>Michael Keith
>>Pasadena, TX
>>'98 Jetta GLX
>>'85 Golf SCCA ITB
>>>===== Original Message From jettaglx@igtc.com =====
>>>Folks,
>>>
>>>The 97 GLX is having some steering rack problems.  It just feels 
>like
>>>too much play in the steering.  Along with the play comes the
>>>occasional noise.  Went to my dealership and sure enough they say
>>>something is wrong with the rack.
>>>
>>>I'd appreciate hearing from anyone that has experienced steering 
>rack
>>>problems.  The car only has 57000km on the clock!
>>>
>>>Here's the kicker.  The DSM says that my extended warranty rep *may*
>>>not cover the cost of any repairs/replacement of the rack due to the
>>>fact that I have H&R Coilovers installed.  I can't see how shocks 
>and
>>>springs can affect the steering rack but I want to be prepared with
>>>ammo in case I have to go into battle.  Can someone point me to info
>>>indicating that VW will offer aftermarket springs as an accessory?
>>>
>>>Anyone have any other advice or words of encourangement?
>>>
>>>Cheers,
>>>
>>>----
>>>Jeff Newton
>>
>
>----
>Jeff Newton
>Unix Systems Administrator
>PMC-Sierra Inc.
>
>