Steering 'click' upon direction change

[striderwilson 0]

Hi folks,

 

Got a rubbery 'click' from my wheel each time I change direction on my 95 vr6. With the car stationary (and running) if someone moves the wheel approx 2" side to side, I can feel the click on the tie rods (?), especialy the LHS, and it seems to come from the rack end rather than the wheel end. Will this be my rack or my rods that are on their way out?

Sorry for the 'rubbery click' discription, but I can't think of how else to discribe it, but it happens EVERY time I steer from one side to the other.

 

Thanks

[billinjah 0]

mine does this im sure its the front shocks but tie rods is likely too these are the only parts of my front end that aren't new!

[Chris VR6nos 0]

I'm sure there's UJ at the bottom of the steering column, not sure though as i've not looked at the Corrado's set up in much detail but probably should have as i have the same little clunk as do others i've been in, i know i've changed this UJ on other cars to solve the same clunk.

 

 

 

Chris

[billinjah 0]

i was hoping it wasnt that, your right there is a uj there ive heard they are v expensive hope im wrong? :roll:

[striderwilson 0]

billinjahg60, it doesn't seem to be coming from the shocks - they seem quite sturdy. Also they were changed (along with the top mounts) about 18 months ago - so they would be failing very early. The uj sounds a possibility though - anyone else had this problem?

[VEEDUBBED 0]

Today i retro fitted a spare VR6 ZF steering rack to my G60,i noticed that the ZF rack has a facilitiy to remove any unwanted/ecsessive backlash/play within the rack(,the TRW rack hasn't got this)try loosening the locknut and remove any play that can be felt,it may help.Hopefully it's not the small colum shaft connecting the rack/colum,380 euro from stealers....

[striderwilson 0]

Just thought i'd update you guys, took the c to a local specialist, + he diagnosed it as a knackerd rack - no amount of adjustment would fix it. He quoted £390 for a new rack (from vw) and £120 fitting. Me being way smarter than the specialist, and not as rich, I told him I would source the rack, and let him fit it. :roll:. Two weeks later, and my £180 rack from euro car parts is the wrong one (and it cost £50 of the specialists' time to find that out) - wrong helix pitch apparently. :oops: ecp will refund the rack, but does any one know if I can get a good refurb unit?, or will I have to pay the full whack with the stealer?

[Chris VR6nos 0]

I would live with the little clunk, i'm used to mine and it makes no difference really, try not to be anal about it as it is a 10+ yr old car and i'm sure it can't be that bad a clunk, i kinda like my clunk now and will worry if it stops!

 

 

Chris

[billinjah 0]

10+ yr old car and i'm sure it can't be that bad a clunk

 

yeah im starting to live with mine now! im going to try and get a uj if poss but i know the racks fine. she handles like a dream now so precise so im happy with that. i had a few cars trying it on today but the rado is so fast through the turns she stays so flat, just lifting an unweighted wheel when you would expect it i love it!

[Chris VR6nos 0]

LOL yeah i'm laughing at ya bra, man!

 

billinjahg60, that's a real good reinforcement of any can not less a 10+ yr old one!

 

Good one!

 

 

 

Chris

[CaiosG60 PWR 0]

That click can get so bad that the steering almost locks and you have to give it some brut force to get past the click. Not a nice experience on a round about!! You've probably got a fare few miles to go until it gets that bad but I'd start budgeting for a new rack if I was you.

 

At least you don’t have a LHD. I had quite a bit of trouble sourcing a mk2 LHD power steering rack.

[Chris VR6nos 0]

CaiosG60 PWR, you say '3.5fpr' in your sig, why? is it special? VR's have a 4bar fpr as std, what is the std for a G?

 

By the way my car has 168000miles on it.

 

 

Chris

[Walesy 0]

I think i get this ...but it sounds like a relayy???....or is this sound ur on about louder than a relay?

[billinjah 0]

you can just feel a click through the wheel mines always in the same place one sharp click then a rubbery dull click.CaiosG60 PWR did you use all of the adjustment? or is that just zf racks? im sure my click is from that bottom uj as it went away after i soaked it i teflon lube came back a week later mind!

[CaiosG60 PWR 0]

I didn’t think it was the steering rack. I thought it was a ball joint or something. But I took it to a garage and they were shocked at how bad it clicked. They where in no doubt that the steering rack was totally $&*(%£. I don’t know about adjustment sorry. I think mine would have been to far gone for that. If its something else apart from the steering rack wouldn’t you be able to feel movement by rocking a wheel with the car jacked up?

 

If I remember rightly the click on mine was just before 2 o’clock as turning back to straight on. I can’t remember if it was both ways or not.

[striderwilson 0]

I think i get this ...but it sounds like a relayy???....or is this sound ur on about louder than a relay?

Not like a relay, more like billinjahg60 says, a rubbery click or 'crack' that you can feel in the wheel, it feels like something breaks every time I turn the wheel - not nice, even at 10 years old. And yes, CaiosG60 PWR, it does sometimes catch you unaware in bends/roundabouts.

Maybe I've just got to save up!

[striderwilson 0]

oh and CaiosG60 PWR, it is both ways, but from any position. If I turn the wheel to any position, then go to turn it back it will click / clunk straight away, as soon as I start to turn the wheel back.

[VEEDUBBED 0]

Cracked front road spring??,it has happened...,anyone need any parts for LHD cars??,VEEDUBBED's the man.

[CaiosG60 PWR 0]

Cheers VEEDUBBED, I'll keep that in mind. I just paid £40 for a LHD Speedo cable from my local stealers. Not sure if that’s at a premium because of the LHD or not.

 

striderwilson, sorry I cant remember the exact symptoms. All I know is that when going around a roundabout and the junction I wanted to leave came. I would have to wrench the steering wheel back the other way to get past the click.

[billinjah 0]

are our racks adjustable that would combat this moving the pinion closer to the rack eliminating vaguness and stopping the teeth getting out of line.

also is the bottom uj removable veedubbed informed me its pressed on? if not can i replace the column without buggering about with the steering lock and replacing the ignition swtch housing?

[billinjah 0]

mines getting worse now i get a clunk click on direction change ill do the outer cv's first then move onto the rack i think its just worn and not meshing properly.

[kongo127 0]

The pinion/rack are adjustable.

I found the how-to adjust on the bentley manual.

I will be doing the adjustment this week.

I hope i get sorted...

The steeting is dodgy and very light. There is a big gap for sure!

I´ll post some information then.

[billinjah 0]

cool take some pics as you do it

[striderwilson 0]

Finally got the rack off and replaced it with a second hand one, and thankfully it has fixed the problem. The steering has been transformed!

Also managed to get a second universal joint on the replacement rack, so if anyone wants to buy the spare UJ (or the kackerd rack for parts / refurb) then please let me know. I can post (at cost) or collection is fine - I live in Derby, just off the A50.

[24V Renshaw 0]

Very interesting cheers for updating the thread. I have exactly the same problem with mine. I bought a "rebuilt" rack off ebay and its cr@p. Everything else is brand new so I figured it was the rack, now I know!

 

Anyone got a decent rack?

 

How hard are they to dismantle, I am interested in your rack mate, just to do a bit of investigating!

 

Jay