STEERING RACK ISSUE

[Shins]

I'm glad to read this post. Spent the last few weeks at two different dealers telling them of this problem but one said 'its normal' and the other said 'what noise'. OK I'm overseas so there is a language problem.

Rack crack/creak is real bad, does it mostly turning left but also accelerating, braking, turning right. Also under 'heavy' cornering I feel rumblings from the left wheel almost like wheel bearing wear type noise. This didnt happen until this rack started to crack/creak. 18' Alloys and had this noise for the last 8,000kms.
Rang UK VW to try and get this 'Technical Bulletin' information/number so I can hand it to the dealer but just got an EU assistance number to call in Germany. Anyone have data on the tech bulletin?

Cheers

[Shins]

At my third VW Dealer today and surprise surprise they've never heard of this problem [but are interested]. Again, if anyone has any further information on this like a known error number or VW reference can they please post it or PM me. I need to make sure they understand what the actual problem is. Any other information links much appreciated too.

Thanks all.

[BaggersGTI]

Hi Shins,

As you will have seen from my recent post I too have experienced this problem.  The dealer replaced the rack no questions asked, although have said that they will need the car back to replace the front springs too!! 

The dealer that I have been using has been very good - I will speak to them tomorrow to see if they can give me any error codes etc. 

[Shins]

Would appreciate that Baggers, got a long drive ahead of me in early September and cant be doing with that noise. I imagine when you went in and got it replaced they'd did the work under some kind of code/workpackage/reference which may well relate to this specific problem.

Thanks

[BaggersGTI]

Dealer says they don't have any sort of code related to carring out this type of work.  He did say that he doesn't understand why dealers in europe would not be aware of this problem. 

[Shins]

So I FINALLY get somewhere with VW on this.

After ringing 10 dealers in the UK I found one garage that let me speak to a human being in the Service Dept rather than leaving me on 'hold' for 10 minutes listening to crap musak.

After explaining the problem to a service guy (which he wasnt actually aware of) he duly found out the info I needed. If you are suffering with this problem, go to your dealer and tell them "the problem is on ELSA and its reference is 317/06". From here any dealer can see that a modified rack needs to be fitted and all the information relating to the issue. ELSA is some VW Tech Database I assume.
Of course I cant verify this info is accurate. If someone can get to a dealer and check it out to see if it does indeed relate to this issue, please post the verification here.

Interestingly, I have now called VW Customer Service in MK twice now on this. They insist this isnt a large scale problem/phenomenon they are aware of and couldnt give me any detail or Tech Service Bulletin information as to what the problem is. As far as they are concerned, it isnt a known issue.   :cry:OFFS

Check out this link  http://www.whatcar.com/car-review-readers.aspx?RT=627 and just ‘find’ steering on this page. Amazing, unless you have your head in the sand like VW.

[08micsta]

Do any of you know if this problem is occuring in South Africa too??

Want to get my name on the list ASAP if it is...

THX Guys

[FASTEDDIE 1]

Hi all

Just thought it was my car doing this, sounds bad like a grinding noise when full lock to right at slow speeds (car parks etc) My car is a 53 plate MK4 R32 with 28000 on clock. If this is a known problem with racks will the stealership have to replace it free of charge even though my car is out of warranty? i would want to think so.
What do you think?
Eddie

[MR C]

Just had my gti serviced at Gilders of Shefield.I reminded them of steering rack noise which i had told them about over a year ago.
I also told them about the following

 BOOT HANDLE TURNING WHITE

WHEEL CENTRE CAPS TURNING WHITE

REAR WIPER HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN

ENGINE WOULD NOT ALWAYS START FIRST TIME

AIR BAG FAULT.

All these faults have been sorted.

New rear wiper motor/ new boot handle/ new centre caps/ new steering rack( problem solved)/engine starting problem rectified by re-setting.

I AM A HAPPY MAN. WELL DONE GILDERS.

[GTI-007]

Steering alignment is a problem on my Candy White 2006 Golf GTI. 

Didn't really notice until I put in a KONI-FSD damper kit on my vehicle.  Excellent shocks.  Steering wheel moved slightly to the left (wheel alignment correct).  Had to steer slightly left when driving (things go the other way around in Australia). 

This incorrect steering alignment become even more noticeable when I put in a set of Eibach Pro-Kit Springs lowering the vehicle 18mm front - 14mm rear. 

Will have to call local dealer in Sydney - or return to steering specialist who did springs, when I put in the Eibach Anti-Roll Kit.   

Hopefully VW will do job for nothing.  Cheers.