Mk2 16v Power steering hose woes

[Neo Badness]

Have been looking @ Pirtek.co.uk and there is one just down the road from me!!

First bit of good news I've had in days. Unfortunately I have been workin so it was closed today.

Would it be best to give them a shout Monday see if they can sort me out and any ideas as to what sort of price I should be expecting to pay?

Also been scrambling around in Scrap yards looking for a replacement bits, anyone know off hand if 13in wheels will fit over 256mm brakes? Found some sweet, straight, gen' BBS wheels off an old mk2 'rocco. Don't hav my motor for comparison.

[johnson6672]

Give them a ring, not sure what they charge but i know they do a mobile service, don't think they are that expensive.

[danny_p]

Great big fuel hoses with 30 psi of fuel in them!!!!

that chould also ruin your day quite effectivly.     the only ones that scare me are LPG lines.   muppet re ended one of them once  and i got the job of refitting it,    10mm  pipe at 20 bar full of liquid propane and the new end blows off.   thankfully nowhere re-ends hoses anymore

[johnson6672]

Yep, we did have one burst (not made by pirtek, an off the shelf one) fortunatly no-one was in the back, could have been 8 infantry men in there, fuel was every where though.

[Neo Badness]

Cheers, I've missed my MOT retest date and the boy who is doing the work is on holiday next week

But on the plus side it does give me a bit more time to source/hunt down some (cheaper)bits.

I have even been in touch with the stealers to try and obtain bits, desperate or what!?

Trying to stay positive about the situtation, might detail the new/replacement rack when I get, cheer myself up a bit...



Prospective Tally stands @ MOT                        £52.00+ Retest = £104.00
                                    New rear caliper         £60.00 (Previous owner replaced the other one, without replacing the pair)
                                    New Hand brake cable £20.00
                                    Power Steering Hose   £157.15
                                    Power steering pump   £85.00
                                    New rack                  £ 120.00
                    
Total spend without labour/VAT.... Lots....

                               Parts          546.15
                               VAT            81.90
                               Labour        100.00
                               Total           728.80

Could have got my ABF swapped by a garage for that price....
Who'd have thought an engine swap would work out cheaper than a steering rack?

[Neo Badness]

Just had a phone call and wondered is there any difference in the 8v and 16v steering rack pipes couplings?

Basically if I buy an 8v rack and pump pipes etc. Will it fit?

Cheers in advance

[Ben Lessani]

Just to try and put things into perspective a little - I recently had a similar workload for an MOT.

merry easter
a lot has happened since my last post, mostly that I am 23 now - a relative old man and it was MOT time again. well actually, that was about 2 weeks ago now - its been a saga!

the old girl went in for her MOT and unfortunately didn't do her best on the day and failed on me and failed herself. the breakdown was

• holed sill offside
• holed sill nearside
• nearside parking brake poop
• leaky pas
• offside main beam parp

...

Be sensible about your workload and work smart and you can repair it for substantially less. As above, my PAS was leaking - so I fixed it with copious amounts of araldite and its like new, the handbrake was a sticking point for me as I was in a rush, but you can pick up a pair of MK3 callipers for £30 from a scrappy and they bolt straight on.

And the price of that MOT, are they having a laugh - I've never paid over £25 for an MOT - shop around a bit! The total sum for my MOT was £60 for the callipers and hoses and £25 for the MOT itself.

RE: the 16v rack - IIRC they are exactly the same, the track width on the car, the water pump etc. are all the same. I think my 8v has a 16v rack on it.

[Neo Badness]

Yeah Ben, I know I can get it done for less, It's unfortunate the car is in bits in their workshop/ Altenator off etc otherwise I would have had it away to work on while he was on holiday.

Aside from that I'm usually pretty good at scoring a good deal when parts are concerned but I just haven't had the time this week (worked 60 hrs) Working 2 jobs to make ends meet. Fingers crossed my eagle eye has spotted a rack and ancilliers (high pressure hose/pump etc) for considerably less than previous quote.

Keep everything crossed for me as i don't think I could afford to spend a months wages on the MOT or it would have to be sold and I don't want to sell it... Cause I'd get sweeties for it with no MOT even in good condition.

Hope you're right about the compatibility of 8v vs 16v racks and cheers for the knowledge

[Neo Badness]

Just a quick update, I have scored a complete power steering rack, hoses, pump etc. for a good price albeit plus the p&p.

Result!

Spoke to seller who reckoned it was in good condition but has been in his garage for a year.

Hopefully I'll be able to make one good rack out of the two.

Going to VAG tomorrow to see about a power steering bracket that mounts to block as that's the only bit not included.

A glimmer of hope perhaps?

[rubjonny]

aye rack is physically the same, though the 16v racks supposed to be quicker than the 8v ones. certainly a diff party # on etka!  either way the important thing is yes 8v and 16v pipes will swap over all day long without problems.