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VintageWatercooleds.com Technotes :: Steering Rack Notes

This is all me trying to trouble shoot a steering problem I have right now. Maybe it'll be useful to you too.

 

Steering Rack Problems by Mike Drew from the Scirocco Forum on VWVortex
Regarding the steering rack bushing wear--symptoms, and how to test for it:

If you drive straight ahead and then when you make a gentle turn (particularly to the right) and get a vibration in the steering wheel, the rack is the probable culprit.

Jack up the passenger side of the car, with the driver's side still on the ground. Better yet, remove the key from the ignition and ensure the steering lock is engaged.

Grasp the passenger tire at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions, and wiggle it in and out. If the wheel moves in and out, accompanied by a clunking sound, it's your rack. Peer around and look at the rubber accordion boot between the rack housing and the tie rod. You will probably see movement there.

Here is what is happening: The driver's side of the rack is supported inside the rack housing by the pinion. The passenger side of the rack slides through a round bushing which is pressed into the inside of the rack housing. When this bushing wears out, unwanted movement is allowed--instead of just sliding in and out of the housing (for left and right turns), the passenger side is free to move up and down, or fore and aft (can't remember how it moves in the VW's). That movement translates to left or right steering of the passenger-side wheel ONLY.

Normally your car is set up with a slight amount of front toe-in--the tires are pointing inwards at the front very slightly. This gives good handing and stability characteristics.

When your bushing is blown out, as you gently turn the steering wheel towards the passenger side, the driver side wheel turns further in and the passenger side wheel turns from slightly in, to straight ahead, to slightly out.

At some point in a very slight turn, the loosy-goosey wheel will 'flutter', rapidly oscillating from slightly in, to slightly out, many times a second. Turning the steering wheel further will load the tire and it will stay pointed out.

I have rebuilt 20-30 steering racks for the De Tomaso Pantera (this is a common problem at 30K miles or greater) using a bronze oillite bushing machined specifically for the job. I'm not aware of a similar part available for VW racks, and have simply elected to buy replacement rebuilt racks from local auto parts stores.
 

Post on Wandering steering by Rocco_crossing

well you can check if its tie rod ends or ball joints right from the tires. Put it up on jack stands and shake the tire side to side like it would be turning, don't actually turn the wheel just shake the tire if it moves then try grabbing at the top and bottom. If it shakes when you grab at the top and bottom you have a bad ball joint. If just side to side it should only be the tie rod. Try it again and watch the end of the tie rod and see if that's where it has the slop. If no then its in the rack.

Yeah ... More to come

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