Steering?

[95ctd]

I've got a 1985 vw golf with manual steering and Its hard to steer and acts like the wheel wants to stay in one place, it will not freely turn. Is this a sign of a bad rack and pinion or what?
Thanks Joe

[Rabbit TD]

More than likely it is that the rack needs cleaned, lubbed and adjusted, how are the rubber boots on each end?  It's not hard to do.

[95ctd]

I think one of the boots is tore. Not around car right now. How do you adjust it?

[Rabbit TD]

I think one of the boots is tore. Not around car right now. How do you adjust it?

I don't know exactly what your rack looks like but I imagine it's pretty simiar to the Rabbits.  On the main housing there is a jam nut with the adjuster screw in the middle.  First get the boots off so you can spray brake kleen in there and get it all cleaned up good turning the rack full left and right to get to everything inside.  Then lube the rack good with moly type grease moving the rack left and right again to get the grease everywhere and then loosen the lock nut and back out the adjuster till it's free.  then turn the adjuster in till it just puts a little tension, not much, on the rack and tighten the locknut.  then get in and turn the wheel left and right to make sure there are no tight spots.  If you find a tight spot then adjust the rack where the tight spot is by the same method and turn the whell left and right to recheck and aftermaking sure if feels right put the boots back on and you're done.  Actuualy you should find the adjuster first and make sure you can get to it and loosen it before you do the cleaning and lubing.  Sometimes you have to loosen the rack mounts on some vehicles to get to the adjuster.  Your's is probably full of grit and junk from the boot off as they normaly get looser than tighter so at least get it cleaned out and lubed and look at the teeth to make sure none are chipped or broke.  If they are or something is questionable replace the rack, they aren't super expensive if you can do it yourself but you will definately need an alignment though if it's changed.