Steering rack looseness.

[rabbitman]

Today Dad pulled his Golf (gasser ) into the shop for oil change and I couldn't help myself and proceded to look it over and find problems, he tends to not like it when I do that.

I shook the passenger side front tire and it was VERY loose, anyways after sliding the rack boot back, I could see the bushing that guides the rack gear inside the housing had slid out of place and was against the inner joint.

That was letting the rack gear move up and down quite far, sliding the bushing back in fixed it. I can't see what is supposed to hold the bushing in. Right now it can slide back out any time.

Oh yeah, this is manual steering.     Thanks!!!

[rabbitman]

Oh yeah, my question is, does anyone know what holds the bushing in? And can the rack be rebuilt?

Thanks

[smutts]

he tends to not like it when I do that.

Indeed it was perfect until you noticed it.
Maybe there is a quantum wave function involved where the item is half broken,
but cannot make up it's mind until you look.
But someone who didn't like cats much beat me to it.

[theman53]

Let me know what it is as I am fighting the same problems on my GTI.

[rabbitman]

Let me know what it is as I am fighting the same problems on my GTI.

Since we pushed the bushing back in place a week ago it's been staying, I'm sure it'll come out again though with nothing holding it.

[the caveman]

We used to repair rabbit racks with some bronze bushings we had machined up. Shoved it in, checked for interference etc then measured and drilled a screw through the rack and into the bushing to hold it. Can something like that be done. Or try peening it in place.

[theman53]

If you have 1 wheel up would the tire still be loose or not. I got under mine and couldn't find anything wrong. Everything seems tight but if you drive it it shakes like crazy. THe last guy that aligned it said the rack was loose. Need help. Thanks.

[the caveman]

You can't check the suspension properly if you only have one side off the ground.

[theman53]

That is what I had figured. I know you can feel the tierods and ball joints, but I have never messed with a rack before. I could feel were it met the body and saw the bushings. I saw nothing out of place. Is there any procedure you guys could help me with?

[rabbitman]

That is what I had figured. I know you can feel the tierods and ball joints, but I have never messed with a rack before. I could feel were it met the body and saw the bushings. I saw nothing out of place. Is there any procedure you guys could help me with?

This was easy to find, I wanked on the wheel the way you'd find a bad tie rod and the tie rod was flopping up and down, after seeing that I just grabbed the rod it self and yanked up and down.