Replacing Steering Rack?

[David Head]

Squeeze the boot on the rack - it should gush out oil if its leaking that
much...

Actually, the Bentley does pretty well. You need to remove the reservoir. I also
usually remove the heater hose with the shutoff valve, and the PCV hoses on the
passenger side where they go to the airbox.. Put the car in the air on
jackstands. remove the passenger tire.
   Remove the hoses at the rack end. Easier for my to do it from underneath on a
pre 89 car. Disconnect the steering column inside. One bolt, slide the column up
off the slip fit.
Remove the passenger side tie rod completely. Disconnect the driver's side tie
rod at the center point. Remove the single bolt at the passenger side holding
the rack in, and the two bolts at the driver's side. Pull the rack forward and
rotate it 90 degrees clockwise viewing from the passenger side.  The rack may
try to catch on the wiring bundle that's on the passenger side by the bolt you
removed. Guide the rack out through the passenger side wheel well.
Be careful with the in line vacuum valve that has the 90 degree tap off on it in
the area under the reservoir - that supplies your vacuum to the diff locks and
if you break it off you'll lay out some serious bucks to replace the entire
line.
Install is the reverse. Jorgen is your best bet - order it through your
mechanic. They'll even preship a rebuilt one and send you a paid return label
for the old rack if they have it in stock. Or you can pull yours and they'll
turn it around in about 6 days.

The Henrys wrote:

> I have a 1988 5000CD Turbo Quattro Avant and it is leaking Pentosin at a
> quarter of a litre per week.  I have replaced the steering pump last summer
> (as it was leaking badly).  That seemed to cure the leak for a few months,
> now that the weather has turned colder (I live near Toronto)... it has
> started to leak from somewhere new!  I have had a mechanic perform some
> diagnosis and he believes that it is the rack that is leaking...  I was
> wondering if there are any detailed instructions on this procedure.  I check
> sjmautotechnik and did not find anything specific.  The Bentley has some
> good diagrams, but does not appear to detail all of the preceding steps to
> remove other items to get access to the rack.  I would really like to find a
> concise list of what needs to be removed and how-to's.
>
> Thanks,
> Brent.