what is causing leak in steering rack? Anybody rebuilt it?

[Kneale Brownson]

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A number of posters who've had non-OEM high pressure steering and brake
hoses made up have reported groaning and other noises when the wheel is
turned or the brakes applied.  Perhaps you have such a hose on the car, Bill?

At 03:25 PM 10/30/2001 -0500, Bill Rowe wrote:

>Since we're on this topic I have a few questions/concerns.  I have an 87
>5ktq w/ 157k miles.  When I first turn the steering wheel in the morning
>I get a "groaning" noise which disappears by the time I pull out of my
>driveway.  This has been going on for many years but I really haven't
>been concerned cuz I'm not leaking any major amounts of pentosin, just a
>few drops here and there which I presumed was from the pwr steering
>pump.  Is my rack the cause of the groaning noise?  How difficult is it
>(time wise) to remove and replace the rack?  What's a rebuilt one go
>for?  Thanx.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: quattro-admin at audifans.com [mailto:quattro-admin at audifans.com] On
>Behalf Of Beatty, Robert
>Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 3:09 PM
>To: 'Konstantin Bogach'; quattro at audifans.com
>Subject: RE: what is causing leak in steering rack? Anybody rebuilt it?
>
>Konstantin,
>
>General concensus on this is to let the pros (jorgen) do it.  Audi
>initially
>had the techs rebuilding the racks in the field.  The rebuilds never
>lasted
>though.  I even have the video showing what to replace and how to go
>about
>doing it, but after talking to my dad (service trainer for AoA from
>86-93),
>I changed my mind.  He said it never really worked well in the field and
>that the main problem was scoring inside the rack which wasnt addressed
>by
>the rebuild kit.  If you go with the rebuild rack from Jorgen, I believe
>theres a warrenty as well.
>
>Rob
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Konstantin Bogach [mailto:konstantin.bogach at morganstanley.com]
>Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 2:19 PM
>To: quattro at audifans.com
>Subject: what is causing leak in steering rack? Anybody rebuilt it?
>
>
>Hi listers.
>
>What is the main reason for steering rack leak?
>How difficult to rebuild it by myself?  Do I need special tools to do
>that? Does it make sense to do it by myself rather to send it to Jorgen?
>
>I have wierd problem:
>There is no leak in the rack (small leak in high pressure hose though).
>After changing high pressure hose from pump to bomb (rebuild by
>Aeroequip dealer) and bleeding the system power assist was lost.  There
>is little assist when turning to left and no assist when turning to
>right.  Brakes have power assist.  Pump gives 2100 psi max - in spec.
>
>I already removed the rack. Now I am staring at it and scratching head:
>what to do? A tech from Jorgen was very nice talking to me 10min but he
>said that sympthoms are not common and it is hard to imagine the cause.
>
>I don't know whether or when the rack was changed. Let's imagine that I
>found a piece of rubber stuck in the valve which caused the problme and
>I fixed it: does it make sense to rebuild the rack if it does not have a
>leak but is out of car?
>
>Thank you.
>
>Konstantin Bogach
>200tq '89
>200tqa '89
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