'Racking' my brain - answers to followup questions, and THANKS!

[Shaun Folkerts]

Thank you to all that replied. I can hardly believe I got 15 responses in 24
hours. Thank God for this list, and for you, concerned and knowledgeable
listers!

I apologize if I made it sound in my post that I was stranded, or broken-down
far, far from home. I guess this is not -far- from the truth, but I've been
working here in Nevada since March. I was just last week offered a better job
back east, and will have to drive the Audi home almost 3000 miles, loaded and
towing a trailer, in two weeks. So this is why I need to act almost
immediately. But I have a decent long-term home-away-from-home setup at a
"business hotel" suite, a company rental car, a basic toolbox, etc.

The reason I'm searching for a shop to do the swap rather than attempting the
repair myself is time and opportunity to do it. I just don't have either
before I need the car. I do all my own work, always have. But every day of
the last two or so weeks is spoken for already, unless I work on the car very
early mornings, or after work or something. But I don't think the hotel would
appreciate me leaving a car torn apart in the parking lot for a couple days
while I find time to finish. Besides, I leave for work less than an hour
after sunrise, and it's still VERY hot when I get home in the evening. AArgh!

The rack was leaking the whole trip west, but no worse than usual. Several of
you posted that you live with a slight leak for long periods; that's what I
was doing. But then it got appreciably worse. I put in a can of Lucas Power
Steering sealer because I needed the car for a 700-mile weekend trip. Worked
like a charm. Leak stopped altogether. But then once back in Nevada, I was
driving one day and something just let go - started pouring P/S fluid out. I
think the Lucas sealed some smaller leaks, but this put a lot of pressure on
the rest of the 14-years-and-184,000-mile-old system and forced something
else to blow. A bad leak developed from the rack, and finally, before I could
limp back home, he upper hose blew. But the Lucas turned out to be the
perfect temporary solution I was looking for.

While I do need to get the car back to NY, this is my 'daily driver' we're
talking about - I'd like to have to do the repair done not only at a cost I
can afford, but also repair the car somewhat permanently. I guess what I was
asking is prior experience from the list in balancing these two goals?

To further explain what the Jorgen technician told me:
He said that the racks are a poor design and are difficult to rebuild to the
standard they'd like. They still receive the lifetime warranty that all their
other brand rebuilds do, but the technician told me that many more Audi
5000/100/200 racks come back than any others for warranty replacement. He
gave me an example of a particular Mazda rack with which they had the same
trouble. Eventually, they decided that the Mazda rack was not worth
rebuilding any more since they could not do it well enough (due to its
design) to satisfy their standards, so now they no longer rebuild or offer
those racks at all - the only one they currently refuse to service. He said
that they were close to coming to the same position on the Audi rack. So if
he were not confident in selling me a rack, why should I be comfortable in
buying one? Again, this is not a warning or any such negative statement about
Jorgen. In fact, it's just the opposite - they are remarkably honest and
forthcoming. I was just hoping he was really selling his product short
(business humility?) and therefore asked for the "real-world" feedback from
persons who actually used the product, a benefit not always afforded Jorgen -
they never hear of the successes, only the failures when they are contacted
for warranty replacement of a rebuild gone bad. Thanks to those who posted
their experience with Jorgen racks. Seemed to be 2/3 for, 1/3 against.

At this point, I've decided to at least look into a ZF rebuild, and I'm going
to look around for another shop, perhaps for a better price estimate. I'll
also look for a hydraulic shop to rebuild the hoses. I need to commit soon so
that it's done in time for me to pack up and head for home. I'll be sure to
post the result of the repair (and it's cost) to benefit the list and future
listers who may need to go through this.

Mike Arman - the U-haul idea made me chuckle. Because my Audi IS my U-haul. I
regularly buy Italian cars (small, light ones!) and haul them around WITH the
Audi. I can see it now - hauling a Fiat home with the Audi, the Audi home
with a U-Haul, and if the U-Haul breaks down, put the whole trainwreck into
the back of an 18-wheeler! :^) Thank you, though, for "thinking outside the
(steering) box"! In reality, though, this option would have cost much more
than the repair, and probably more than the Audi is worth, sadly.

Sorry this follow-up post was so long. Thanks again to all respondents. Your
advice is immensely valuable and greatly appreciated!

Best regards to one and all...
Shaun Folkerts
1989 200qa
1986 4kqcs