1997 A4 steering rack?

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Bikegeek - 11 Mar 2008 22:04 GMT

After 156k miles the car has developed creaking, clunking, some shimmy and
some "wandering".

Cold in the morning is wirst, as everything warms (ambient temp) the
symptoms lessen.

All the rod ends are good, could it be the rack?

Thanks.

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TonyJ - 11 Mar 2008 22:57 GMT

> After 156k miles the car has developed creaking, clunking, some shimmy and
> some "wandering".
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
>

More likely a problem with the control arms and or motor / transmission
mounts.

The steering rake would be more likely to exhibit problems by leaking
fluid which you can check by feeling the rubber accordion boots on the
rack. I have seen rack mounting bolts loosen up can cause clunking but
it is rare.

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dave AKA vwdoc1 - 12 Mar 2008 00:21 GMT

Yes you really need to check all of those control arms well and they can be
a little tricky to check too! ;-)
The steering rack would show its looseness easier I would think.

Here they discuss the control arm issues..
http://www.passatworld.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-84952.html
from Buster 06-21-2002, 03:00 AM
"I have this problem, but have been unable to get a dealer to properly
diagnose it. In the meantime, I have: floating/wandering at freeway speeds,
increasing difficulty with handling the car, creaking and clunking. I called
another dealer (other than the one that told me there's no problem, and who
I seriously doubt even looked at it), and that dealer wants to charge me
$250 just to look at it. He also said "control arms NEVER fail on these
cars," so I don't think I'm going to spend any $$ to take the car to him!"

CONTROL ARM KIT PROBABLY NEEDED!!!
Excellent brand recommended, and there are many brands out there so please
be careful with your choice! I am trying to research these brands some.

I need to do all of my control arms too, since I have replaced the Front
Lower Left Rear and need the Front Right Upper Front one now! :-(

Signature

later,
dave
(One out of many daves)
1997 Red A4 1.8tq auto

>> After 156k miles the car has developed creaking, clunking, some shimmy
>> and some "wandering".
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> rack. I have seen rack mounting bolts loosen up can cause clunking but it
> is rare.

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