Good day guys, I heard this funny feeling/noise on my car when I am driving over speed humps and bumps and I took it to VW this morning . The say it needs a steering rack replacement and quotated me at R 24 000. Now I dont know what a steering rack it, I am not sure whether the warranty(external with motorite) will cover this and I will call them later.Does anyone know if the warranty usually covers this and if not , is it something that can be fixed?
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Steering rack on GTI 5.
- Thread starter Kbeat
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R13...
Honorary Master
Motorite will cover some of it, but a lot of items in the work will be for your account.
Haldex
Expert Member
Get a second opinion, it could be anything, not necessarily the steering rack.
Dom1n8tr1x
Expert Member
That's bit steep for a steering rack. Some can be fixed and some not. I'm sure Goldwagen will sell it at a fraction of the price. You can also have a look at reconditioned steering racks as a last resort.
The sound could also come from worn front suspension mountings if your car has done a lot of kms.
Edit: does the steering wheel have a lot of free play? Get someone to help you put the front on axle stands, then have someone yank the steering wheel left and right while you stand outside and see if you can hear the noise.
The sound could also come from worn front suspension mountings if your car has done a lot of kms.
Edit: does the steering wheel have a lot of free play? Get someone to help you put the front on axle stands, then have someone yank the steering wheel left and right while you stand outside and see if you can hear the noise.
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Rouxenator
Dank meme lord
Make double sure that it is indeed the steering rack. It could be something simple like CV joints. Does it make the same noise when you reverse while turning?
Steering racks don't just go wonky, even on powerful front wheel drive cars like the GTi. What mileage does it have on at the moment?
Steering racks don't just go wonky, even on powerful front wheel drive cars like the GTi. What mileage does it have on at the moment?
I took it for service last month and they told me about a CV hub that needed to be replaced. And thats was another reason I took it in today. I then told them about that funny noise and they said they will check. My mileage is currently 109000km . I will take it elsewhere for a second opinion.
I had difficulty in explaining this funny sound hey, it seems like the front right wheel is loose when I drive over bumps. It rattles a bit as if its not fitted properly. I have already made an appointment with a CV joint and Steering rack place in Pretoria. I will take it there for a second opinion.
Sinbad
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They do hey. I've had to replace mine as well.
The steering/suspension place should be able to identify it though. Possibilities are ARB drop links, top shock mounts, wheel nuts, subframe bushes, tie rod ends, wheel bearing, loose wheel nuts or steering rack.
I went through ALL of those before the rack was finally replaced.
Rouxenator
Dank meme lord
Yikes! OK then I stand corrected. I still don't think it should be that expensive, replaced a steering rack on an E30 and it was less than R3k.
Sinbad
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I think the part for the rack on the GTI is about 17k + vat if I remember right. No idea why it's so expensive, I suspect it also includes the electromechanical actuator thing. Then add labour and various bits and bobs...
Rouxenator
Dank meme lord
Stupid question, but the steering in a GTi is not electrically assisted... it is?
Sinbad
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Fully electric. No hydraulics at all.
Rouxenator
Dank meme lord
Then I seriously hope nothing goes wrong with my Astra's steering. It was one of their first electrically assisted racks. I thought they would stick to hydraulics in the GTi since it has better feedback...
Sinbad
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Look on the bright side. Being an opel, it's likely that the hydraulics would spring a leak anyway. It's hard for an electricity seal to perish
I thought they would stick to hydraulics in the GTi since it has better feedback...
Also, the feel on mine is just perfect imho
Rouxenator
Dank meme lord
Look on the bright side. Being an opel, it's likely that the hydraulics would spring a leak anyway. It's hard for an electricity seal to perish
Well 205,000km and it's so far, so good... touch wood. They actually went back to hydraulics in the new OPC.
R13...
Honorary Master
VW told me there my rack needed replacing on a Polo too. Turned out they were wrong, I took the car to auto-mate after some noises in the front wheel and they replaced both front shocks and linkages and that solved the "steering" problem VW misdiagnosed.
Haldex
Expert Member
Could just be tie rods or a broken control arm bush.
I just called another company who does it and they look very professional, well the website and logo hahaha. They quoted me R 5200 labour included that is if it needs replacement and they said it might be cheaper if I am only reconditioning it. I think I'll just replace it especially if Motorite will pay something.
Sinbad
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I strongly doubt motorite will pay for anything not done at a dealership... Hope I'm wrong!
Rouxenator
Dank meme lord
And if they do it will not be full price.
I had two years of warranty on my Astra when I bought it, nine months in the aircon compressor died and Regent only paid 50%. Luckily GMSA paid the other 50%, but in most cases you will have to pay some of the costs.