Steering Rack ends??

[gib20vt]

Was down a mates tonight and we were talking about the pro/cons of the cars. he's got a golf GTI 150 and said he had a little bit of play in his steeering, well not play as such more like a 'thudding' noise when shaking the steering - Like what I had on the LCR.

I said to him about the drop links on mine where shot at so replaced them and it stopped - he has already fitted new droplinks........so he calls a mate and said it was the Rack Ends, not the steering rack its self but there called rack ends. and that what makes the thudding noise when shaking the steering wheel....

If you are stood outside the car and move the steering wheel the wheels move in exact time as you turn so there's no 'play' as such.

Has anybody else heard of this..

 

[Fl@pper]

track rod end or tie rod end

even a little play will be hard to spot wheel wise by eye

need to grab the wheel each side and rock it horizontally

 

[gib20vt]

no its not the track rod - it at the other end near the steering rack, no play when car is up and grabbing hold of the steering wheel

 

[DPJ]

no its not the track rod - it at the other end near the steering rack, no play when car is up and grabbing hold of the steering wheel

You mean the 'knuckles' where the tie rods screw into the rack? Not replaceable on the Leon rack.

 

[Fl@pper]

the tie rod themselves then under the gaiter also called ?

get someone to hold the stg wheel while it's in the air and grab just where the gaiter finishes and push n pull to see where the play is

you can get em dave - look under tie rod - does come complete with the tie rod end

 

[gib20vt]

You should be able to get them for a golf shouldn't you?? I told him I'd ask around to see if anyone else knew of anything

 

[Fl@pper]

shouldn't be a problem - i'm sure a few aftermarket companies do em too

 

[gib20vt]

so they are called the Tie Rods - the end nearer the center of the car, and the track rods are nearer the wheels?? so confusing haha

his mate said you have to remove the gaitor to get to them,

 

[Fl@pper]

ye pretty much

tied rods are the main arms - balljoint part of them is under the gaiters

outer ones as in pic up top are tie rod ends - also referred to as track rod ends sometimes

 

[DPJ]

the tie rod themselves then under the gaiter also called ?

get someone to hold the stg wheel while it's in the air and grab just where the gaiter finishes and push n pull to see where the play is

you can get em dave - look under tie rod - does come complete with the tie rod end

Not teaching my grandmother to suck eggs here, I'm sure we are just misunderstanding each other

Surely the inboard end of the tie rod on the Leon/ (Mk4 ZF) rack is just threaded - where it fits to the rack. The 'knuckle' joint it screws into is an integral part of the rack. On some other car make models, there is a servicable joint there.

 

[stevekkk1]

My Leon Cupra R has a similar problem, there is slight play through the steering wheel but no play can be felt at the wheels when the vehicle is off the ground. a mate who works for skoda said about the ball joints under the gaitors either side of the rack but he also said about a 13mm nut at the bottom of the column inside the vehicle. however i cant find the nut on my leon and im not sure about the ball joints either side of the rack as surely you would feel the play at the wheels if this was the problem. anyone had a similar problem or any ideas what it may be? thanx steve

 

[Fl@pper]

the big nut/ball part of numbers 2+3 lives under the gaiters

the bolt you mentioned could be #6 and looks like it's got at from inside under a cover but i'll confess not done one myself

 

[dainott2105]

If your getting movement in the steering wheel, as in the whole column moving and not when you turn the wheel then you can be sure that it will be bolt number 8 above. Had a few golfs and my leon like this before and will solve it by tightening. Dont be confused with play in the steering wheel when you are turning left and right though as this wont solve it. As for number 6 on the diagram i would be very suprized and scared if its that one that has come loose as very very rare that a spline joint will be and a good chance of the car going straight on one day when you turn the wheel

 

[splitpin]

My gold did it and I replaced the track rods and the ends while it was apart ad all was fine.

My LCR is doing it and it feels like the lower column joint, just holding it with my fingers and wiggling the steering wheel you can feel the knocking in the lower UJ.

Im guessing its a dealer part

 

[Jedcupra]

I've got play in my steering wheel from left to right like above, just wondering where to start looking, should I replace track rod ends first? I've made sure all the bolts are tight, any help will b greatly aprecheted as it doing my nut in, it's not a lot of play just don't feel tight like it should, cheers

 

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