New Steering Rack on Seat Leon FR???

[pacm0n]

Hi,

Took my car in for its 1st service on Saturday and I asked them to have a quick look at the steering as it has been making a squeaking noise and a slight knocking noise when stationary and vigoursly turning the wheel from left to right.

Anyway......cut a long story short, they advised me that the steering rack needs replacing due to "internal damage" but said they have reset the tracking on the car as this was out. I asked if the steering rack would be covered under warranty and they have advised not as it had been in a accident (not sure how they know but I did have a accident in it about 3 - 4 weeks ago when it was snowing).

My questions to you:

1) If the steering rack is F*cked what was the point in re setting the tracking??
2) Are they trying to pull a fast one so I just assume it needs a new steering rack??

I have spoken to ADR who carried out the repairs after the accident and they have advised me that an "extensive" check was carried out on all steering components, under body and suspension and everything was fine, they also said that they did a four wheel laser alignment check and that was also fine. ADR have asked me to take it back so they can double check the steering and all components but have advised if anything was wrong with the steering rack the laser alignment would have been out???

Just want your thoughts really on all the above as I’m baffled with it all

Cheers

 

[pacm0n]

Well, it doesn't look like anyone had any opinions on this so thought I'd give you all an update (not sure if your interested but hey ho, lol)

Took it back to ADR today and the steering rack is damaged. Sounds as though ADR might have damaged it when setting the tracking back up!!!!

Stuck with a Clio 1.1 for the next 2 weeks Its miles slower and more thirsty than the FR, figure that one out, lol I know I cant!!!

 

[wheelwright]

So who's paying for a new one??

 

[pacm0n]

ADR are apprently paying for it. I think they are just going to claim it back off my insurance though. As long as I dont have to pay for it. When it went in for service Seat said its around £600 to supply and fit a new steering rack!!!!

 

[jay b]

ADR are apprently paying for it. I think they are just going to claim it back off my insurance though. As long as I dont have to pay for it. When it went in for service Seat said its around £600 to supply and fit a new steering rack!!!!

I think you may find that it wont be a quick easy steering rack change, I seem to remember it may have to go to seat to have the new steering ecu coded to the A.B.S controll unit etc... be interested to know if they do it ok.

 

[GhostMjr]

Ok i had mine changed. Search for my thread!

Notes to watch out for are tracking is included but for goodness sake get the work invoice to show what work was and wasn't done, incase something goes wrong later on. If it does out of warranty you can say you told them the problem in warranty and then you have prove as its around £500 to get it sorted out of warranty. Offer money to get a photocopy if necessary.

Make sure the car is delivered to their garage early (as soon as it opens) and get them to give it back to you before close if they can't then ask for it to be given back the next working day. Test drive it immediately take it to a car park test tracking and feel of the wheel if it veers or weaves. If it drives like a tractor take it back immediately.

Questions i would like to know is how many miles has it done and how have you treated it? More town mileage or motorway driving?

Also be prepared for a steering feel change. If you want any further help or anything pm me love to hear how it goes

Lastly does your steering feel loose to drive describe when it squeaks and the noise. Is it during roundabouts or simply during 3 point turns.

GM

 

[pacm0n]

Thanks for your reply ghost.

Did you read my 1st post? Seat aren't replacing the steering rack. ADR are replacing it under the original insurance claim as Seat said it was due to my accident its making the squeaking noises so wont replace under warranty.

ADR have rang me today to say its ready and they have took it out on a test drive and all is ok. (apparently the problem was that the internal components of the steering rack had collapsed).

Its only done 10k but like I've said in my 1st post I had a accident in it which resulted in me going up a kerb hard and hitting a lamppost.
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=206451

I do a mixture of town driving, 'A' Roads and motorways but mostly 'A' roads and town. I do treat it well to be fair, however I do give it a good blast every now and then.

I pick it up tomorrow morning so I will let you know how it goes. I'm a bit worried now that ADR wont have re programmed the ECU so it still wont be right when I pick it up! All will be revealed tomorrow morning I suppose, fingers crossed they have spoken to Seat and got all the correct ECU details

 

[GhostMjr]

Ok ADR i presume are the garage who did the work for your insurance company. Did seat say the work was ok to be done by them basically does it void your warranty? Personally drive it alot as much as you can and then take it to a normal seat dealer for a checkup. Make sure you get that job note as that could save you alot of hassle out of warranty. let me know how it goes and don't let them charge you for tracking. Ring seat customer care if you have any further queries about charges.

let me know how it goes

Mine went due to lots of town driving i presume after simply 6500k i reckon it may have been faulty like mine and could have been sparked by the accident was your steering loose. basically now my car drives like a rally car make sure they set the car up to your wheel size and do book it into your local garage and get a job note from there to prove seat said the work done was adequate and safe.

 

[pacm0n]

ADR are the garage that did the work on behalf of the insurance company after the accident. Seat haven't said that the rack is ok to replaced by ADR but I assume it will be.

Seat wont cover anything to do with suspension or steering under warranty now they know its been in an accident will they?

 

[pacm0n]

Just got back from picking my car up and all is well, touch wood.

The steering is so much more responsive with the new rack, you can also "feel" the road alot more through the steering. I'm thinking I had a faulty steering rack from the start and the accident just brought it to the surface alot quicker.

No problems so far and took it the long way home (about 100miles)

 

[GhostMjr]

Were they willing to give you the job note?

Good to hear do a bit of town driving to make sure all is well.

My steering gives more feel too now than before and it is a bit stuffer but it should be as its a sports model. Anyway glad to hear it all went ok. I reckon it could be a faulty batch tbh.