Heavy Steering after Rack Change

[P0LKR]

I recently had the steering rack changed on my tdi sport to solve the creaking problem. As already mentioned a while back on the forum this change results in heavier steering.

When i asked the dealer about it they tried the car and said they noticed no difference. In my opinion the difference is obvious and am just getting fobbed off.


Has anyone had this solved?

 

[carl4x4]

Do a search on the forum, the amount of assistance can be set by the dealer from heavy to light as it is electro-mechanical. From memory there are a number of settings.


The review of the Leon Sport on www.honestjohn.co.uk even mentions it if your dealer gets awkward !

"...But if I owned one I’d whip it straight into a VAG dealer and have the steering weight re-set heavier via the OBDII port. As mine came, it was too light and feel-free but all current VAG electro hydraulic steering can be re-set by the garage to six different levels of assistance."

 

[AR-CoolC]

Apparently the weight settings can be altered in VAG-com.

 

[P0LKR]

The service manager said the program had not been changed from before the rack was put in.

He said there was nothing wrong.

Also the mchanic came out with me for a test drive, said he noticed no difference and got shirty when i mentioned others on the forum have experienced this. He said the forum causes them a lot of problems cos we insist on fixing problems that non technical people say exist ie. we no bugger all. Basically we dont know what we are talking about and should give him peace.

On the positive, I may have to put more effort into steering the car but at least there is some feel to the wheels now.

 

[carl4x4]

Have you considered taking it to another dealer? Garages who are worried about their customers knowing what they are talking about are to be avoided surely ?

Not sure why the garage won't just try setting it to a lighter setting, it's not much physical work to plug it into the PC and reset a setting if it keeps the customer happy.

 

[P0LKR]

they did have a look at the car. they straightened the wheel for me which was slightly off centre from the rack change so i dont think it was a case of cant be bothered. Also this dealer has always been excellent and has a very good reputation.

I'll bide my time and see what happens. Ill mention it again when im in or maybe some more info will come to light on this forum.

If anyone has had this problem and then got it resolved their advice would be appreciated.

cheers for all the responses..

 

[THE BIG GAS MAN]

they did have a look at the car. they straightened the wheel for me which was slightly off centre from the rack change so i dont think it was a case of cant be bothered. Also this dealer has always been excellent and has a very good reputation.

I'll bide my time and see what happens. Ill mention it again when im in or maybe some more info will come to light on this forum.

If anyone has had this problem and then got it resolved their advice would be appreciated.

cheers for all the responses..

Hiya POLKR, did you take it to bickets? I had mine done there about 2/3 months ago. The good news is that the steering does get lighter again.

I dont think it is anything to worry about. I had a Toledo sport as a courtesy car while mine was in and the steering on that was really heavy.

 

[P0LKR]

thanks gas man

i actually took it to livingstones cos bickets were not interested in doing it for some reason.....the steering does seems to be lighter at variable times for very short periods. so maybe its trying to adjust to the new rack.

i drove my wifes altea last weekend and the steering is much lighter on that so it isnt my imagination which livingsones are infering. LOL

Anyway great car otherwise but i now want a FR tdi 170. i drove one at bickets and livingstones and it is excellent ... boo hoo

 

[Fl@pper]

what did the tracking print out say ?