Hi guys hope you are all safe and well.
My 2005 Mk1 Leon 20v 1.8 with AGN engine has had a difficult life.
However now it does feel like she’s reached the end of the road.
We had a holiday in Dorset this September and drove over 600 miles during it, no trouble at all.
She’s got some cosmetic issues with peeling clear coat but overall for a 20 year old car she’s doing well.
However last Sunday after getting back from a day out I noticed a unsettling ‘clunk’ coming from the front mid left when ever I moved the steering wheel.
At this point the clunk happens when I move the wheel slightly to the left and back to the right. If I move it to the left then left again there is no clunk.
It doesn’t happen going over bumps, maybe slightly on braking sharply but does happen in full left lock.
I noticed my power steering fluid was down well less than minimum, my attention drawn by a groaning noise in full lock either side.
It was suggested that CV, Ball, drive shaft and even coil springs might be defective so I had her booked into the local garage today as we were concerned for safety.
They took the whole day to tell me that the steering rack was at fault!!! Some valve maybe.
Total cost to replace being estimated at well over £1000. She already had this amount last March with MOT, service and new cam belt. Being on a pension now and her being 20 years old I really find it hard to justify another 1000+ given something else may well fail soon.
The garage said there was a lot of corrosion in the area and they were worried about getting the bolts out and back in as well.
My question to the group is does this explanation sound correct? She’s driving fine and since I topped up her fluid the steering is better than ever.
I turn 60 myself next year and am not that flexible to start getting under her looking but I’d like to know if there is anything else going on, can the rack be repaired? Is it dangerous now? (Big question)
Thanks for listening and any help offered.
Mike, West Sussex UK
My 2005 Mk1 Leon 20v 1.8 with AGN engine has had a difficult life.
However now it does feel like she’s reached the end of the road.
We had a holiday in Dorset this September and drove over 600 miles during it, no trouble at all.
She’s got some cosmetic issues with peeling clear coat but overall for a 20 year old car she’s doing well.
However last Sunday after getting back from a day out I noticed a unsettling ‘clunk’ coming from the front mid left when ever I moved the steering wheel.
At this point the clunk happens when I move the wheel slightly to the left and back to the right. If I move it to the left then left again there is no clunk.
It doesn’t happen going over bumps, maybe slightly on braking sharply but does happen in full left lock.
I noticed my power steering fluid was down well less than minimum, my attention drawn by a groaning noise in full lock either side.
It was suggested that CV, Ball, drive shaft and even coil springs might be defective so I had her booked into the local garage today as we were concerned for safety.
They took the whole day to tell me that the steering rack was at fault!!! Some valve maybe.
Total cost to replace being estimated at well over £1000. She already had this amount last March with MOT, service and new cam belt. Being on a pension now and her being 20 years old I really find it hard to justify another 1000+ given something else may well fail soon.
The garage said there was a lot of corrosion in the area and they were worried about getting the bolts out and back in as well.
My question to the group is does this explanation sound correct? She’s driving fine and since I topped up her fluid the steering is better than ever.
I turn 60 myself next year and am not that flexible to start getting under her looking but I’d like to know if there is anything else going on, can the rack be repaired? Is it dangerous now? (Big question)
Thanks for listening and any help offered.
Mike, West Sussex UK
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