How does steering rack replacement work? The work involved in a replacement of a steering rack is among the most complicated for workshops.
Disconnecting and Draining the Old Unit
Before the work can start on removing the old steering rack, the first step is to drain the power steering fluid from the reservoir and the rack. Next, the hydraulic feed and return pipes are disconnected from the old steering rack. The steering column shaft is then released from the input shaft of the rack. Any remaining fluid in the lines is recovered and disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.
Removing the Rack from the Subframe
The track rod ends are pulled off the wheel hubs using a ball-joint separator. The steering rack’s mounting brackets are removed from the subframe. The work here is very fiddly and great care must be used in order to avoid any damage.
Fitting and Aligning the New Unit
This steering rack is fitted to the subframe of the car. It is bolted to the subframe. The steering column is attached to the input shaft of the rack. The track rod ends are attached to the wheel hubs. In order to fit the new rack the track rod ends are taken off the old hubs. They are fitted to the new rack in the same thread depth as before. This gives a rough alignment to the new rack. See also Audi A4 steering rack.
Refilling and Bleeding the Hydraulic System
After the new rack has been fitted the car is refilled with a fresh supply of power steering fluid. The system is then bled by locking and unlocking the steering lock several times whilst the engine is running. The car is then inspected for any signs of leakage around all the pipe connections as well as the seals on the rack.
Road Test and Geometry Check
Returns to the centre when released. The vehicle is then sent to a 4 wheel alignment rig. e. the rods that connect the wheels to the steering rack) can cause problems with both tire wear and straight line stability. com/driving-advice/){rel=”nofollow”} tire wear provides more detailed information on this subject.
And that’s it, the car has now had a Steering Rack Replacement and is ready for back on the road.
