What happens when your steering rack goes?

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Nov 14, 2001 | 08:05 AM

The Red October

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AudiWorld Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2001

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From: Baltimore

What happens when your steering rack goes?

I have noticed lately that sometimes I feel a fine gritty feeling in the steering wheel when stopped or driving slowly, like under 10 mph. I can also hear a faint creaking noise that seems to come from behind the instrument cluster when I feel this gritty feeling in the steering wheel. This will happen with the engine on or off, and only when the steering wheel is turned with about 180 degrees of lock, both to the left and the right.

My car only has 15K, and I remember at the 10K serivce the rep commented that my PS was low, but I have no idea how low, because that PS fluid cap is almost impossible to get off by hand.

I did a search, but nobody really said what happens when it fails... Will I loose the ability to steer the car? I hate to have something so major replaced so early in the car's life!

Nov 14, 2001 | 08:10 AM

Ray Khan

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Joined: Apr 2000

Posts: 20,299

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From: Melrose, MA

I have this too...but not too often....only sometimes

I have no idea what it is...and it never happens around the time I go yo service...so I haven't mentioned it yet.

Nov 14, 2001 | 08:53 AM

ARK

AudiWorld Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2000

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Fluid leaks out, pump makes horriffic noises and self destructs, and loss of power assist.

Nov 14, 2001 | 09:15 AM

B5AVANTnut

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Joined: Mar 2000

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Me too.When I turn to left getting a shudder feeling in steering wheel & that same noise. It happens

when car my is warmed up its getting more noticable now. I have a appt. Mon. I'm having a new PS pump installed & checking out steering rack & CV joints.Better to take care of these things while in warranty & before it leads to something worse. I'll post back with a resolution, hopefully.