I replaced the outer tie rods last year. I know I should have done both inner and outer at the same time but the only reason I did just the outer was because I damaged a boot when replacing a lower control arm and so the outers might as well be replaced at the same time I was replacing the boot. Anyway, it was bothering me and so now I am about to replace just the inner tie rods and I am puzzled by one step in the workshop manual. The manual states that the rack should be counter-held with an open end wrench when unscrewing the inner tie rod. I have slipped the boots back to look at the tie rod knuckle and rack and I do not see any flats on either side of the rack. The right side has the worm pattern and the left is just a simple rod. Is there any possibility of damaging the rack if it can not be counter-held? I'm assuming the rack will not spin if the ignition is off but not even sure of that.
The workshop instructions are for an electrical-mechanical steering rack but I will check again to make sure it applies to my 2014. Perhaps there is more than one non-hydraulic version.
Lastly, I am thinking I should add a little grease to the rack while it is exposed. Do I need the VAG specific steering rack grease or can I use a generic grease? It looks like the steering rack grease is also specified for the inner tie/track rod ball but I have no idea what "type" of grease it would be.

I know I need to get my specific manual rather than the all inclusive China version, but here is the section of the manual in question:

 

There's just the one electric rack for B8.5. So the electric rack instructions (assuming you're looking at 3.6.1) in the type 8R workshop manual are for that rack in the B8.5 Q5. But I notice that step is direct copy from the 3.6.2 section for the hydraulic rack. Maybe someone didn't do enough homework before copy/pasting. The non-threaded (left) end is not hex shaped; it's just round? Looking at a B7 rack, which is the hydraulic one, it appears even then there was nothing to counter hold. https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...ck-Upgrade-DIY Even ZF instructions don't reference counterholding, https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/afterm...d-replacement/ I'd say if there's nothing to counterhold, there's nothing to counterhold. Maybe they've been blindly copy/pasting those instructions for generations.

On the grease, I find it interesting that it's different for the two ends. No doubt reflecting the sliding surface vs the gear surface. G052168A1 driver end, G052197A1 passenger end. Though apparently that distinction was not important enough to retain after factory production ended. Now it's just G052168A1 both ends. At least it's only $15, well for 10g. "♦ To grease the rack, only use Steering Gear Grease ."

 

Thanks SMac!
I think you are onto something about the Audi technical writer just copying and pasting from the hydraulic steering rack instructions. I will turn the rack full left and full right tomorrow just to make sure I am not missing anything, but you would think that any flats on the rack would be fairly close to the tie rod knuckle/ball. And yeah, left (driver's) side of the rack is just a rod. I did see somewhere that 2 different greases were called out for each side of the rack, which makes some sense. And I did come up with G052168A1 as the Audi steering rack grease too. Do you think I would be safe picking up some "steering gear grease" from my local O'Reilly's? Q5 is my only car, so the O'Reilly's in town is my only option if I want to finish the install tomorrow.
Here is the ECS Tuning link for the grease:
Search SiteSearch steering rack grease - G052168A1 - Bellows grease - 10 grams (G 052 168 A1) (ecstuning.com)

 

Nothing particularly validated in this thread on similar subject. Guy used "red grease"? https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...th-Lubrication
Comment in another thread by someone on the steering gear grease, "The steering rack grease (part #: G 052 168 A1) is just a yellow-ish grease and goes on the gears (covered by the boots). ...it gets dry and clumpy with age". Looks like from another thread on BMW, that is also a yellow soft grease.

I don't know anything about that grease, no idea what a non-Audi alternative would be. Seems it's strictly for lubricating the rod, not for "packing" the boot like you would for an axle.
Relevant video - youtu.be/6E0BHajkt5o there's a link to the grease they used in the description

 

Yeah, I think I will avoid adding any grease unless I know for sure it is a direct equivalent to the Audi grease. It does look yellowish on the rack and there is not a lot of it and that is why I thought about applying some more. On the other hand, I had no signs of leaking around the boots and both ends of the rack look very clean. The grease in the ball of the Lemforder inner tie rod looks to be similar.
Thanks for the links!

 

Dang, FCP Euro sent me the wrong part. This is the first time I ordered from FCP Euro and they had the wrong part identified in their system. They made no distinction on their website for B8 versus B8.5 and it turns out the B8.5 inner is about a 1/2" longer. I just ordered from ECS Tuning because they show the different part for 2013 and later models and they are closer to me. I guess the only positive is that I went ahead and added the G052168A1 grease to the order. Just hope it arrives soon so I can get the Q5 back on the road.



Update: I can confirm that there were no flats on the steering rack for counter-holding and it was not necessary. The rack did not rotate as I was loosening the knuckle of both inner tie rods.
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The hydraulic rack track rod (aka tie rod) is 8J0 423 810, Lemforder part 35705 01
The electric rack track rod (aka tie rod) is 4G0 423 810 A, Lemforder part 35740 01.
It's not so much about the B8.0 vs B8.5, but the rack tech.

I take it from the catalog pics, the upper is the 35740 part for the electric rack and the lower is the 35705 for the hydraulic rack?

 

I was not positive but I came to the conclusion that 2013 must have been the year Audi changed to the electromechanical rack, coinciding with B8.5 production. And you got it correct. The longer rod is for the motor driven rack. And I agree with your part numbers too. In the past, I have double-checked part numbers on more than one site, but unfortunately I did not do so this time around. It is surprising that FCP Euro still has this part error in their system. If it was not Sunday, I may have called and asked them to "next day" the correct part... but I can wait as I am retired now and have no plans for the week. My e-bike may come in handy this week.

 

Audi changed the B8 from hydraulic to electric with the facelift, yes. But for whatever reason, the electric rack catalog page appears under the B8.0 Q5 catalog. Was it actually done, in what market, no idea. Still, anyone running a parts site should know enough to properly document the options for sale. B8.0 or B8.5, if it's the electric rack in a Q5, there's only one track rod p/n. Similar to the old problem with the alternator for MY09, when sites didn't understand to make clear the BWT engine in the MY09 cab vs the CAEB engine in the MY09 sedan/wagon. Is what it is.