Hi all,

This weekend I had my 2 lower control arms replaced. After so, every time I drive over bumps or take a turn, it feels like the car moves a bit side to side laterally. Like there’s play with the car.

So I brought it to a close by mechanic and they said I need a new steering shaft. I was wondering if a 2007 steering shaft is compatible on my 2011 Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI?

Thanks

 

And do you trust this mechanic implicitly? What else in the suspension has been replaced besides the lower control arms, as there's a lot of wear parts and bushings to go bad in the suspension over time; lowers + upper control arm bushings & ball joint, steering tie-rods. I wonder if this what you reference as a "steering shaft"? If so, the tie-rods you would definitely buy new parts, so that's why I'm inferring you are asking about buying a steering rack & pinion off a used Q7.

As for the steering system, the replaceable (outer) steering ball joints are definitely wear items, and usually the inner steering tie-rods hold up pretty well unless you get a torn grease boot on those to compromise their lubrication, but those can also develop wear symptoms/play with a lot of miles on them. Steering rack issues are quite another set of symptoms that relate to hydraulic assist problems, and 'steering shaft' sounds more to me like the inner/outer tie-rods may be what he's talking about, so be sure you understand the diagnosis/suggested course of work/repairs and exactly which parts you need.

If the mechanic were suggesting your tie-rods need replacing, then that would be a fairly normal, wear-related repair.

If the shop sounds iffy, or is trying to sell/push you into replacing a steering rack, etc. then go get another opinion somewhere else, as a failing steering rack you would feel in the steering wheel consistently and there would be bad noises coming from the steering pump most likely. Google it.

 

Good way to determine parts compatibility over various years is a parts search on both years. If numbers match. They will fit.