Rack replacement
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
Rack replacement
My rack sprung a heavy leak from the passenger inner tie rod bellow boot. Trying to find replacement and Audi seems to be the only one unless I try a Chinese one off Amazon! Has anyone tried these? If so how’s it been?
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 4,565
Likes: 1,456
From: USA - NM
You need to define what the 'heavy leak' is, because those boots are meant to keep dust off the, greased joints/bearing surfaces and keep the grease inside. If you got steering fluid coming out of them, then you got real problems.
The title is Rack Replacement, but you don't mention if you are replacing the steering rack and no other details present about your year, mileage, etc. to be able to infer anything, so please be specific about what is happening with your car.
If all you need is the bellows, for whatever reason, then take the Audi part # for it and stick it into a search engine. Don't stop at the first page of results. Just remember that Audi does not make parts...parts manufacturers do, and they sell their own products as well under their own unique part #, which will cross-reference to the OE part #, etc.
The title is Rack Replacement, but you don't mention if you are replacing the steering rack and no other details present about your year, mileage, etc. to be able to infer anything, so please be specific about what is happening with your car.
If all you need is the bellows, for whatever reason, then take the Audi part # for it and stick it into a search engine. Don't stop at the first page of results. Just remember that Audi does not make parts...parts manufacturers do, and they sell their own products as well under their own unique part #, which will cross-reference to the OE part #, etc.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
I have a 2011 q7 tdi.
The heavy leak is the tank goes empty in a hr drive. There’s a heavy drip coming from the bellow which I believe means my seal has gone.
I’ve found toureg racks in stock. Has anyone tried using one of them?
The heavy leak is the tank goes empty in a hr drive. There’s a heavy drip coming from the bellow which I believe means my seal has gone.
I’ve found toureg racks in stock. Has anyone tried using one of them?
Last edited by marcT; Aug 2, 2025 at 09:23 AM.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 4,565
Likes: 1,456
From: USA - NM
The VW T-Reg is built on same chassis and uses same parts bin as the Q7, so does the Porsche Cayenne, but Porsche tweaks more things in suspension & steering to meet their own tuning specs.
Although VW T-Reg uses diff parts #s system, they generally are the exact same part as on the Audi Q7, just rebranded w/ Audi rings and model-specific part # (4L is the Gen 1 Q7...4M is the Gen 2 Q7, etc.). Audi doesn't want you to go buy the often less expensive VW part #, and some VW dealers will balk at selling T-Reg parts to Audi owners, etc. There are ways around that purchasing online or just knowing what exact part # you need in advance, and you can even go online and pull a VIN # off a used T-Reg that's for sale, if need be...just say'in. Be prepared.
I've bought single use bolts from my local VW dealership, but I walked in prepared and with the part # in hand...you just need to lookup the part # / cross-reference them, etc. On the bolts, Audi generally uses the generic bolt part #, for example, so it is the same part # across Porsche, VW, and Audi. For regular parts Audi created a new part # to differentiate from the VW part # system, and charge customers higher pricing for same part VW sells, and never count out Porsche either as I just bought some single-use bolts/nuts from a Porsche dealer online for my suspension rebuild project, as they were the best price by far.
Although VW T-Reg uses diff parts #s system, they generally are the exact same part as on the Audi Q7, just rebranded w/ Audi rings and model-specific part # (4L is the Gen 1 Q7...4M is the Gen 2 Q7, etc.). Audi doesn't want you to go buy the often less expensive VW part #, and some VW dealers will balk at selling T-Reg parts to Audi owners, etc. There are ways around that purchasing online or just knowing what exact part # you need in advance, and you can even go online and pull a VIN # off a used T-Reg that's for sale, if need be...just say'in. Be prepared.
I've bought single use bolts from my local VW dealership, but I walked in prepared and with the part # in hand...you just need to lookup the part # / cross-reference them, etc. On the bolts, Audi generally uses the generic bolt part #, for example, so it is the same part # across Porsche, VW, and Audi. For regular parts Audi created a new part # to differentiate from the VW part # system, and charge customers higher pricing for same part VW sells, and never count out Porsche either as I just bought some single-use bolts/nuts from a Porsche dealer online for my suspension rebuild project, as they were the best price by far.
Last edited by '10Q7TDI_Prestige'; Aug 2, 2025 at 02:49 PM.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 4,565
Likes: 1,456
From: USA - NM
Find the Bosch part # for that steering rack, as Bosch sells under it's own branding too, and that may be your best price when you search online for it. Same applies to buying most any costly part such as buying fuel injectors or even he HPFP...find the manufacturer (Bosch), and lookup their part #. Many times if you search on the Audi part # and look deep enough into the search results, you are going to see matches/cross-references to the VW, Porsche, or OEM, BOSCH part # listings, when they are using the same part.
Most of the new German parts I source are the OEM parts, so Valeo, Bosch, INA, Febi, Pagid, etc., etc., as these are the manufacturers that make the OE branded parts.
Again, don't stop at the first page of search results if not finding what you need. And if still not locating what you want, change your search terms.
Trending Topics
AudiWorld Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
the rack on my 2011 Q7 TDI prestige has a sensor.
but the cheap replacement racks on ebay/amazon do not.
is this something that can be transferred?
my brother is currently trying to reman the original rack.
but the shaft is very pitted... not sure it will hold a seal.
any advice is appreciated.
thanks,
-rocky
but the cheap replacement racks on ebay/amazon do not.
is this something that can be transferred?
my brother is currently trying to reman the original rack.
but the shaft is very pitted... not sure it will hold a seal.
any advice is appreciated.
thanks,
-rocky
AudiWorld Stories
Bringing Audi to Life for Audi Fans
10 Strangest Audi Designs That Actually Made Production
Joe Kucinski
2027 Audi Q7 and SQ7: Audi Upgraded EVERYTHING!
Michael S. Palmer
Audi Unveils Absurdly Cool New Supercar: 10 Things You Need to Know!
Verdad Gallardo
The Highs & Lows of Every Audi C-Class Generation
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Audis Ever Sold on Bring-A-Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Audi Features & Options We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Audi Recreates Crazy-Looking Speed Record Breaker From 1935
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilder Recreates the 1995 Audi TTS Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Every Audi V10 Car Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 4,565
Likes: 1,456
From: USA - NM
the rack on my 2011 Q7 TDI prestige has a sensor.
but the cheap replacement racks on ebay/amazon do not.
is this something that can be transferred?
my brother is currently trying to reman the original rack.
but the shaft is very pitted... not sure it will hold a seal.
any advice is appreciated.
thanks,
-rocky
but the cheap replacement racks on ebay/amazon do not.
is this something that can be transferred?
my brother is currently trying to reman the original rack.
but the shaft is very pitted... not sure it will hold a seal.
any advice is appreciated.
thanks,
-rocky
Sounds like you may be referring to the steering angle sensor? That's a separate part # from the steering rack, so it doesn't come with the steering rack. Assuming it can be removed/separated w/o damaging the sensor or wiring pigtail, it can be transferred over, but may require a new seal/gasket, etc.
Just bear in mind that your Q7 is a fully assembled vehicle, and when buying replacement parts, whatever they may be, generally will not include sensors/ or the other part numbers mounted on, or required to integrate it fully with the car's electronics and/or safety systems...like the sensor you see mounted on the original steering rack, which sends data to the car's safety systems.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JacobB
S4 / RS4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
2
Aug 10, 2007 05:18 AM