Re: Free play in Audi A3 steering(rack?)

Roger Brown <r.c.brown (AT) ieee (DOT) org> wrote

Tenho wrote:

Hi!

I would like to know, if there are anybody with the same problem. My
car (Audi A3 (driven 167000km)) has some free play on the steering
wheel. It can be felt all the time (motor running or not, speed 0 or
100, steering centered or fully turned to either way). The play is
about 4mm on the steering wheel, and it really disturbs driving on
gusty weather and groovy roads.

I have also driven other cars with the same undercarriage (VW Golf IV,
VW Bora) and I found them to have some play too, but somewhat less
than mine. The dealer said, that it could be the joint on the steering
axle. I haven't yet checked that, but my guess would be a worn-out
steering gear.

Any info on the subject would be greatly appreciated!

Not sure if the later models are the same, but on my early '80s VWs, there
is an adjuster screw on the back side of the steering rack. You move the
rack out, loosen the lock nut and tighten the screw to take up the play.
Worked well on my '81, steering felt like new.

I have heard a rumor that the steering rack would be adjustable, but
both the dealers I have asked this week told that its not! I heard
also that the workshop manual would contain instructions for the
adjustment. Unfortunately I have no access to this manual.

I checked the steering axle joints (in steering column), but found
them to be intact. So the play seems to be in the rack...

Tenho wrote:

I have heard a rumor that the steering rack would be adjustable, but
both the dealers I have asked this week told that its not! I heard
also that the workshop manual would contain instructions for the
adjustment. Unfortunately I have no access to this manual.

I checked the steering axle joints (in steering column), but found
them to be intact. So the play seems to be in the rack...

One way to tell is to get underneath and look. The ones I have seen have the adjuster screw towards the firewall next to where the steering shaft connects to the rack. So you need to remove the two clamps that hold the rack in place (good time to swap
in some polyurethane bushings in place of the old rubber ones) so you can see the back side of the rack. If there is a jam nut and screw visible, loosen the jam nut, turn the screw in a bit, tighten the nut and give it a test drive. It took me about 3
tries to get the feel of adjusting the screw, first time was too tight, 2nd time it wasn't tight enough then the 3rd time I hit it dead on.

--
Roger