austinado16, you were dead on
08-07-2008, 01:55 PM
#1
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austinado16, you were dead on
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/30890/img_1845.jpg"></center><p>
Took the A6 to the dealer and sure enough the steering rack is leaking.
They want 2K for the rack and 460 in labor.
thepartstrain has rebuilts by CVU for pretty cheap with 7/100 warranty for $188 whereas the ZF is about 4x as much at $883.
They claim OE quality even though the price seems fairly low.
I looked up Maval and they seem decent too for a bit more and least they have a website.
Not sure where to go with this just yet but as you noted just replacing the boot is a temp fix.
Least the car is drivable but I'll need to watch the PS fluid and top off when needed for now.<ul><li><a href="http://www2.partstrain.com/store/?N=9603+1574+4294967269&Ntt=Steering%20Rack">h ttp://www2.partstrain.com/store/?N=9603+1574+4294967269&Ntt=Steering%20Rack</a</li></ul>
Took the A6 to the dealer and sure enough the steering rack is leaking.
They want 2K for the rack and 460 in labor.
thepartstrain has rebuilts by CVU for pretty cheap with 7/100 warranty for $188 whereas the ZF is about 4x as much at $883.
They claim OE quality even though the price seems fairly low.
I looked up Maval and they seem decent too for a bit more and least they have a website.
Not sure where to go with this just yet but as you noted just replacing the boot is a temp fix.
Least the car is drivable but I'll need to watch the PS fluid and top off when needed for now.<ul><li><a href="http://www2.partstrain.com/store/?N=9603+1574+4294967269&Ntt=Steering%20Rack">h ttp://www2.partstrain.com/store/?N=9603+1574+4294967269&Ntt=Steering%20Rack</a</li></ul>
08-07-2008, 03:01 PM
#2
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Do it yourself Rebuild Procedure
The o-ring that is leaking is a 10 cent part. It is 1-3 hours of working (depending on how good you are) on the rack (that is after you get it out of the car) to take the o-ring out, replace, and put the rack back together. It is not intuitive on how to do that without distroying the seal carrier. I have done 5 of these now.
Below is a link to get a word doc with the procedure. It also has emails from others that have done this. Not very well organized but you will get the idea on how to do it.<ul><li><a href="http://home.comcast.net/~d.stehlik/AudiRack.htm">http://home.comcast.net/~d.stehlik/AudiRack.htm</a</li></ul>
Below is a link to get a word doc with the procedure. It also has emails from others that have done this. Not very well organized but you will get the idea on how to do it.<ul><li><a href="http://home.comcast.net/~d.stehlik/AudiRack.htm">http://home.comcast.net/~d.stehlik/AudiRack.htm</a</li></ul>
08-07-2008, 03:23 PM
#3
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Thanks, I'll take a look
Talking to the guy at the parts counter (an actual german guy with vast knowledge) he noted that they do not even rebuild racks due to the pressure, the seals need to be exact OEM and from what I am gathering ZF seals are not possible to source?
I am still researching and for the price the Maval rebuilt with lifetime warranty does not seem like a bad choice.
I read the gist of the .doc and of course anything is possible if given the time which this looks to be quite a bit plus sourcing the ring.
Curious, if you could live without the car for awhile why can't the dealership get the rebuilt kit and do it?
I was under the impression talking to them (dealer) this is not an item they generally will rebuild for you either for liability or they just do not have the tools.
Did the C4 come with a speed sensitive servo? I am seeing listings both with and without.
I am still researching and for the price the Maval rebuilt with lifetime warranty does not seem like a bad choice.
I read the gist of the .doc and of course anything is possible if given the time which this looks to be quite a bit plus sourcing the ring.
Curious, if you could live without the car for awhile why can't the dealership get the rebuilt kit and do it?
I was under the impression talking to them (dealer) this is not an item they generally will rebuild for you either for liability or they just do not have the tools.
Did the C4 come with a speed sensitive servo? I am seeing listings both with and without.
08-07-2008, 03:39 PM
#4
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You have to look at your rack to see if it has Servotronic (an electrical connector is connected to it)
Dealers do not rebuild because it is not worth it to them, too much liability if it doesnt work, and they dont know how.
Special 0-ring my @$$#^*#. the Blue o-ring in the carrier is special but that is almost always not the problem o-ring. There is a solution for the blue one if it is the problem if you really want to replace it, but it is MUCH harder to do, so if the blue o-ring is the source of the leak, then I suggest just buy a rebuild rack or if you still want to do it yourself the rebuild kit from your Audi dealer (it comes with a new carrier). I used a Standard o-ring from McMaster-Carr. Specs are in the document I think. Think I still have 94 of them in a bag someplace. I have had my rebuilt rack in my car for maybe 2 year now and no leak.
Just because he is German doesnt mean he really knows about the innards of the Audi steering rack.
Dealers do not rebuild because it is not worth it to them, too much liability if it doesnt work, and they dont know how.
Special 0-ring my @$$#^*#. the Blue o-ring in the carrier is special but that is almost always not the problem o-ring. There is a solution for the blue one if it is the problem if you really want to replace it, but it is MUCH harder to do, so if the blue o-ring is the source of the leak, then I suggest just buy a rebuild rack or if you still want to do it yourself the rebuild kit from your Audi dealer (it comes with a new carrier). I used a Standard o-ring from McMaster-Carr. Specs are in the document I think. Think I still have 94 of them in a bag someplace. I have had my rebuilt rack in my car for maybe 2 year now and no leak.
Just because he is German doesnt mean he really knows about the innards of the Audi steering rack.
08-07-2008, 04:38 PM
#5
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Thread Starter
I did not get the exact leakage area
It was noted and verified to be a leaking rack but not where exactly.
The german dude was a head Audi tech for over 30 years, now he just does the parts counter. He remembers working on even the 4000. He's like a walking bentley I swear.
Anyways, the Marval rebuild looks to be the best choice other then the ZF.
The other brand on the link has no website, no info and seems just way too cheap
As for the servotronic, being it's a 97 and the last production year I would think it had the speed sensitive steering as standard but maybe not.
I'll just need to poke around and look for the connection.
the A6 is nice but its just a daily driver, nothing I want to chuck huge $$ into especially since the previous owner seemed to have abused it but that's another story.
Edit: from deep research it would seem that since ZF was the OEM rack the rebuilt by maval will be a ZF but done in the US vs shipping it to and back from Germany. I'll assume the 1/2 price is factored into that.<ul><li><a href="http://www.mavalgear.com/AboutUs.html">http://www.mavalgear.com/AboutUs.html</a</li></ul>
The german dude was a head Audi tech for over 30 years, now he just does the parts counter. He remembers working on even the 4000. He's like a walking bentley I swear.
Anyways, the Marval rebuild looks to be the best choice other then the ZF.
The other brand on the link has no website, no info and seems just way too cheap
As for the servotronic, being it's a 97 and the last production year I would think it had the speed sensitive steering as standard but maybe not.
I'll just need to poke around and look for the connection.
the A6 is nice but its just a daily driver, nothing I want to chuck huge $$ into especially since the previous owner seemed to have abused it but that's another story.
Edit: from deep research it would seem that since ZF was the OEM rack the rebuilt by maval will be a ZF but done in the US vs shipping it to and back from Germany. I'll assume the 1/2 price is factored into that.<ul><li><a href="http://www.mavalgear.com/AboutUs.html">http://www.mavalgear.com/AboutUs.html</a</li></ul>
08-08-2008, 05:16 AM
#7
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AZ has one?
I did not find any racks, just the boot for a 97' A6.
They have other models though. Is the A4 rack the same?
Has anybody here bought any Maval items? They look to be good quality.
They have other models though. Is the A4 rack the same?
Has anybody here bought any Maval items? They look to be good quality.
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08-08-2008, 01:31 PM
#8
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Yes they do...
<a href="http://catalog.autohausaz.com/autohausaz/detailw.jsp?sid=bztyuz55p40ztsbxcof14fql&partner=a utohausaz&product=4A1%20422%20065%20AD">4A1 422 065 AD - 95-97 A6 to VIN S080000</a>
4A1 422 066 X - from VIN S080001 (Autohausaz doesn't have this one.)
4A1 422 066 X - from VIN S080001 (Autohausaz doesn't have this one.)
08-09-2008, 06:12 AM
#9
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ah, there it is
dropping the PN right from Maval's website ( 9361M) pulls it up at the best price I've seen so far.
True enough the non-servotronic version is not listed which lends to tell me the A6 came with servotronic but I still need to check for myself just in case.
$319 for a remanufactured (not rebuilt) is a pretty good price.
True enough the non-servotronic version is not listed which lends to tell me the A6 came with servotronic but I still need to check for myself just in case.
$319 for a remanufactured (not rebuilt) is a pretty good price.
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