Had tha car in at Awesome today for my cam belt and water pump change and whilst it was there I asked if they could take a look at my suspension et to see if they could find the persistent (and worsening) clunking when I drive over bumps/ rough ground with the wheel turned.

I explained that everything obvious had been replaced and that it feels liek something hitting the steering column every time it happens.

After some fiddling and me demonstrating the issue to them, whilst the car was on the 4 poster we could replicate the issue and you could feel the knocking if you held onto the track rods. They looked at the steering UJ's and said that everything was fine there but said that there was some slight looseness either in the rack or in the track rods. Now, you cannot replicate the noise with the wheels dangling as in when jacked up, but only with the weight of the car on the front wheels. The main difference here steering wise is that the track rods are either dangling down with the wheel or up straight.

Anyway, they said that the track rod ends were fine but the other part (the bit that goes into the steering rack boots that the track rod ends screw onto) is a known weakness and to replace them before turning my attention to the rack, which is obviously a lot more expensive.

Anyway, my query is, has anyone else replaced these parts?

According to the chap at Awesome, these bits have like a ball joint on the end (hidden inside the rubber boot) that allows the track rod to move around with the suspension as it rises and falls etc. It may be this at fault?

I've looked on Vagcat and can't see any joint on this part.

Anyone got any ideas?.....I'm hoping it is these and not the rack. :(

Pic from VagCat looks as follows and I'd say it's part 2 or 3 which hopefully comes on its own separate from the track rod ends?

The track rods are parts 2 and 3 and come with the track rod ends, it may be worth getting track rod end nuts (item 7) as well. There is a ball and socket joint on the track rod at the hexagonal part where it screws into the rack. I have seen some where the joint has worn and the track rod gets slack in the joint. I think that they are around £70 ish each.

Chrispy- You can get a complete trackrod (made by Lemforder which I'd recommend - sell their bits on Mercs). The complete trackrod is made up of parts 3,5,6+7 for the offside one. I've checked on a catalogue - the trackrods are dependent on the make of steering rack fitted to your VRS. It will either be a TRW unit or a KOYO one. They're also dependent on the Chassis no. I can PM you the details if you like. From experience on Mercs, the steering rack itself very rarely fails, with the trackrods being the main weakness. IMO I'd follow Awesome's advice and get the trackrods changed first. Have you thought about changing the anti-roll bar links too? HTH.

I had the same problem with the Octy vRS. I was going to put a TT rack in before I got rid of it..... wonder if that would have cured the problem ?

Chrispy- You can get a complete trackrod (made by Lemforder which I'd recommend - sell their bits on Mercs). The complete trackrod is made up of parts 3,5,6+7 for the offside one. I've checked on a catalogue - the trackrods are dependent on the make of steering rack fitted to your VRS. It will either be a TRW unit or a KOYO one. They're also dependent on the Chassis no. I can PM you the details if you like. From experience on Mercs, the steering rack itself very rarely fails, with the trackrods being the main weakness. IMO I'd follow Awesome's advice and get the trackrods changed first. Have you thought about changing the anti-roll bar links too? HTH.

Excellent...I'll have a look to see which ones I've got fitted at the moment and PM you. Thanks mate.

I've already changed the drop links, ARB bushes, console bushes (Cupra ones), TCA bushes, dog bone mount, greased the gearbox mount, checked the ARB collars and replaced the front disks and pads in an attempt to solve this noise - all to no avail. It's definitely steering related though by the way it feels and the fact it 'mostly' does it when turning bends at low speeds. Having said that it does seem to be getting worse recently and has started to do it at higher speeds and through really light bends.

The track rods are parts 2 and 3 and come with the track rod ends, it may be worth getting track rod end nuts (item 7) as well. There is a ball and socket joint on the track rod at the hexagonal part where it screws into the rack. I have seen some where the joint has worn and the track rod gets slack in the joint. I think that they are around £70 ish each.

That explains it...the picture doesn't show the ball joint which is what confused me.

Ah well, a full track rod it is then.

Thanks for the advice.

Ouch.....from the dealer, prices as follows:

Track rods £69.38 plus vat

Balljoints £22.50 plus vat

All in £215.91 for both sides.

Asked for the balljoint details too as I'm unsure about these. My experience with BM's showed that they're vulnerable and prone to failure, showing clunking under cornering in worst cases.

GSF were no help sadly. They couldn't do the track rods and were no more help on the ball joint front either. Anyone know of anywhere else I can get these bits from to save a few ££?

www.vagparts.co.uk

Normally a bit slow to reply to emails, but always a good bit of discount over dealer prices!

Butts Of Bawtry?

Sarah

GSF were no help sadly. They couldn't do the track rods and were no more help on the ball joint front either. Anyone know of anywhere else I can get these bits from to save a few ££?

They probably didn't look hard enough! Have you tried Andrew Page? They're up north & should be able to get you the right bits.

Butts Of Bawtry?

Sarah

Bawtry, as in the one near Doncaster?

By the way, Sarah, the chap that did my cam belt etc, I can only commend his efforts yesterday. Was nice for someone to actually care about this problem with my car, as opposed to the bloody dealer who couldn't get rid of me quick enough with the usual statement "they all do it".

Also was not even slightly offended or intimidated by me knowing a few things about the underside of my car, unlike many places.

Pass on my thanks if you would.

Hi

I will do

I am glad , we do tend to try and get the technician to talk to all the customers , but it can get a bit busy for them

I will pass on my regards to him

Yes Bawtry Nr Doncaster

It is not far from the motor auctions if you know it at all?

Sarah

its not the gearbox mount is it? Known problem with the Vrs, do a search.

Thanks

Tony

its not the gearbox mount is it? Known problem with the Vrs, do a search.

Thanks

Tony

Nope its not the gearbox mount. I can Confirm Chris's car has had the "dealer" fix

_____

John

Nope its not the gearbox mount. I can Confirm Chris's car has had the "dealer" fix

_____

John

Yup, as I already said above this has already been done. Besides, that noise was totally different. This one comes up through the steering column and feels horrible, like the wheels aren't bolted on properly. It's done it for months, but has gotten worse recently. Several others on here have got the same noise but have been unable to fix or locate it, and another car at the local dealers also makes the same noise, both over bumps and when you wiggle the steering on full lock. That how they claimed it was 'normal', as the steaming heap of sh!t vRS they had in for repairs also did it. I say heap as it stuttered like no other car I've ever been in, the roof lining was hanging off, the door seals were knackered, the CEL light was on etc etc....all this on an 06 plate with 14k on the clock.

Chris, try York motor factors up near James street. They've managed to get everything I've needed for either the vRS or the Audi.

Would be interested to hear how you get on with this problem - I have the same issue - thought it was the gearbox mount - certainly isn't.

Pete

Seems to be a common one that's really hard to figure out. All the usual (and unusual) things haven't cured it yet I've seen several threads covering it.

Dealers aren't interested at all.....they just want rid of you when you come up with oddball stuff like this.

Good old feeble Furby suspension.