Date:         Tue, 2 Mar 1999 10:03:41 -0500
Reply-To:     Bill Knight <bill@NS.ESC.STATE.NC.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Knight <bill@NS.ESC.STATE.NC.US>
Subject:      Re: power steering rack
In-Reply-To:  <19990301.210443.-793611.0.S_J_WACKER@juno.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

As some other of you may remember, my rack has failed as well.  Two days
later, my other car, '91 Saab 9000 Turbo, blew the serpentine belt
tensioner, stranding me 125 miles from home.  Rode back on a flatbed and a
much lighter wallet.

Anyway, needing transportation, I removed the power steering belt from the
Westfalia and drove without power steering.  I've driven it to and from work
for over a week without any problems.  Once the van is moving, steering is
pretty easy, but when you slow down for a hard turn you really need to work
the steering wheel.  No problems have surfaced that would tell me not to
recommend pulling the belt for the cub scout trip.

Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of S_J_ WACKER
Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 1999 12:05 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: power steering rack


Howdy, folks. As some of you may remember, my son and I replaced the
steering rack in his 86 Syncro last week. All went better than I
expected, this is not a difficult job. After we got it installed we went
to have the front end aligned. On the way we noticed a strange vibration?
in the rack, felt like rubber sliding over a dry shaft. Wern't too
concerned, as we felt it was something that would work itself out. Well
it appears we were wrong, my son found fluid dripping form both boots
this morning and the noise is much worse. Rack is under warranty, but
they don't have a replacement and want to send this one back for a
rebuild, three day turn around. Problem is my son needs to take his boys
and their cub scout pack to Death Valley this Friday. We need to know if
there is some way to drive this van with out the power assist, you know,
manual steering. If we can, what do we do to set it up?

My thanks to all who helped when we started this project. I am trying to
prepare for my vacation to Colorado which starts Friday, so don't have a
whole lot of time to devote to the correct solution to this problem.


Steve and Jo Ann Wacker
San Marcos, Ca.
90 Carat
86 Syncro x two
86 Audi 5000 CS Quattro