Adjustable T6 steering linkage, power steering

Hello,

The steering rack in my T6 has approximately one finger's width of play around the center position on the steering wheel. Is it possible to adjust anything on the steering gear, or even the point at which power steering assistance begins?

It's not a major problem right now, but it's annoying when there are ruts or grooves in the road surface.

The steering column, joints, and attachment to the steering rack shaft have already been inspected and are okay.

Best regards, Rainer.

Hi,
Can you describe the steering system in more detail? Is it electromechanical or hydraulic?
hg
Herbert.

Hello,

It's hydraulic, but unfortunately, I can't say much more about it at the moment. Look under the car for a few days.

Best regards, Rainer.

Hello Rainer,

Quote:

The steering column, joints, and attachment to the shaft from the steering gear have already been checked and are okay.

It means there is no steering wheel, no linkage, and no connection to the steering gear.

What's left is either play in the rotary valve (rotary shaft), play between the steering pinion and the rack, or (I think it's less likely) play in the axial joints.
or radial play between the steering housing and the rack bar on the left side (worn steering linkage).

In the past, the pressure of the rack and pinion gear could be adjusted using a spring-loaded sliding piece. However, this often resulted in the rack and pinion gear jamming if it moved too far from its central position.

I would first try to determine the exact origin of the game.

Turn the steering wheel exactly one full rotation to the left and check for any play. Then, do the same to the right. If nothing changes in the system, the rotary valve might be affected; otherwise, it could be the clearance in the rack and pinion mechanism.

Both would, if everything else is okay (to be precise), ultimately lead to the need for a new steering rack.

Hello,

Thank you for your thoughts! In almost completely worn-out steering components, no play is noticeable, therefore I assume a slightly deformed center position of the steering gear.
Maybe I'm going straight for too long right now.

Let's see if I can reproduce that.

Best regards, Rainer.

Hello!

The problem is very unusual.

In my career, I have rarely, if ever, encountered this problem.
So, the steering gear is broken.

Of course, only with my own car.
"Once, a workshop messed up the job for the previous owner and installed the wrong bellows on the steering rack."
It wasn't sealed properly, so moisture got in.
and the inner joint of the tie rod (beneath the boot) was rusted, and this caused it to have play.

That would actually be my only suggestion for something you could check out.
I'm often inclined to check things like that on the lift, because the components are in the same position as when the vehicle is being driven.
When lifted up on the platform, it can sometimes look completely different.


Otherwise, adjust the steering linkage.
Yes, I know what you mean. You could do that with a Trabant, but only to a very limited extent, because it also made it difficult to steer sideways.
I think it worked with the first golf club, but later I never had that problem again.

I called my parts supplier when I encountered strange problems where I wasn't sure what to do or how to proceed.
The problem is described. He then checked his statistics.
and told me that I had sold part X twice in the last 10 years, but part Y already 524 times.
That has always been the best support for me when dealing with problems.

A worn-out axial joint usually only becomes noticeable when the vehicle is stationary and on its wheels.

To test: Place your hand on the steering wheel, with a light touch, and move the steering wheel back and forth to feel for any play or looseness.

Best on a pit or platform.

I recently started playing a Ford Galaxy WGR.

Outside of the center position, no play can be detected, therefore I am excluding all tie rod joints and the wheel suspension.

Hi,
Basically, you can exclude any joint that doesn't rotate significantly inward when struck (almost) - these are the axial joints. Everything else would remain a mystery to me, with varying degrees of certainty.
Is this behavior also present when the motor is turned off (i.e., without the servo)?
In the end, all that remains is the inspection on the lifting platform or pit.
hg
Herbert.

Quote:

Does the issue also occur when the motor is turned off (i.e., without the servo)?

Okay, please provide the German text you would like me to translate.

Hi,
If a joint defect is only on one side (left or right), you wouldn't notice any play in the steering wheel, but you would experience unstable handling. There must be damage on both sides.
If the mechanics between the steering wheel and the steering gear are in good condition, the problem is likely with the steering gear itself.
For the van, there's a section in RLF Repair Group 48 called "Repairing the steering gear." It might contain information about how to adjust it. A section like the one for "steering alignment" that appears in my A4 is not present.
hg
Herbert.

Hello,

It still needs to be investigated more closely to determine exactly what is happening.
The part in question is definitely located within the transmission or a similar intermediate shaft connecting the steering gear to the vehicle's interior.

Unfortunately, the exploded diagram does not show any details about the part labeled as the "steering intermediate shaft." The power steering lines are also attached directly below.

I'm currently trying to find out if this steering intermediate shaft is known to cause problems with the steering gear.

Regarding the adjustments suspected to be made to the steering linkage during the game setting, there appears to be a rubber nub on the SW17 cover, presumably to prevent dirt from entering. Of course, it crumbled when I tried to remove it. What is inside, Torx, or hex?
Best regards, Rainer.

This "steering intermediate shaft" appears to be part number 7E1419751B and features a ball joint with a locating pin and a mounting screw on the steering gear.

Can anyone confirm this?

Just to think for a moment, if this intermediate wave were to have a role, it wouldn't just be in the center position of the steering.

I've now rotated the disc with the SW17 socket and the notches slightly to the right.

The steering now feels tighter in the center position, moves smoothly throughout its range, and automatically returns to the center.

Quote:

In a nearly completely worn-out steering system, no play is noticeable

. This slightly irritates me because:
There is still some minimal play, even outside of the center. I think the many joints in the steering column will inevitably have some play. Therefore, I'll leave everything as it is for now, and maybe I should count fewer peas.

I'll find out tomorrow on the highway whether it helped and by how much, as there's a section with ruts in the road where I first noticed the issue with the steering.

If that's okay then...

Quote:

This "steering intermediate shaft" appears to be part number 7E1419751B and, in turn, has a universal joint with a spline connection and a retaining screw on the steering gear. Can anyone confirm this?

Are you asking about the RLF (presumably a type of rating or classification) for the specific model (SF, SG, SH, SJ, SL, ST)?
hg
Herbert.