So I have a 2006 VW T5 transporter van.

It had pretty bad play in the steering when I bougth it, a good 'five minutes' of free movement in the steering wheel when parked. When driving, particularly on the motorway on a windy day the play is quite annoying, having to move the wheel in the dead zone from side to side between the actual mechanical steering connection.

I had the rack changed by a local garage with a unit from a reputable remanufacturer. The play has reduced a bit but still seems to be there.


If I lay under the truck with someone waggling the steering wheel in the play zone I can see/feel the input shaft for the rack rotating with no movement on the output.... Am I going mad? This isnt normal is it?

The garage that fitted the rack claim that a bit of play is "normal"... perhaps so in a Landrover but I wouldnt expect it in a van?!

The remanufacturer chap said he could supply another rack if I wanted to try it but I would then have to pay the £300 bill to have it swaped again which I can not afford...

Anyone have any suggestions? I love the van but its a pig to drive which such shite steering.

Doesn't sound right to me and very possibly an MOT failure as well. I'd lay my money on a worn worm drive between the column and the internals of the rack itself. If so, the only sure is another rack (shouldn't have been let go like that).

I had the same issue on my Volvo, it was a rubber disk in the steering UJ that had split. I believe that there is one on the sierra column too. Is there something similar on the dub?

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[Edited on 3/3/16 by HowardB]

As far as I can see there are two UJ units between the column slider and the rack its self. These are known to wear but when im underneath it looks like the rack is the culprit... unless there is play in both being made worse by the dodgy Ujs?! Its so hard to pin it down but its really annoying!


The recon rack has new track rods on it so I know it can't be those..the van drives well apart from the play.





[Edited on 3/3/16 by tegwin]

I wouldn't expect play in a new or recon' rack input shaft.
Did the garage that fitted the rack supply it or did you buy it direct and then ask them to fit it? If they supplied it then they shouldn't be charging you to replace and they should recoup from the manufacturer or as is more often the case just absorb the cost.

Im afraid I made the mistake of sourcing it myself from the recon chap and then finding a local garage to do the work... So the garage did as they were told and replaced the rack, I dont have much comeback with them... I did go back and show them the play but was rather fobbed off, I suspect the chap didnt want to change it again as its a pig to do by all accounts.

The recon company are fairly local so I was tempted to go up there and have a chat with them but they don't have a garage to actually look at the van.

Id like the rack supplier to be liable for the labour charge but persuading them to do that is really unlikeley....

[Edited on 3/3/16 by tegwin]

Perhaps I should go to a couple of other local garages and just say there is play in the steering (without telling them its a new rack) and see what they suggest is the cause... if they say its the rack then I have a bit more leverave with the remanufacturer?

A hydraulic power rack has to have a tiny amount of play but it should disapear with the engine running.
Free play in the UJs is unusual but the I would suggest checking the pinch bolts are fully tightening and also check the steering wheel is fully tight on its splines.