Hey guys, I own a 2001 A6 (4.2L V8) with relatively low miles 100k km. Recently, and without incident, the power steering to the right stopped working. Mechanics are telling me I need to replace the steering rack. We've already done a full fluid flush using dealer supplied oil. Before I go ahead and drop a pretty penny on the rack replacement, has anyone on the forum seen this issue before? Any suggestions for what it might be?

Thanks!

 

It sounds like this problem happened and then you flushed the fluid. But, if you flushed it first and then this problem appeared I know one possibility. I dealt with a guy that replaced a rack on an old 5000 and swapped the lines that bolt to the rack. When he tried to turn the wheel with the engine running the wheel wouldn't move.

I don't know if switching the lines at the rack can even happen on your car, and I doubt that you'd disassemble it there to flush the fluid, but if you did there you go. One possiblity.

 

Hey, thanks for the reply.

I did have a flush done a few days before the problem randomly occurred, but there was a time gap in between. In fact, it randomly happened while driving on the highway without incident (no impact or anything).

I did a flush on advice of an Audi mechanic with Audi provided oil. It improved a little.

Also, something I forgot to mention earlier, when I was getting my tires replaced and they were off the car, the steering seemed to be fine in both directions.