Thanks for your help guys, its appreciated. Yeah, luckily I was blessed with a local Audi VW salvage yard nearby so I would have access to one if need be. What kind of Lucas oil are you guys using? You mean to replace the existing fluid with the Lucas or just adding some leak bond to it. The mechanics of the rack is working absolutley fine besides the creaking and groaning noises; I just don't get it.

 

Is there any way to check the power steering pump prior to rack removal to see if that could be the culprit instead of the rack itself. Reason I ask is because the problem is intermittent; seems as though it gets fluid up to rack and the noises disappear then it goes back to normal. I am justconcerned about the time and money side of things since I will be doing the job myself if it is a simple pump replace.

 

well.. i JUST (2 days ago) had my steering rack replaced.. 114k on my car.. it was leaking exremely bad from the drivers side tie rod end though.. so i knew it was a blown seal in the rack.. but as far as the clunking and stuff, through the research ive done on here and what not, that is the signs of a bad rack. i picked mine up used, and shipped for 300 bucks.. and now that its put in, low and behold everythings perfect again. between all the clunking and stuff, i would say its safe to say that its not your pump. especially if youre hearing stuff on your passenger side. this is just my advice coming from someone who just had the same problem [:@]its terrible.. but i really wish you the best of luck.. theres nothing more frustrating thats for sure!

 

Thanks osin34. Yeah I wasn't sure if it could possibly be the pump not working properly and not lubricating the rack thus the noises and clunking. I topped off the reservoir withnon-oem pentosin 11s andthis isnow aproduct of thatstupidity. Passenger side noise is absolutely horrible and cannot wait to replace the damn thing. I will be attempting the installation myself with a used unitso hopefully all will go well.

 

i've been quoted $1400.00 to replace a power steering rack, tie rods and tie rod boot on my 1999 audi A4. is that a reasonable price?

 

I paid $1,000 to have the steering rack replaced with a remanufactured one from
www.carsteering.com
I changed the rack at 132K mi. and have 146K now.

My mechanic told me that a used rack will leak shortly after replacement.

Mine also made noises when the temperature was above 90. The seal blew
around 20K mi. after the noises started.

 

UPDATE: Still have not replaced my rack. It stopped making the constant groaning and creaking noises although it still needs to be replaced b/c every time I have my wheel turned to the left and go over a bump I hear the same dash noises. For right now I'm holding tight b/c everything mechanically seems fine. Until I hear those unpleasant noises re-occur I'm not going to take action on such an expensive repair. Thanks for all the help again.

 

so your new remanufactured replacement blew after 20K? or is yours working fine now with the replacement? i'm a little confused. the quote i got for the $1400 is for a remanufactured power steering rack.

 

The remanufactured rack is working well. If you
get a rack from Carsterring.com , pre-pay the core
return via UPS.

 

Sorry I dont have time to read the whole thread. Check your tie rods. If you are on original tie rod ends then they are likely shot=wandering steering. If you hear a single knock when turning the wheel (mainly when vehicle is stopped or moving slowly)=inner tie rods. Moaning/groaning=check your fluid. Stock racks should last well over 100k miles as long as you dont run the pump dry and don't off road.