[McOlaf]

Well, I have just discovered a knock in the steering...
I have posted something before on that, but the was solved by replacing trackrod ends... now there is something different...
There is a know, and you can feel it in both wheels, but more in the drivers side than the other side...

If you have the wheels in driving direction, and steer from the left to the right you can feel a knock just before the wheel moves...

I can't seem to find anything wrong with the trackrods or stabilisers...
So I am getting close to thinking that my rack it fu***

If this would be the case, is it a hard job to replace?
I have found a rack on eBay VAUXHALL VECTRA B 1999 / 2001 POWER STEERING RACK on eBay (end time 12-Oct-10 07:14:00 BST)

But ofcourse I want to change it in my own garage..
Do I need special tools?


Or am I going crazy and could it be something else?
Are there known faults with the steering of the V6?

[matt-m]

id check ure drop link first bud if one of them goes you will get these symptons

and replacing the rack = pain in the rear

droplinks seize so that would be my first port of call as such

[McOlaf]

Well, that's interesting...
I have checked that just a minute ago, and as far as I can see there is no play in there...
what I have discovered though is on the drivers side there is a knock in the wheel.. and that is a bearring if you ask me.. but, could that know be felt all the way through the steering rack to the drivers side? and whilst writing this I checked that by putting the car on a jack one side, then the other and the knock is a less with the passenger wheel of the ground.... I guess I am looking at a set of bearrings instead....

[matt-m]

the actual ball joint part of the droplink fails and will cause the knocking check them before doing the bearings undo them pull away from suspension and try to move the threaded ball joint if its stiff thats the problem

[ASTOBBS]

if you have that much play in the wheel bearings you're on borrowed time!

Most track rods are on a ball and socket joint on the inner end, this allows movement and easy adjustment of tracking. Not sure if they can be changed on the vectra but worth a try. If you have to do a rack, expect it to take all day on the garage floor. They are a pig.

[rickardo]

I've always had a bit of play in the steering of my Vectra ,highlighted at the last MOT , no serious problems though . But ,I enquired at the local garage years ago and one of the mechanics said you have to lower the sub frame to change the steering rack and he quoted a price of £600 . Is this true or another 'cowboy con' ?

[matt-m]

its true the rack is sat on the subframe so it has to be lowered to get to it

[Leeky]

A couple of things:

1. Loose bolts holding your rack in place will cause slight knocking
2. Track rod ends with play will cause knocking.
3. Droplinks cause knocking, but you hear that due to the road more than the rack (as they're connected the ARB to the shock tower.
4. Worn inner rams on the PAS rack will also cause play, and can also cause it to knock when the wear is heavy.
5. Driveshaft CV joints give a distinctive clonk when worn, which is often mis-diagnosed as ball joint wear.
6. Ball joint where gives knocking noises when worn, which is usually heard when travelling over uneven road surfaces as the lower arms (and balljoints) move in sync with the rough road surface.

TRE wear is usually found by holding each wheel in the 9 and 3 position, and gently rocking it. If your hearing knocking (or rather feeling it) doing that, your TRE's or the rack is worn.

Wheel bearing issues are more commonly diagnosed by rumbling noises that increase with road speed, and when placing front end load on the faulty bearing during cornering.

Changing a steering rack on a driveway is often frustrating work on a V6 Vectra. I've done it enough times, and believe me I'll be glad to never do one again! Its not especially hard, its just awkward getting to everything and getting it out once its been released from the subframe. Its not a job you should consider unless your confident in your abilities with spanners, as many things need setting up correctly or you'll have potentially fatal consequences.

[McOlaf]

	Quote:
	Originally Posted by Leeky TRE wear is usually found by holding each wheel in the 9 and 3 position, and gently rocking it. If your hearing knocking (or rather feeling it) doing that, your TRE's or the rack is worn.

Yep, that is what I feel, ONLY on 9-3 not on 6-12 will have a look again

[Leeky]

Then that is either worn TRE's, or worn rams on the rack.

Its most likely TRE's though.