Steering Rack Replacement Cost

[MrPoo]

Hi,
My colleague came to see me again today, his wife's fortwo (Mk 5 Passion) had developed stiff steering, apparently the UJ lubrication made no difference so he's taken it to a local garage for assessment. They've quoted him £400 +vat for the part + labour. Can anyone comment if this is a good price or not?

There's not a guide on either evilution or fq101 :frown: so I've only a rough idea of how labour intensive this is.


Thank you muchly.

[Khalifa]

Re: Steering Rack Replacement Cost

£400 sounds about right if it needs replacing.

Question is, does it need replacing?

But regardless, front end needs to be taken apart to find out, so either way it's money spent.

Have they seen a specialist??

[heinkeljb]

Re: Steering Rack Replacement Cost

Did they lubricate both UJ's?
I know it is normally the one on the outside of the Tridion which gives trouble as it is open to the elements, but the inside one can also play up.

The other items that commonly give streeing issues are the ball joints. Both the ones at the end of the tie rods and the ones at the bottom of the wishbones.

The steering racks do give issues sometimes, but it could also be the steering damper.

In order to replace the steering rack you obviously have to take off the front cowl, then undo the tie rod ball joint connections.
Then you have the UJ to undo, the steering damper, then the bolts holding the rack in place.

I have no idea how long the "book time" for this is, but it would probably at least 2 ~3hrs. No idea how much a new rack costs, but I am sure a 2nd hand one would only be £50 odd.

John

[MrPoo]

Re: Steering Rack Replacement Cost

Not a specialist, just a local garage (that offers a discount to our company)

[nikb]

Re: Steering Rack Replacement Cost

way way way too expensive, you can buy a new rack for about £70, i have 2nd hand ones for £35, and labout about £80, but check the steering column first

[MrPoo]

Re: Steering Rack Replacement Cost

I did wonder, but I didn't want to comment until I'd asked around.

I'll report back and see what he says, I daresay with a guide, he/we could sort it ourselves, but I'm no use without a picture book

[lil.smartie]

Re: Steering Rack Replacement Cost

More likely column than rack! About £125 from the top of my head for the parts & 3 hrs labour to fit (dash out job!)

Kate

[MrPoo]

Re: Steering Rack Replacement Cost

Right, how do you identify it as a column rather than rack problem?

Thanks for the replies!

[Evilution]

Re: Steering Rack Replacement Cost

And make sure it's not a power assisted steering rack or it gets more expensive.

[MrPoo]

Re: Steering Rack Replacement Cost

And make sure it's not a power assisted steering rack or it gets more expensive.

Checked that, ta!

[MrPoo]

Re: Steering Rack Replacement Cost

Just to report back, it definitely seems to be the rack, we're getting a 2nd hand one from Nik, thoroughly nice chap