MOT Advisory

[colnagoglyn]

My 2005 997 has just passed it's MOT but with the following advisory note, "Play in steering rack inner joint(s)".
Not being very mechanically minded can anyone tell me how serious this is, is it something I need to attend to quickly or can I leave it for a while? If someone knows the cost of fixing this issue that would also be very helpful.
The tester didn't make a big thing about it so I'm guessing that it's not a big issue,yet!
Thanks in advance

[996TT02]

There are four ball joints on a steering rack, two outboard at the wheel side, and two inboard, beneath the rubber bellows.

Both wear, as can the collar bush where the rack actually exits the housing.

Personally I would say that this is not normally critical unless it really really bad which reasonably speaking will be past a couple more MOTs (at least), you would notice quite odd steering behaviour and knocking/clunking well before that.

Not sure how adjustable Porsche racks are or what parts you would be needing, it mainly depends on whether you can buy bits other than simply a complete steering rack, check online parts vendors parts images and that will give you an idea.

If your car is not high on the mileage perhaps the tester was over enthusiastic or inexperienced? A very slight amount of play at the collar bushes is practically a fact of life and can easily be mistaken for BJ wear.

[colnagoglyn]

Very helpful, thanks very much.

[colnagoglyn]

Very helpful, thanks very much.

[Tim J F]

I had this on my old VX220. The steering rack can cause wobble and wear the tires and affect handling. Worth getting it checked out.

Cheers, Tim

[Pope]

Inner rack joints take a fair bit of abuse and can show a bit of play after 2/3years of use (20-30k miles) the joints have been superceded to a larger/stronger design in the last 3 years and they are replaceable singularly (book time Iincludes rack removal and wheel alignment at around 4hrs)

[Tripe Bypass]

Pope said:

Inner rack joints take a fair bit of abuse and can show a bit of play after 2/3years of use (20-30k miles) the joints have been superceded to a larger/stronger design in the last 3 years and they are replaceable singularly (book time Iincludes rack removal and wheel alignment at around 4hrs)

Why do you need to to remove the rack to replace the inner rack joints(inner ball joints, track rods)? Access?

[csmith319]

Tripe Bypass said:

Why do you need to to remove the rack to replace the inner rack joints(inner ball joints, track rods)? Access?

I just had one done, more like an hours worth of labour but a full geo was done at the same time too.