Death of a steering damper?

[Error404]

Highly recommended mate, can't believe the difference its made

also worth noting too - theres now only the very occasional and vaguest hint of tramlining

[Error404]

I pulled off my steering damper today...... it had about 2 inches of end to end play in it, as well as rattling, ouzing and being generally rough!



The car feels the same to drive without it on there, so its not been doing much!
Easy enough job, a bit of a PITA to see what you're doing undoing the chassis end of it, but just one 15mm bolt to remove - spend 15 minutes wishing I had a set of ratchet spanners
I think I will replace it, I'm desperate to add more weight to the steering, however that may be.. its just too damb light for me.

Apparently there is a Febi alternative to the OEM one for the LHD cars thats about £30, but not one for the RHD.
So its going to be the £70 odd for a new one unfortunately

[Smiley]

From the FA A80Q I get Part No. 8A1 425 021 for LHD and RHD, FEBI No. 27613
so they should be the same on a S2.

EDIT: This is for year 1993 models.
For 1996 models i get the Part.No. 8A2 425 021, but only RHD and ABY.

[Error404]

Hmmm. this is odd. There are definately different, I get 8A1425021 for the LHD, and 8A2425021 for the RHD.

The only difference I can see is that the LHD ones have a captive nut on the chassis end - the RHD ones dont have this.


Unless the dampers are different lengths, i'm sure that nut could be removed and the LHD Febi one used on our RHD cars

Anyone got a LHD damper lying about they could measure?

[Smiley]

for LHD FEBI product details say:

characteristics length 558,5 mm
pack.unit 1 Stück
length 212,5 mm

don't know which length is which?

[Error404]

Hmmm.... well the one i took off, the measurement between the mounting hole centres at max extension is approx 558mm

so maybe it is the same except for the nut on the LHD one?

Maybe I should order one and see if its the same, if not maybe a nice LHD guy will buy it off me?

[panzerwagen]

So how hard was it too pull out? A real POS?

What did you have to do to get yours off? Take out the ABS unit & other components?Loosen the rack for sure.

[stiglet]

Jack the car up, reach underneath. Loosen 2 bolts. The rack and ABS don't need to be touched.

[Error404]

nope.. pretty easy really on the RHD.

Undo the rack end damper bolt (15mm spanner)
Jack up passenger side
crawl underneath
get filth on face and arms
undo mounting bolt at the chassis end of the damper (15mm spanner)
withdraw the damper

Its a bit fiddly as the engine loom comes out of the bulkhead right in front of the chassis mounting end of the damper, so you have to work a bit blind, but other than that, pretty straight forward

EDIT: Beaten!

[4WheelDrifter]

The OEM steering damper is made by Stabilus, part number 620688 from what I can make out.
My original one was marked 321 425 021, the same as Passats from '78, but the replacement was 8A2 425 021.

Yet another item that is very easy to replace with the engine out the way. Although my original one didn't seem to have much play in it, but it looked like it may have been weeping a little.

[Error404]

Still not happy with the steering on the CQ - so decided to strip the bracket off the rack for inspection and fit new track rod ends.
Found a couple of the bracket holes were very slightly ovalled which probably isn't helping, but TBH I was expected more damage given the feel of the car






Managed to break the little pressed bolt bracket that holds the track rods
that thing is a crap design, the press fitted bolts just snap and then spin if the nuts are tight
Gave my local garage some beer to MIG it for me though - all good



Going to order a new bracket and try the Febi damper when i've moved house, but it feels like I have play in the rack
I can't add more pre-load as its at the point where it almost doesn't straighten itself.. looks like i'll have to replace the rack when I have the engine out some time. I know someone before me had the wrong fluid in the hydraulic circuit, i changed it when I got the car and a LOT of filth came out, i've since had to replace the pump, servo and bomb with good used ones, so I guess the rack is funked too as the seals are probably shot

[Error404]

Update:

I have found a much cheaper replacement for the RHD steering damper which is about £80 + VAT at the stealer.

This is a Sachs Boge item so should be OEM quality, part number 22-747-1.
Replaces Vag P/n 321 425 021 which was superceded by 8A2 425 021.

I'll be ordering one next week so will report back on then

[pixsaudisex2]

Yeah i certainly wanna know how this ends up.. mine is also:corey: was thinking of sending it to a shock recon person. as 80 pounds sound expensive for such a wwee shock.lol on the other hand do you know of anyone that can do a replacement for the rubber bushes in the end of the steering arms i was going to buy some new ones( yep even i buy the odd bit new) but NLA so i thought a new bush inside and im sure the metal is ok still... tempted to just buy a block of poly and cut and bodge untill it fits.

[Error404]

One step ahead of you mate

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39772

[mcandmar]

Update:

I have found a much cheaper replacement for the RHD steering damper which is about £80 + VAT at the stealer.

This is a Sachs Boge item so should be OEM quality, part number 22-747-1.
Replaces Vag P/n 321 425 021 which was superceded by 8A2 425 021.

I'll be ordering one next week so will report back on then

I've had one on the shelf here for about four years ..sourced from Vagparts many moons ago.