Servatronic advice

[Taffy]

Right, I've done plenty of searching on here about the PAS servo rack..

Mine is screwed and I simply don't have the skill to recon it myself.

So questions..

1) I read that the servotronic rack actually has worse road feel than the non servo ones. Should i then perhaps purchase a non servo rack for my 3B? Is there any implications to this?

2) Ifo so what is the part nos? (for the servo one and the non servo one)

3) So I'm not ripped off by the garage how many "man hours" do we think it'll take? Having read the very useful guide to DIY it, it looks like a sizeable job... 4 hours perhaps? For a proper mech?

thanks in advance!

[K Simmonds]

It's a ****** of a job and one I'm yet to do on my 3B, got an ABY rack waiting. I work as a mechanic, reckon it 'could' be done in 4hrs but could also turn into the best part of a days work what with wheel alignment ect. No negative implication's so to speak when fitting a non servo rack to a 3B, the Servotronic set up is pants. Ideally you want to source an ABY rack as their quicker lock to lock than the others.

[Taffy]

It's a ****** of a job and one I'm yet to do on my 3B, got an ABY rack waiting. I work as a mechanic, reckon it 'could' be done in 4hrs but could also turn into the best part of a days work what with wheel alignment ect. No negative implication's so to speak when fitting a non servo rack to a 3B, the Servotronic set up is pants. Ideally you want to source an ABY rack as their quicker lock to lock than the others.

****....

that doesn't sound good...

any ideas on the part no for a ABY rack?

i rang euro car parts a 3b servo one is £800 a non is £191.... perhaps they are implying that the £191 is the non servo one?

[K Simmonds]

Wow! £800 for a 3B rack is that new or recon? No idea of the ABY part number off the top of my head, though I'm sure someone on here will have it jotted down. I'd expect a new ABY rack to be just as scary price wise as the 3B one, I'm using a decent second hand one. £191 for a standard non servo rack doesn't seem so bad, again is recon though? Try phoning Audi for laugh.

[Taffy]

Wow! £800 for a 3B rack is that new or recon? No idea of the ABY part number off the top of my head, though I'm sure someone on here will have it jotted down. I'd expect a new ABY rack to be just as scary price wise as the 3B one, I'm using a decent second hand one. £191 for a standard non servo rack doesn't seem so bad, again is recon though? Try phoning Audi for laugh.

jesus chirst I've called euro card parts 3 times and the first and last times they said the car was a non-servotronic, the middle time it WAS a servotronic....

Reading on here it is, isn't it?

it a 1991, S2 3B.

[K Simmonds]

I'm 99% sure all 3B's are Servotronic.

[Error404]

896 422 056 B or 896 422 056 BX are the ones to have... quicker 2.6 turn ratio non-servotronic rack as fitted to RS2, ABY S2 and V6 coupes

IMHO absolutely no way you could change the rack with the engine in situ in 4 hours, I'd guess at 8 - 10 hours....... if its even possible.
Having just swapped mine its enough of a PITA with the engine out of the way, let alone fighting through the myriad of brake lines, loom etc to get to it.

[K Simmonds]

Have to agree there Alex, thought 4 hours is a little optimistic. I reckon it can be done with the engine in situ in a day with the use of air tools a proper lift and with the inlet manifold removed.

Just occurred to me as well, I'm thinking about my car which has no battery tray any more and various other obstructions removed.

Didn't know the V6 had the quick rack as well, useful to know.

[Taffy]

Have to agree there Alex, thought 4 hours is a little optimistic. I reckon it can be done with the engine in situ in a day with the use of air tools a proper lift and with the inlet manifold removed.

Just occurred to me as well, I'm thinking about my car which has no battery tray any more and various other obstructions removed.

Didn't know the V6 had the quick rack as well, useful to know.

****.... I cannot justify spending that much on it......

that may well be the end of it...

[Error404]

Oh forgot to say the BX designated one superceded the other one so that'll likely be the only new version out there.
I did a bit of research into replacement racks a while back, somewhere on the forum i found:
ZF replacement p/n is 2886 401
LEMFÖRDER replacement p/n is 28864

[Error404]

****.... I cannot justify spending that much on it......

that may well be the end of it...

just whip the engine out, you can check the clutch and many other things very easily while you're in there, and its actually not a difficult job just takes a little while

[K Simmonds]

just whip the engine out, you can check the clutch and many other things very easily while you're in there, and its actually not a difficult job just takes a little while

Not bad advice, the whole operation would take a little longer than in an insitu swap but would be a dam sight less stressful.

If you were closer and I had full use of my right hand I'd take the job on for a cash rate as I can use the ramps and equipment at work on weekends. I take it there's no way you can tackle the job yourself?

[s2_bo]

Kit i have a rack I reconditioned about a years ago, its only done 5000 miles sine, its in perfect condition..
you can have it for £40, which is was the kit cost i think..
Let me know.
Cheers.
Bo

[K Simmonds]

Thanks Bo, it's Taffy who's after the rack though. That's a very good offer.

[Taffy]

Not bad advice, the whole operation would take a little longer than in an insitu swap but would be a dam sight less stressful.

If you were closer and I had full use of my right hand I'd take the job on for a cash rate as I can use the ramps and equipment at work on weekends. I take it there's no way you can tackle the job yourself?

nope I don't have the facilites or the know how for a job that size... also it's in the garage already as they've repalces the PAS pump...

Kit i have a rack I reconditioned about a years ago, its only done 5000 miles sine, its in perfect condition..
you can have it for £40, which is was the kit cost i think..
Let me know.
Cheers.
Bo

is that to me?