Steering parts

[Anthony bigt]

Hi, I have a audi 1998 cabriolet 1.8 b4 S Reg, a local garage was checking the tracking after I had both wishbones replaced. Garage informed me that track rods had seized and couldn't adjust tracking. In the meantime they have damaged the little arms that fit into the black box on steering column (garages explanation) and cannot fix it so give me car back to which now I cannot drive. Does anyone know the correct name for these parts as I am kind of looking for them without knowing the name or part number. Please help if you can. Anthony Price 

[Magnet]

Hell Anthony, 

I think the first way forward is to post a photo of the damaged component/ area? 
What have they damaged that makes it undriveable, and where is the car now? 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Anthony bigt]

20 minutes ago, Magnet said:

Hell Anthony, 

I think the first way forward is to post a photo of the damaged component/ area? 
What have they damaged that makes it undriveable, and where is the car now? 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

Hi Gareth, I unfortunately can't get a photo of the area as I have a back disability. All the garage have said is the part that goes into black box on steering rack are little rods, they are damaged and they are like "rocking horse !Removed! and we can't get them". The garage left the car outside their garage and when I collected it the garage was closed (5pm) the steering wheel is at an angle and the brakes did not work until I pumped them twice. He told me I would have to take it to a dealer. I phoned garage yesterday morning (Saturday) and they said they don't know what the part is called just that it is a little rod that fits into box on steering rack. 

Anthony 

[Magnet]

Hello Anthony, 

It really sounds as if your first move is to formally inform them that you will be taking them to the small claims court unless they return your car to you in the condition in which it was left with them. Put a time limit of say 2 weeks on this. 
You will need to do that in writing or by e-Mail. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Anthony bigt]

3 minutes ago, Magnet said:

Hello Anthony, 

It really sounds as if your first move is to formally inform them that you will be taking them to the small claims court unless they return your car to you in the condition in which it was left with them. Put a time limit of say 2 weeks on this. 
You will need to do that in writing or by e-Mail. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

Hi, Gareth, I spoke to a lady on phone at garage yesterday who said she was the boss as the proper boss was in holiday, she was a !Removed! to be honest. The proper boss the phoned me from his home and it was him that said it was the rod that goes into rack and asked if I could get them

Anthony 

[Magnet]

Hello Anthony,

I don’t know if I’m now getting a clearer picture, but I just wonder if they have ‘destroyed’ the track rods themselves by trying to turn them, and the ‘plastic’  you refer to may be the rubber boots on the steering rack. Replacement rack required?? Whatever, they seem to have done some damage!Another possibility is that there might be a steering angle sensor arrangement, but it’s all guesswork.

Can’t you ask them to put the car on a ramp and take a photo, so we can see what you are referring to? 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Anthony bigt]

1 minute ago, Magnet said:

Hello Anthony,

I don’t know if I’m now getting a clearer picture, but I just wonder if they have ‘destroyed’ the track rods themselves by trying to turn them, and the ‘plastic’  you refer to may be the rubber boots on the steering rack. Replacement rack required?? Whatever, they seem to have done some damage!Another possibility is that there might be a steering angle sensor arrangement, but it’s all guesswork.

Can’t you ask them to put the car on a ramp and take a photo, so we can see what you are referring to? 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

Hi, my brother was service manager for volkswagen/Audi for 30 years then had his own garage but has now retired after a stroke so I try not to mither him too much but he has just loaned me his car and he had a quick look and the new track rods are about 10 mm off the tyres both sides. He just said tellthem to recover it but he said they have done something seriously wrong and not to drive it at all. If they are prepared to take it back I will try to get pictures. 

Regards 

Anthony 

[Magnet]

Sorry Anthony, but I wrongly assumed the car was still with them. 
I appreciate your brother’s advice, but if it were mine, I would keep the car well away from them ( for your own safety). I wouldn’t be having anything to do with them. Obviously your  choice , but do you really want to run the risk of them messing this up twice? I know I wouldn’t put my life in their hands - that would be foolish. 
If it were mine, I would get it to a trusted local independent,  and get them to repair the damage caused, then reclaim the outlay  from the garage. Write to them and tell them what you intend to do. If they don’t pay then simply take them to the Small Claims Court. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

 

[Anthony bigt]

8 minutes ago, Magnet said:

Sorry Anthony, but I wrongly assumed the car was still with them. 
I appreciate your brother’s advice, but if it were mine, I would keep the car well away from them ( for your own safety). I wouldn’t be having anything to do with them. Obviously your  choice , but do you really want to run the risk of them messing this up twice? I know I wouldn’t put my life in their hands - that would be foolish. 
If it were mine, I would get it to a trusted local independent,  and get them to repair the damage caused, then reclaim the outlay  from the garage. Write to them and tell them what you intend to do. If they don’t pay then simply take them to the Small Claims Court. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

 

Yeah my brother did say see what the garage owner has to say tomorrow but as he said they are trying to cover it up. I have just found a audi specialist not too far from me but I will need them to recover it. I'm so fed up I've just had everything done on it, all brakes, water pump centre box and cat, if you remember me and you spoke via this forum few weeks ago when I was looking for exhaust parts and it passed mot very easily. It was running like dream day before it went in for tracking on Friday. 

Regards 

Anthony 

[Magnet]

Just add the cost of recovery to the bill. Personally, I wouldn’t bother phoning the offending garage - just e-Mail them with your intention, but list what what you find wrong, including the brakes. 
Obviously keep all receipts for your paid work, and parts purchased. 

[Anthony bigt]

5 minutes ago, Magnet said:

Just add the cost of recovery to the bill. Personally, I wouldn’t bother phoning the offending garage - just e-Mail them with your intention, but list what what you find wrong, including the brakes. 
Obviously keep all receipts for your paid work, and parts purchased. 

Yes I think its best to get it to a specialist and let them tell me what is wrong, it could be even worse than first feared which I think it is. 

Thank you for all the help and I will keep you informed of the outcome

Regards 

Anthony 

[Anthony bigt]

On 11/20/2022 at 6:26 PM, Anthony bigt said:

Yes I think its best to get it to a specialist and let them tell me what is wrong, it could be even worse than first feared which I think it is. 

Thank you for all the help and I will keep you informed of the outcome

Regards 

Anthony 

Hi, I got an independent engineer out to check car, it cost £240 but he informed me that the garage that did repair has left my car in dangerous state, he said that they had not tightened locking nut on one side but they should not have let car leave the garage. I had car recovered to a garage (I contacted my insurance company that I have breakdown with) that has carried out few jobs in past couple months who has diagnosed fault and is in progress of repair. This garage said there is no damage to steering etc. (Thankfully). I am waiting for report from A. C. E the company that checked car, and I will be forwarding copy to original garage. Thank you again for all who replied to my query. 

Anthony Price