Power steering pipe bracket

[Algypan]

Flopped my MOT today with flying colours.

One of the issues was "Power steering pipe unsafe front (unattached from mounting and interaction with anti roll bar)". I know since last year that this was the way it was and I failed to find where or how to attach it out of the way so it was left resting on the roll bar. It wasn't picked up on the MOT last year so figured it wouldn't be an issue, however it now is and it needs to be fixed in order to pass.... and the other bits.

Is anyone able to help me or happen to know exactly where it is mounted? I know this doesnt help without pics but I can't get under it at the moment. The pipe looks like this though, if that helps. It's the metal bracket bit that is unattached. I had a look last summer while doing some work under there and could not for the life of me find out how it is mounted...

The bit circled is where it is loose and resting along the rollbar.

Many thanks!

Edit: its a 2004 t5 1.9

 

[Algypan]

I've just cable tied it up out of the way as best I could. One cable tie being attached to the rear engine mount and another drilled into the heatshield to keep it away from the roll bar. Let's see if thats enough to pass the retest on Friday!

I have a nastly feeling I'm going to have to swap the pipe out very soon anyway as it looked wet at one of the joints. I'll try to get some pics or a video if this ends up being the case. Might help somone else out.

 

[PhillH]

Could you not fabricate something, bend a piece of steel.
Hook it around the pipe and bolt it to a proper fixing.

It is most likely leaking if the pipe has been flapping around and come loose in the fitting

 

[Algypan]

I tried to budge it yesterday, but I didn't want to put too much force on it as it's quite rusted. 21 years old and 314k miles has't helped I guess.

It will just not budge as the little peice of metal that is a few inches from where it attaches to the steering rack seems to just sit on the roll bar... it's weird. Someone at some point must have taken it off and not put it back on properly... which would explain why it is no longer attached via the bracket, which I still could not find where it connects to. I really don't want to attempt to crank the bolt round even a few mm's for clearance incase that bugger snaps!

 

[PhillH]

Have a look at the photographs, I took this from a 2010 but looks the same. Have you got plenty of WD40 on it?

 

[Algypan]

Thanks for the pics! This is confusing because the MOT station said the part that is arrowed in red should not be touching, however my placement is exactly the same as on your photo. Also, I have tied the part circled blue out of the way, but this wasn't touching the roll bar anyway when I looked...

Am I right in thinking the 3 rubber peices of tubing are there to stop the pipe rubbing and perising against the roll bar then? Because that's how mine sits.

 

[PhillH]

No problem, well this is exactly how it came off the sub frame so nothing has been pushed/pulled so it is all in the correct orientation. Yes the rubber bushes on the rubber hoses are there to prevent the hose rubbing on the sub frame or anti roll bar.

Maybe you can show these photos to the MOT tester. I can have a look under my van at the weekend and take some photographs if that helps?

 

[Algypan]

That would be perfect. I will report back when it has the MOT on Friday morning and I'll keep these pics ready to show the MOT station if it still fails. I really appreciate your help on this, you're a star.

 

[PhillH]

Again no problem, I am happy to help. I will try and have a look under my van tomorrow night in advance of your MOT. See what I can do.

 

[Algypan]

Again no problem, I am happy to help. I will try and have a look under my van tomorrow night in advance of your MOT. See what I can do.

I figure if I find out what this bolt is that is holding this bracket on, At least I can argue it is in its original mounted position. I have just been to VW to ask and they have no idea. I don't suppose you might know what bolt that is do you? Unfortunately I don't have any bolt kits and wouldn't even know where to begin with the different threads and sizes.

 

[Algypan]

Just adding information incase anybody else in the future stumbles onto this thread seeking help about the same issue. The parts department at VW thinks it could be No:21 bolt from the diagram but is not sure, and didn't have one in stock. (note my pipe and bracket doesn't look like the one in the diagram but that was the one that my reg brought up).

 

[PhillH]

Luckily I still have the steering rack off the van. The part circled in red is actually attached to the steering rack! So it has to be touching. Bracket on the other side is held on with a M6 bolt, with approx 10mm of thread under the head.

The fact the bracket is welded to the steering is frustrating because it would mean it has to be snapped off to replace the rack or the pipe.

The round rubber bushes sit on the sub frame as shown in the photo (sorry the photo under the van is not the best it was wet and dark after work)

Hope this helps.

 

[PhillH]

How did the retest go @Algypan

 

[Algypan]

How did the retest go @Algypan

Sorry for the late reply. It passed!! Great news, however he chewed my ear a little about the way I cable tied the pipe out of the way and said I did have the right sized bolt and intend to get under and fix it (thanks to you!)

Now just have to deal with what looks like excessive oil from the filter housing and nearside driveshaft oil seal. Luckily the boot that perished on the offside shaft is still under warranty and they have agreed to send me a whole new driveshaft.

I can't thank you enough @PhillH for your help.

 

[PhillH]

Sorry for the late reply. It passed!! Great news, however he chewed my ear a little about the way I cable tied the pipe out of the way and said I did have the right sized bolt and intend to get under and fix it (thanks to you!)

Now just have to deal with what looks like excessive oil from the filter housing and nearside driveshaft oil seal. Luckily the boot that perished on the offside shaft is still under warranty and they have agreed to send me a whole new driveshaft.

I can't thank you enough @PhillH for your help.

Great news that it’s passed. Maybe put some rubber around the pipe and use a jubilee clip if that is more secure.

Probably be able to buy a bolt from eBay but I do wonder if the bolt has snapped in the rack, the threads will most likely need tapping out as they will be full of road dirt.

Good luck with the oil leaks, I’m sure YouTube or this forum will be your friend.

 

[Podge]

That part arrowed in red is the same on my '04. It may be a thing only on the early vans I don't know but my new genuine pipe was the same. That pipe bracket just rests, it's not bolted at all at that point. (Although it is bolted elsewhere.)

As a general thing on these vans, look out for any possible chafe points on the rubber sections. There is one near the bottom of the radiator cowling on one of the pipes.

On mine, I'm quite happy to add cable ties, a short piece of that split plastic armouring stuff or anything else to add security to any point that I think needs it. It's not an mot failure to add reasonable extra support to a power steering pipe as long as it doesn't compromise any other critical part.

If any pipe on the high pressure side of the system chafes through you will only have a minute or so before your steering is nearly impossibly stiff to turn and the lack of oil (which will have been pumped out on to the ground at that point) will almost certainly wreck the steering pump too.