73TA

Like the title says, can I use a 2008-2010 A8 steering rack to replace the steering rack in my 2007 S8. The A8 racks are more plentiful and a whole lot cheaper.

Thanks
Mike

BASARAB

Are you talking about used? It's a lot of labor, might as well put new right away

73TA

Yes, I am talking about a used one. Really don't want spend big dollars for a S8 4E1422052d rack if I really don't need to. The A8 rack will work, just don't know the real difference in the two racks. It is possible that I may only need to adjust the steering rack. It is binding when the car is going straight, if you turn the wheel slightly while driving it in straight line, it will stick in that position.

I found this link online stating that the A8 rack 4E1422052C is used on the S8 in some markets.

Audi, WV, Skoda, Seat part number 4E1422052c


Mike

BASARAB

Looks like they might be interchangeable. How many miles do you have on your car?

BASARAB

MP4.2+6.0

If only binding like you describe, that is the adjustment. I have done most of my Audi's over the years as they get up to 100Kmiles, including the D3 A8 W12. Helps keep everything feel newer and tighter. But indeed if you go too far, you get the behavior you describe, including specifically on the D3 when I dialed it in to final setting. It is a real pain in the butt to actually turn the adjustment nut, where you can barely turn it maybe 1/16th of a turn at a time, using one open end wrench of exactly the right size, flipping it over to take advantage of the angle most open end wrenches have, AND alternating it with another looser fitting wrench on top of that.

Still way easier than a rack change. As Mister Bally first stated, at least on older Audis like we both owned and pulled leaking racks on, the very first part they laid down at station 1 on the Audi assembly line was not the welded up body but rather the rack, building everything else it seems around it.

73TA

MP4, I was going to attempt to adjust the rack. I bought the car after it had hit a curb and the insurance company totaled it. I assume the rack was not doing this until it hit the curb. I was looking for a backup plan in case it did not work.

BASARAB, it has 96K miles, thanks for looking up the parts. It looks like the racks are the same, I guess it depends where you look for the interchange information.

Mike

BASARAB

Same here, I also bought my s8 from insurance company
, all it needed was new rack and pinion and a new fender

73TA

Looks like a nice car, what was wrong with the steering rack. I had to replace the lower control arms, air strut, tie rod end, and the wheel. My front bumber cover was not damaged. What did you pay for your S8?

Mike

awdinut

We have an S8 at the shop right now that hit a curb and the rack snapped clean in two. Curiously, a new rack (has to come from Germany) is $400 cheaper than a re-built rack from Audi. And the re-built rack would require a core, and since the core is no good, there would be an additional $400 core charge for the re-built rack.