Hello again I was just wondering if anybody has changed a track rod on a Fab VRS , unfortunatley due to the bad weather I "bumped" a kerb yesterday rather than being straight its now bent. I was wondering if there is anything I should know before I take the thing to bits. The dealer has quoted £ 75 for a replacement are they available anywhere else , secondly are there any spec tools required? . Loook forward to any advice.MB.

Edited 19 December, 200916 yr by muttboy

let the dealer do it, as it will probably require a tracking check anyway after it has been fitted

If it's the bit from the steering rack to hub thats bent then a tie rod is £9 from VW Spares and so is the tie rod end so it's probably a lot cheaper to do the work yourself. Think you'll just need a couple of spanners and possibly and allen key for the track rod end. Then say £30 for tracking and you've saved yourself a chunk of money! I've changed the track rod ends on my octy and it was really easy.

Edited 19 December, 200916 yr by Schern

It will most likely be the steering arm to TRE that is bent. Dealer job unless you want a load of hassle.

Contacted the Insurance company and believe it or not Its covered ! Thing is I have to wait for the recovery truck (probally Monday) since the car is un driveable . Will you all posted on the outcome could there be mor substansive damage or are the track rods just weak?

Why would you want to claim on your insurance, and have a fault claim against you. Especially considering the cost of repair is likely to be less than any policy excess.

To be fair I did want to do it myself as I posted on my original post however to keep the wife happy , I contacted the insurance company and it was covered despite that , the car wil not drive and has erratic lurches to the right , the local dealer doesnt stock the part and I need another car so I am getting a courtesy car, you are right thought if nothing else I will know that there is nothing sinister lurking else where . So for the sake of £160 excess a small price to pay.

i reckon if they are saying 75 notes then go for it!! besides, who really wants to be scrabbling around under thier car in this weather?

Contacted the Insurance company and believe it or not Its covered ! Thing is I have to wait for the recovery truck (probally Monday) since the car is un driveable . Will you all posted on the outcome could there be mor substansive damage or are the track rods just weak?

Do not do it, I foolishly claimed for a minor bump, (Hit and Run whilst I was not there, Counted as an at fault claim) cost me my £250 excess and the insurer an additional £127 I now pay an extra £123 per year for the next five years

It just does not make sence, they pay £127 and I pay £865 ? for a £377 repair, Thieving scum insurers

Also the insurers on Briskoda will NOT insure you if you have made a claim

National

Take it to a dealer, you do not know what other damage you have.

I broke a front wishbone on my Mum's Polo a few years back in around a 15mph collision with a kerb stone whilst sliding on ice. Cost a fair chunk of money to put right! The claim will cost you a lot more than the excess as others have said. Even if you have protected NCD your premium will still go up because of the claim. £75 for a dealer to sort or £160 for an excess seems like a no brainer too. What would recovery to a dealer cost you if you sorted that side of it yourself.

Don't claim but get the dealer to do it! As already said, you could have done further damage even at those speeds.

I hit a kerb in Feb as I'm sure most people on here are sick of hearing, lol But the up shot was a Wish bone, bushes, track rod, Drive shaft and CV joints plus a boot..... 7k on and the bearing that took the knock is just starting to get noisy at higher speeds.

And as also already said, you will need to get the tracking done.

Edited 21 December, 200916 yr by Rob.