LH Steering Problem

Since it has been 2 months since my last problem with my 96 Eagle Vision
TSI, I should have known that I was due for a new one

Today when I tried to steer to the left it was very hard. I had to put both
hands on the steering wheel and almost drag it to make even a small left
turn.

Yet I had no problem turning right (that at lease should make the
Republicans happy!).

I got the car to a repair shop where I was told that the rack & pinion has
broken down (I get a more detailed report tomorrow).

My question(s) as follows are:

1 In this "normal" for a 9 year old car with 62000 miles?

2: How much am I looking at to fix it?

3: Can I put it off (and yes I know the danger of not being able to go where
one wants to) for a while? And if so am I looking at more damage (money
spent) down the line?

 

Yes, mine failed in my '95 Eagle Vision at 60K miles.

I bought a rebuilt unit at Pep Boys for about $230 and had them install it
for about $180. A new unit costs about $900.

If you delay, just don't drive the car. How much is your life worth?

 

Read this: http://www.daimlerchryslervehicleproblems.com/

 

The problem is the teflon valve seals in the rack and pinion steering
gear have wallowed out the aluminum case.
Replace the rack unit because it gets worse with cold weather and may
suddenly not work when you come to a turn at any time.

 

Steering rack. If you're handy, you can replace it yourself. They run
about $200. Not a huge job, although inconvenient because of where the
rack is located on FWD vehicles.

Steering racks seem to be notoriously problem-prone, which is one reason
I prefer recirculating-ball steering over rack-and-pinion. But I can't
think of any car sold that DOESN'T have R&P steering these days.

That said, my wife's 2003 LH car steering rack has lasted over 200k
miles without a problem. But I know I'm a statistical outlier and not
the norm on this one.

 

Expect you meant to say it is a 1993, not 2003 ... either that OR you sure
put on a lot of miles in just two years!

 

I hadn't actually heard of this problem on Chryslers, but it was big GM
problem in the 80's. They called it "morning sickness" because eventually it
would work after you got down the road a block or two. Dangerous as all
heck, it is.

 

Oops. Yeah, its a 1993.... My brain must have a hydraulic leak.