My '91 MK1 Golf Cabby

[tafe]

Hey All,

Hoping to tap into your knowledge bank. Picked up a second hand cabby that needs a little love.

Here it is View image: cp4656993002825421423 1

Steering rack is aparently cooked. Been quoted $825 fitted if my current rack is overhaulable. More if they have to replace it. Are parts like this hard to come by?

Other work I've been told is required is a new left high beam light, new rocker cover gasket, steam clean engine, wheel alignment, reset rear muffler, locate/make new bushes for gear selector (Another $1k all up).

Thoughts on any of this? I love my Golfs but not really a 'car guy' if that makes sense. Any input appreciated!

Would love to keep her on the road.

[eltonking]

Hey All,

Hoping to tap into your knowledge bank. Picked up a second hand cabby that needs a little love.

Here it is View image: cp4656993002825421423 1

Steering rack is aparently cooked. Been quoted $825 fitted if my current rack is overhaulable. More if they have to replace it. Are parts like this hard to come by?

Other work I've been told is required is a new left high beam light, new rocker cover gasket, steam clean engine, wheel alignment, reset rear muffler, locate/make new bushes for gear selector (Another $1k all up).

Thoughts on any of this? I love my Golfs but not really a 'car guy' if that makes sense. Any input appreciated!

Would love to keep her on the road.

I can't comment on the steering rack,

...but $1k for fitting a globe, a $10 gasket (I gave one away literally last week) and a wheel alignment that costs ~$100? if that? wow. Even the rear muffler, new, replaced etc should only be $100-200 and shifter linkages are easy to do yourself. Why does your engine need to be steam cleaned?

Happy to give you a hand anytime man

but don't get taken for a ride and let that turn you off mk1s. please.

[Petska84]

I've got a rack you can have.

[Big Yellow]

btw, shifter bushes can be bought online for about $5-6 from places like GAP or vw heritage etc.

[sports racer]

Fellas, it's people like you that give honest, hard working mechanics a bad name.

Well done! Bet you there's nothing wrong with the rack, just needs balljoints replaced.


That's a nice looking Cabby you've got there Tafe. Definitely worth keeping.



Cheers

Paul

[Stanton]

I've seen plenty of buggered racks,mainly due to split boots and moisture,dirt etc.
Don't get the wrong rack though there are early non mounting bush ones and the later ones.
Go to a VW specialist workshop or like most with old cars DIY.
There are plenty of guys on this forum to help you out.

[tafe]

Happy to give you a hand anytime man

but don't get taken for a ride and let that turn you off mk1s. please.

Wow, what a great forum - Mate I'd be super appreciative of any help whatsoever. I'm in Melb inner-east, but will travel wherever. Feel like I'm at the mercy of mechanics (This guys was a second opinion and half the price of the first guy!)

I've got a rack you can have.

Really? Thanks!

btw, shifter bushes can be bought online for about $5-6 from places like GAP or vw heritage etc.

The mechanic was like, can't get parts for a car this old, and that he's gonna have to make them himself???

Fellas, it's people like you that give honest, hard working mechanics a bad name.

Well done! Bet you there's nothing wrong with the rack, just needs balljoints replaced.


That's a nice looking Cabby you've got there Tafe. Definitely worth keeping.

Paul

Cheers Paul, Hopefully with a bit of help I'll be able to. I want to keep it but after speaking with a couple of mechanics I was really nervous about being sent broke. Sounds like with a bit of know-how it's not gonna cost the earth after all. More than happy to put the time in, just don't have much know-how!

[Big Yellow]

which workshops have quoted you out of interest??

shifter bushings - https://au.vwheritage.com/vw_spares_...umbStartRow=18

[Mk1@4Motion]

Hey bud, try doing these jobs yourself. It'll teach you about the car and also how to work on them a little bit. Its all part of the fun.


Only The Good Die Young 45

[Peter Jones]

All of that's easy accomplished on a lazy Saturday afternoon by someone who knows Golfs.

Maybe a $200 tops to sort that lot out if you do it yourself with some advice form the brains trust on here.

Steering rack issues could also be due to a broken mount and might require a little welding. Nothing major.

If a steering rack mount is broken it also affects the gearshift as one of the levers mount off the rack.

Nice looking Car!

[Water Boy]

Go to Volkscare in Boronia.

He is honest and wont rip you off!

[tafe]

which workshops have quoted you out of interest??

Crusader Motors - Hawthorn

Car needs:
RH & LH stop light globes faded
Windscreen Squirter motor n/w
LH front seat belt not retracting
Inside boot side panels re-secure [due to electrical wiring]
Rocker Cover gasket [leaking oil]
Engine sump gasket [leaking oil]
New oil filter [leaking oil]
Oil pump seal [leaking oil] re-co pump
5 liters of engine oil
Welsh plugs [leaking water]
4 liters of 100% concentrated coolant
Rack ‘n’ pinion [has excessive free-play on RH side] re-co rack
2liters of power steering oil
Front brake pads are very low
LH & RH disc rotors machine [glazed and grooved]
LH & RH rear wheel cylinders [leaking oil]
2x 500mls brake fluid- bleed all brakes
2 liters of cleaning fluids
4x tyres [205/45zr16 fitted to the vehicle are too wide, rubbing on the chassis and under minimum
clearance between shock absorbers] 195/45zr16 recommended
4x wheel balance
4x wheel computer alignment

"It is hard to determine exact cost involved for the listed repairs and you can see there is decent amount of work involved, an approximate price range is $4000-$5000. The reason for a $1000 bracket is due to some parts that may be required however cannot be identified untill the work coimmences and only when its its process. As well as the labour involved can vary and can only be accounted close to completion of the work. "

The Workshop - Hawthorn

"Steering rack price is $825 fitted. This is if your own steering rack is overhaul able, if not we have to try find a second hand unit that is. According to our steering specialist they have a tendency of rusting internally which makes them useless and have to be thrown away. We are not sure what a second-hand unit is worth, apparently we’ll cross that bridge if we need to, however it will be a cost on top of the $825

As for the other work required from the report I’ve estimated it at approximately $970. This includes left high beam light, new rocker cover gasket, steam clean engine, wheel alignment, reset rear muffler, locate/make bushes for gear selector,
Rectify right front wheel guard hitting tyre.

All the above mentioned prices are inclusive of GST, parts, labour and oils. As with all quotes please remember they are only a guide and do not allow for the unseen."

Hey bud, try doing these jobs yourself. It'll teach you about the car and also how to work on them a little bit. Its all part of the fun.

All of that's easy accomplished on a lazy Saturday afternoon by someone who knows Golfs.

Maybe a $200 tops to sort that lot out if you do it yourself with some advice form the brains trust on here.

Steering rack issues could also be due to a broken mount and might require a little welding. Nothing major.

If a steering rack mount is broken it also affects the gearshift as one of the levers mount off the rack.

Nice looking Car!

As you can see, pretty huge difference between the inspection reports (they barely converge but for the steering!)

I'm pretty inspired by the MK1 passion here so I'm gonna follow your guys lead and try and do some stuff myself. But... Where to start

[sports racer]

Rack ‘n’ pinion [has excessive free-play on RH side] re-co rack

That's not the symptom of a faulty rack otherwise there would be movement on both ends. Sounds more like inner tie rod end - less than $100 to fix.

Start with whatever you're comfortable with and ask for advice as you go.

16" wheels are a bit too big for a MK1, 15s suit much better but I'm biased - I'm looking at upgrading my 15's to 16's on my MK2 if ever you want to swap.

Cheers

Paul

[Browneye]

Go to Volkscare in Boronia.

He is honest and wont rip you off!

+1

Boris at Volkscare is a legend. I got my roady done by him and vicroads regoed it the same day! Cost me 220 with a very similar looking list. I did do almost everything myself though haha. Just listen and learn and you'll save yourself a bunch from dodgy mechanics

[Mk1@4Motion]

Crusader Motors - Hawthorn

Car needs:
RH & LH stop light globes faded
Windscreen Squirter motor n/w
LH front seat belt not retracting
Inside boot side panels re-secure [due to electrical wiring]
Rocker Cover gasket [leaking oil]
Engine sump gasket [leaking oil]
New oil filter [leaking oil]
Oil pump seal [leaking oil] re-co pump
5 liters of engine oil
Welsh plugs [leaking water]
4 liters of 100% concentrated coolant
Rack ‘n’ pinion [has excessive free-play on RH side] re-co rack
2liters of power steering oil
Front brake pads are very low
LH & RH disc rotors machine [glazed and grooved]
LH & RH rear wheel cylinders [leaking oil]
2x 500mls brake fluid- bleed all brakes
2 liters of cleaning fluids
4x tyres [205/45zr16 fitted to the vehicle are too wide, rubbing on the chassis and under minimum
clearance between shock absorbers] 195/45zr16 recommended
4x wheel balance
4x wheel computer alignment

"It is hard to determine exact cost involved for the listed repairs and you can see there is decent amount of work involved, an approximate price range is $4000-$5000. The reason for a $1000 bracket is due to some parts that may be required however cannot be identified untill the work coimmences and only when its its process. As well as the labour involved can vary and can only be accounted close to completion of the work. "

The Workshop - Hawthorn

"Steering rack price is $825 fitted. This is if your own steering rack is overhaul able, if not we have to try find a second hand unit that is. According to our steering specialist they have a tendency of rusting internally which makes them useless and have to be thrown away. We are not sure what a second-hand unit is worth, apparently we’ll cross that bridge if we need to, however it will be a cost on top of the $825

As for the other work required from the report I’ve estimated it at approximately $970. This includes left high beam light, new rocker cover gasket, steam clean engine, wheel alignment, reset rear muffler, locate/make bushes for gear selector,
Rectify right front wheel guard hitting tyre.

All the above mentioned prices are inclusive of GST, parts, labour and oils. As with all quotes please remember they are only a guide and do not allow for the unseen."






As you can see, pretty huge difference between the inspection reports (they barely converge but for the steering!)

I'm pretty inspired by the MK1 passion here so I'm gonna follow your guys lead and try and do some stuff myself. But... Where to start

You start on what you feel is easy enough for you so that you get the hang of it and progress to the more harder stuff until all is done. And I am pretty sure once you start and you have questions you can post them on here and there is plenty of guys with an abundance of knowledge who can walk you through it step by step.


Only The Good Die Young 45