T3 or Not T3? Any Body recognise these??

[sunburntwilly]

I have just purchased a power steering rack for my T3. It does not fit nor does it look much like the rack it's suposed to replace. After talking to the company I purchased it from they say I have a been sent a T3 power steering rack but I should have purchased a T25 power steering rack. I thought they are the same vehicle?? To prove their piont they sent these pics but to be honest I can't see how the T3 rack they sent could ever fit anyway. Can anyone here help with this confusion. I live in Australia so even sending the thing back would cost as much as the purchase price.

[California Dreamin]

Well technically there isn't such thing as a T25 as it was a name 'fondly' given by UK owners of T3's....... Type 3's looks like this: fastback...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonesthecamera/2750206529/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The correct name IS infact a T3 so you do have re-course for a genuine complaint about this companies innacurate naming of components.
The confushion arises betweem the letter 'T' and the word 'Type'...they are not the same.

T1. T = Transporter. 1st generation of the VW Transporter - Split screen 1948-1967 .
T2. T = Transporter. 2nd generation of VW Transporter - Bay window 1967-1979.
T3. T = Transporter. 3rd generation of VW Transporter - Wedge/Brick 1979-1990(2).
T4. T = Transporter. 4th generation of VW Transporter - Eurovan 1990-2003.
T5. T = Transporter. 5th generation of VW Transporter 2003 to present.

Type1. Beetle.
Type1 engine. A Beetle engine, also used in some T2's.
Type181. VW trekker, funny 2wd jeep thingy.
Type2. VW commercials including LT models 1948 to 1992.
Type25. An inacurate nickname for the VW T3, wedge, brick etc. Sadly (UK).
Type3. Fastback, Squareback, Notchback.
Type4. Fugly VW sales disaster.

The top steering rack looks like a power steering rack for a L/H/D T3 (wedge/brick 1979-1991) minus it's outter track rods/gaitors and track rod ends. Is this is what you have?
Martin

[lloydy]

The top pic looks like what i have, a LHD power steering rack

[sunburntwilly]

Thanks Martin and lloydy. The rack they sent me is the one marked "T3" and as you said it looks more suited to the Type 3 not a T3. The top pic they marked "T/type 25" is the one I thought I ordered.
I will start the claim proccess now before it gets to late.
Thanks again gentlemen.
bob.

[Red Westie]

I'm suprised someone in Autralia is dealing with the UK for something like a rack.....I would have thought you would have had a specialist in OZ.
Or alternatively, order a repair kit, which is much smaller and lighter to ship and then have someone your side to the overhaul.
The repair kits are available from Brickwerks:

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/shop?page=s ... ory_id=137" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But ultimately the dealer in answerable for mis-information, although perhaps you should have noticed the illustrations were incorrect.
The point is: you ordered a rack for a T3 and he sent you what we think is a rack from a Type 3 which as we have said is completely different.

Martin

[sunburntwilly]

Yes you are right Martin poor judgement on my part. The attraction was being brand new. And with the healthy exchange rate and brand new power steering rack delivered to my door for $480.00 was to good to miss. The unfortunate thing here is the postage is almost the same as the purchase price. To get a brand new rack here would be a little over a grand so that was my thinking at the time.

[Gusbang]

What was the company in question supplying the wrong part?

[sunburntwilly]

The company is On track Steering. They insist it is a T3 power steering rack but they also refer to the pic as if it is somehow my fault for not recognising it as being the wrong item.
I know now it is not a T3 power steering rack I have my doubts about it being a type 3 rack as type 3's have a steering box. So it is difficult to know what it is.

[johnboy72]

I had a problem with my Transporter T3 steering about 18 months ago.

ordered a rack from a hydraulic company in Wolverhampton they sent me the one the same as the top picture but RHD. however that didn't fit!

They were unsure which rack I had so they rebuilt my rack for me..... the rack which was removed from my T3 was the same as the bottom picture marked T3

So there must two variations on the T3 racks?

Johnny

[johnboy72]

Yes you are right Martin poor judgement on my part. The attraction was being brand new. And with the healthy exchange rate and brand new power steering rack delivered to my door for $480.00 was to good to miss. The unfortunate thing here is the postage is almost the same as the purchase price. To get a brand new rack here would be a little over a grand so that was my thinking at the time.

I bet postage is ridiculous to send it back? Can you not keep it and try and sell it in Australia? You might make a profit as it's Brand New or at least get your money back?

[Red Westie]

The plot thickens.....I don't recognise the bottom rack, it looks to be from a right hand drive whatever it is.
The top rack certainly looks like the one I fitted to my left hand drive 89 Westfalia California. I can tell you it's a L/H/D ZF steering rack and I'm fairly sure that ZF themselves no longer offer an exchange on these racks so it's aftermarket companies only.
However, Brickwerks do sell the repair kits.
http://www.zf.com/corporate/en/products ... ering.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Martin

[t3trooper]

I dont think its a Type3 ( fastback ) they have the beetle setup ie steering box and no power steering ?, have they sent you a RHD power steering rack for your van, remember they drive on the right same as us ???

[Simon Baxter]

Top picture is a T3 rack.
Bottom picture are both T4 racks.