LGT CREW DISCOVERS THAT THEIR NOSEWHEEL STEERING IS INOP UPON LNDG AFTER BEING ASSURED BY MAINT THAT IT WAS OK.

Narrative

IN CRUISE; HAD NOSEWHEEL STEERING FAULT ON UPPER ECAM. COMPLETED COM PROCS WITH NO CHANGE. CONTACTED COMPANY MAINT OF COMPANY RADIO FOR CONSULTATION. TRIED RESETTING SEVERAL CIRCUIT BREAKERS ON MAINT'S ADVICE WITH NO CHANGE IN FAULT. MAINT SAID NOSEWHEEL STEERING WAS OK BECAUSE SECOND CHANNEL WAS NOT AFFECTED. I ASKED IF HE WAS CERTAIN AND HE SAID YES. ON LNDG; NOSEWHEEL STEERING WAS INOP. BECAUSE OF MISINFO WE DID NOT REQUEST EMER EQUIP OR ADVISE TWR/APCH OF THE PROB. WE WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE RWY UNDER CTL WITH DIFFERENTIAL THRUST AND BRAKING; THEN WAIT FOR A TOW TO THE GATE. IF THE NOSEWHEEL HAD BEEN COCKED TO ONE SIDE OR (WORST CASE) AT A 90 DEG ANGLE; WE WOULD HAVE MOST LIKELY LEFT THE RWY OUT OF CTL. THE INFO FROM OUR MAINT PEOPLE WAS NOT JUST UNRELIABLE AND INACCURATE; IT WAS COMPLETELY WRONG AND CAUSED THE CREW TO NOT PURSUE NECESSARY SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL BRAKE/NOSEWHEEL STEERING PROBS WITH THE ACFT RECENTLY. QUITE POSSIBLY THE SYS ARE NOT AS RELIABLE AS REQUIRED FOR CERTIFICATION AND MAINT DOES NOT HAVE ADEQUATE KNOWLEDGE OR UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPONENTS INVOLVED?