Leaking steering rack

[TheTSiGuy]

Hey guys, i just got back from the shoppe.

My rack and pinion is leaking profusely. Shoppe said it would be about 800 to replace everything with labor and everything. plus with a new rack and pinion, i'd need an alignment, and power steering flush..

the mech said if i didnt quite want to spend the money on a 1500 dollar car, i should just head to napa and buy a big ol box of power steering fluid and live with it..

what do you guys think?

Not sure if i want to tackle a rack and pinion job myself.

I dont care about leaking PS fluid honestly.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

If you can live without power steering, you could save the money from buying all that and just run with no p/s (swap in a manual rack tho - from what I've heard it isn't too bad of a job). Some people actually prefer no power steering. Also you will free up a little weight, some space under the hood, and maybe, just maybe, a few HP. But it's your call I guess.

 

[pneumo]

Usually the PS rack leaks where the inlet and outlet hoses go in/out of the rack. There is an O-ring that seals them, that's all. I went to a shop and asked them how much it would cost to replace those two O-rings, and they said "$150 total" You don't need to rebuild the whole rack on a $1500 car.

When is the last time you changed your PS fluid? If it's been years, change it. Old fluid will leak more, and new fluid has additives that help condition rubber seals. Search auto parts stores for PS fluid leak stopper. It couldn't hurt.

 

[Defiant]

the mech said if i didnt quite want to spend the money on a 1500 dollar car, i should just head to napa and buy a big ol box of power steering fluid and live with it..

what do you guys think?

I think you need to suggest that mechanic do some unsavory acts with his person and some even less-savory individuals, and that you should track down one who has a lot more consideration of you.

Make sure your leaks are nowhere near your alternator, as PS fluid will destroy it.

Get a shop manual off eBay and see what you can learn.

 

[2GeNTSi]

I had a bad leak coming from the passenger side feed line where the line threads into the rack. I tried just replacing the o-ring, still leaked. Ended up buying a whole new feed line and it doesn't leak anymore.

 

[PogiTSI]

replacing the rack is VERY easy. Remove ball joints, Remove Anti Sway bar. Remove the bolt that holds the Steering COLUMN to the rack, it goes over the steering rack SHAFT. by the inlet and outlet hoses. get a Drain bucket, remove the inlet and outlet. theres one that you use a Flare Wrench, and one is just a Rubber hose over a nipple. Remove those 2. Let it drain. grab a bear. Remove the 2 mounting points and bushings. itle drop down, its heafty so be carefull. If it doesnt FALL, Pull on it till it pulls out of the Column and theres a certain way it comes out. I think you push it to drivers side, and let the arm fall out, then you push it over. then its out.


install= Reverse of removal. hahahahah

 

[TheTSiGuy]

replacing the rack is VERY easy. Remove ball joints, Remove Anti Sway bar. Remove the bolt that holds the Steering COLUMN to the rack, it goes over the steering rack SHAFT. by the inlet and outlet hoses. get a Drain bucket, remove the inlet and outlet. theres one that you use a Flare Wrench, and one is just a Rubber hose over a nipple. Remove those 2. Let it drain. grab a bear. Remove the 2 mounting points and bushings. itle drop down, its heafty so be carefull. If it doesnt FALL, Pull on it till it pulls out of the Column and theres a certain way it comes out. I think you push it to drivers side, and let the arm fall out, then you push it over. then its out.


install= Reverse of removal. hahahahah

You know, im glad someone bought my thread back.

Im probably going to end up going with a brand new power steering rack. Mine leaks PROFUSELY. As in, I have to fill up the reservoir with new fluid every 3 days because it leaks out completely in that time.

I've found new racks starting at $309, plus theres the accesories such as the boot that goes with it it.

I figured since i'd be under there and yanking stuff out, i might as well replace tie rods, axles as well, and the car needed to be aligned anyways.

I just got some student loans back, so I guess that'll fund the $1200 job.

 

[FireyIce01]

You know, im glad someone bought my thread back.

Im probably going to end up going with a brand new power steering rack. Mine leaks PROFUSELY. As in, I have to fill up the reservoir with new fluid every 3 days because it leaks out completely in that time.

I've found new racks starting at $309, plus theres the accesories such as the boot that goes with it it.

I figured since i'd be under there and yanking stuff out, i might as well replace tie rods, axles as well, and the car needed to be aligned anyways.

I just got some student loans back, so I guess that'll fund the $1200 job.

First, clean up all the fluid that has leaked out as best you can. Then go down to the local napa and ask for some ultraviolet power steering/transmission fluid dye. Pour a little of this in your power steering and turn on a blacklight and have someone crank the wheel back and forth a couple times with the car running... you should be able to instantly see where the leaks are coming from... in my truck I had to replace the pittman arm seal, in my charger it was the input shaft seal... both jobs cost me under $100 in parts (that's combined cost of both vehicles) and a couple hours of labor, which I was glad to put in (can't call it your car til you've bled in the engine compartment!)

 

[mxpimp18]

If you want to try the cheap way first. Lucas has a rack and pinion fluid thats guarantees to stops leaks within two bottles. Might try that first. I had a small leak in my car and fix it only using 1/4 of a bottle. It's only like 7-8 bucks.

 

[TheTSiGuy]

If you want to try the cheap way first. Lucas has a rack and pinion fluid thats guarantees to stops leaks within two bottles. Might try that first. I had a small leak in my car and fix it only using 1/4 of a bottle. It's only like 7-8 bucks.

Ive tried this already.

The leak is baaaad. I just filled up the PS with fluid about a day ago, and its almost all leaked out. beh.

 

[giester2]

If you want to try the cheap way first. Lucas has a rack and pinion fluid thats guarantees to stops leaks within two bottles. Might try that first. I had a small leak in my car and fix it only using 1/4 of a bottle. It's only like 7-8 bucks.

normally the only thing that "stop leak" does is swell the seals to stop the leak. The problem with this is the fluid doesn't know which seal is leaking so it swells all the seals (rubber) in the system, which will eventually cause leaks in other places

 

[2GeNTSi]

mine leaked so bad I had to fill it up every morning. It ended up just being an o-ring on the fittings of one of the feed lines.