Power Steering fluid leak....Rack removal?

[Doone]

Hi, Allan of Allan Vehicle Services in Plympton did my steering rack gaitor just last month. He didn't take very long to replace it, and his fee was very reasonable.
I thought he would have put my bongo up on the rack but no, he worked from the bonnet. As with your situation I thought the worst, thinking I was in for a large bill, a new steering rack and labour costs etc, but no, Allan came up trumps once again and just relaced the gaitor

Hello Dave. Allan did two seals on your rack Dave. He did the pinion seal from the top and he did the steering rack boot/gaitor from the side.

[the janner vanner]

Thanks Lorna, i'm learning all the time, and at my age.

[Aunt Trumpet]

Hi
Let me know how you get on,as I am replacing mine later...or rather getting it done, as I can't get our Bongo over the inspection pit ( the garage roof's too low)...and as it's not a complicated job to remove, I'll get the local spanner-men to do it...My problem is that I can get a reconned rack sent here for a reasonable sum, but returning the old one by the same courier is HORRENDOUSLY expensive....everything like that over here is very dear...I had thought of stripping and repairing, as I've done it on my jag, but if you look at prices of reconned Bongo racks in comparison to other makes, the incredible difference kind of bears out what Kirsty says about being a tad of an abnormal job The other thing is that the damage to the internals of mine may render it unserviceable anyway, as I suspect it's hammered
. SO....if you replace your rack, I would be grateful if you can let me know how long it takes...then I know if the labour charges are right (7 quid an hour over here)
Cheers
Helen

Hi, yes I'll post an update....in fact I had a go at getting the rack out today, it is a fairly simple procedure but because the bolts have been in for 15 years or so some are stuck solid. I've left them to soak in WD40 overnight. It appears that there are 5 seals within the rack itself, I'm guessing that on mine the one that has gone is within the cylinder itself as the fluid all leaked out into the steering rack gaitor itself.

[missfixit70]

4 seals as such, 2 on the pinion (1 & 4 on the diagram) & 2 on the rack (3 & 5) no 2 is actually 2 o-rings

[Aunt Trumpet]

^^^ yes thanks.... ........ Well I've got the rack out, it was a bit of a pain to be honest but really only because some of the nuts and bolts were stuck on fast due to the amount of years they've been on there. It was a little messy due to the fluid leak and we had to jiggle it a bit to get it out from the o/s of the car. On a positive note, I didn't have to remove the track rod ends. My dad has taken it away to have a quick look but I'm expecting to buy a new rack to be honest.

[Aunt Trumpet]

Well I won't pretend that it was the simplest job in the world but that was mainly due to it being difficult to get the rack out rather than it being technically taxing. My Dad stripped it down and managed to get the old seals out without too much bother apparently, he didn't need any special tools but worryingly didn't notice any particular failing in any of those he took out. I bought a set of seals for £40 from Jap Auto Solutions and he said it was a simple procedure to put them in.

It was again a bit of a struggle to get the rack back in but after some wiggling and a couple of scraped knuckles it is only a few bolts holding it in. After a quick bleed of the system there didn't appear to be leaks so considered it job done. So in conclusion I would say that unless your'e fairly competant with the spanners then its probably best to give it to a mechanic. But....with a seal kit costing £40 and an exchange rack costing £180 its worth having a look as its got to come out anyway.

[missfixit70]

Nice one As you say worth a go, good result

[falcoron]

My Audi 80 developed a serious leak at the rack and i was about to buy a replacement when a mechanic i know suggested trying a liquid sealer that is 100% warranted to seal all steering rack leaks. it was by STP and cost £15 for a bottle ( instructions state that a serious leak may take 2 bottles so i bought 2 and put one in and with the level now correct i started the engine and turned the wheel several times full lock to full lock I left the car sitting overnight and next day washed the leaked fluid away from the rack and surrounding areas then started the engine again doing the full lock back and forth a few times, checked the level and all was fine checked around the rack and no sign of a leak, this was pissing out before the treatment. Only had to use 1 bottle and got a refund for the unopened one. Ive had the repair done now for 6 months and its as good as new. well worth a try in my book.
hope this helps
Ron