Steering Rack Leak - Or Is It?

[Bertone Addict]

Hi, our 1990 2.1TD has just failed it's MOT on a "steering rack leak, n/s". The car is with a local garage who say the rack needs to be replaced. I've got hold of a rack at a decent price but obviously there is a lot of labour involved so it's a £250 job in total. I know nothing about the rack etc on this car. Is there any chance that swapping the rack may not cure the leak i.e. are there parts above the rack which could leak into it and which would need to be replaced separately? It's a big outlay for us and the last thing I want to do is spend on getting the rack swapped and find it wasn't at fault in the first place.

Thanks everyone.

Rachael

[demag]

Can you actually see the leak from anywhere? Near side would suggest a split gaitor or maybe pas ram leaking at end bush. But I wouldn't have thought a new rack. That is a big job.

Do you not have an independant Citroen specialist who would check it?

Where are you located?

[techmanagain]

Do you not have an independant Citroen specialist who would check it? (quote)

Where are you located? (quote)

A good experioenced Citroen specialist can be found in Coventry, so not far for you to go. Nigel Leek of Leek Motors, Coventry. 07899 986603 (or 02476 220714 if no reply) I've used him with every satisfaction. Also has sphere recharging kit!!!

[Bertone Addict]

Thanks both - we're minded to take it to M&M in Holmfirth (we're in Liverpool) but the Coventry recommendation is really useful. They've had the car once in the past and were good. I'm really hoping that we don't need to replace the rack!

[kenhall1202]

I would double check the source of any oil leak in the N/S rack area because leakage from the drive shaft oil seal will end up being flung onto the rack. This problem occurred on my car and was fixed by a combination of replacing the N/S shaft seal and clearing a blocked breather hole. If you can wipe some of the leakage onto a rag and smell it you can distinguish between LHM and gear oil. Gear oil has a characteristic cat pee smell.

Ken

[Peter.N.]

I have changed a rack on one but its a pig of a job because the hole given to extract it through is smaller than the rack. Easier than a clutch or head gasket though!

Peter.N.

[Bertone Addict]

Thanks. I'll get the car back from the garage and try to have a look at the rack area properly. Has anybody ever tried something like the Lucas power steering stop leak? It claims to be guaranteed to work but I'm sure it's not as simple as that, especially as it would need to be added to the LHM I guess.

[rowanmoor]

I would be very wary of putting any kind of stop leak agent into the LHM as it would almost certainly try to 'stop the leaks' it finds throughout the suspension system which relies on small 'leak' tollerances to lubricate it and relies on fluid passing through very small orifices for the suspension to work.

Not to mention the effect it may have on the seals which are designed for LHM and not other hydraulic fluids.

Unless a product has been tried and tested in a hydraulic citroen then I would be very wary of putting it in the LHM tank.

[citroenxm]

PERSONALLY! DO NOT add any type of leak additives to citroen hydraulic systems... the LHM system seals are for JUST that LHM...

Completely different to "Ordinary" car PAS systems... There could be a return pipe above the rack, as the LHM tank is above there, and if its leaking oonto the rack could indicate a rack leak that isn't... there is ALSO a union joint above that side of the rack, if this weeps it drips onto the rack... so a couple of areas to check before the rack..

Rgds
PAul

[Assich]

Leaks can come out the rack system in four places on NS.

1. End of hydraulic ram - replace ram
2. Bleed off pipe from underneath ram - put back on or replace rubber connector
3. Rack itself leaking at the pinion valve and building up fluid behind the rack gaitor and leaking through to outside, should effect both sides though- replace pinion with a kit.
4. Feed or return pipes leaking - the pipes to and from the rack run along the subframe in front of the rack to the near side before passing forward. These can rust through.

[Bertone Addict]

Thanks - I didn't think adding stop leak to the LHM was going to be a good idea (although worryingly there are places that advertise it for use on hydraulic Citroens). Thanks Assich also for those tips - that's really useful and I feel much more informed than I did about what the problem might be.

[Bertone Addict]

Thanks everyone for their help. Sadly it looks pretty certain that it is the pinion valve which is leaking and filling the rack with LHM. We also got the garage to check the clutch and unfortunately they confirmed my fear that it is on its way out and just starting to slip.

Taking the two problems together it's just too much for us to afford (and too big a risk in case something else goes wrong). I've never had to give up on a car yet and don't find it easy, but (having spent most of the afternoon deliberating!) have come to the conclusion that we are just going to have to sell our XM as is.

Thanks again for the support.

David

[demag]

David don't forget to advertise it in the "Available" section. Someone on here might be interested.

[citroenxm]

Were are you located??


PAul

[Bertone Addict]

Just an update on this and wanted to thank everyone for their input. We got the car repaired in the end, just couldn't bear to part with it. All running well again and really chuffed to be back on the road - have fallen for the Xm all over again!

Thanks again

David