C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

[Peter.N.]

I don't have them Marc.

Peter

[RichardW]

I think the bit about the 3" pool is intended to apply to engine / transmission oil as it comes under the nuisance part; under the steering part it says:

Power steering fluid leaks should only be rejected where a component, joint or seal has failed.

Defect Category
(a) Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning Major

Then they'd be well within their right to fail any leak. I'm not sure where else a leak would come from if it wasn't "where a component, joint or seal has failed."

[bobins]

I asked my tame MOT man about the leak on my rack several years ago, he said that it'd have to form a pool in front of him or drip down his neck for him to actually fail it.

[Pavl]

Basic 1.6 hdi used to long journeys over five years.

So finally have to face the dreaded leaking pinion.....
Seem to have been very lucky so far ..... 160k miles with only a branch breaking the low pressure pipe.
Now just seen the drip of shame ...
Was far away from home for months so have no idea when it started but suspect January/Feb this year.
Can get a phone down into engine bay to take rough photo which confirms pinion not pipes. Will remove footwell plug soon.
Seems to drip only after a journey (in other words it is the fluid collected on the gubbins beneath that rips subsequently forms the small puddle) ... does jot seem to leak any more when stopped with engine off.
So it is Steering Specialists for me now .... with a slight catch.
Currently in southern France ! it made it all the way down without me noticing leak (brain not working very well as I had a stroke in January). Reservoir was close to empty at the end so heard the pump as we arrived!
Going to phone SSL and see what I can do about the journey north....
Having read some of the posts about his over the last few days it seems that there is a chance of sudden seal failure which is the big worry this far way.
Will keep you posted ...
Paul

[Peter.N.]

The pinion seal is leaking on both of mine, one since I had it, but it doesn't loose a lot of fluid so I carry a litre can with me but have never had to top it up on a journey. They have also passed two MOTs like that.

Peter

[Pavl]

Thanks Peter
Just as a guide .. what amounts to "not a lot" .... and has it got worse much over time ?
Trying to judge how long I have got ..,..
Paul

[Peter.N.]

In my experience once it starts leaking it doesn't seem to get any worse. I have had the first car for nearly 3 years and it was leaking when I bought it (although I didn't know it at the time) I have probably used a couple of litres in that time although of course my mileage was much lower during lockdown. It has never run out of fluid when I have been using it, including our trips to the north of Scotland when we have covered around 2000 miles, I just top it up if I am under the bonnet for something else.

The under tray is wet but not dripping, it gets cleaned off with the occasional drive through long grass and also washes off when driving in the rain. Had it not been for the fact that the racks seem not to last very long I would have changed it, or at least had it repaired, there is a firm that advertises on Ebay who will collect, repair and deliver your own rack for nothing like the cost of a replacement.

Peter

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254121186597 ... SwGEJcYrgZ

[Pavl]

Thank you Peter.
It appears than mine is leaking faster than yours ...... predict that I will need to top-up reservoir every week (that is a guess at he moment).
And that ebay link is for SSL who have a really good reputation on his forum an are able to deal with the apparently inevitable low pressure pipe damage during removal and refit.
Spoke with them on phone and they were at on point doing one per day and have apparently over 200 under their belt.
But does look like a good option if I can sort out a place to do the swap near to me here.
And a way to deal with the pipes ......
Paul

[Pavl]

So ..... after a long drive north from southern France to Wakefield (although did have to top-up fluid it made it without drama or crisis) so now have lots of spare fluid !.... rack done, arrived 8am, spoke with the boss who explained why it is impossible to get any low pressure pipes in the uk (he bough every single one of them ...over a hundred). Ready to go at 3:30 ... Advised to get wheels aligned as they had dropped the subframe and could not rely on everything going back precisely. I had previously changed a bottom link bush last year which had put the steering wheel slightly off centre so that caused some confusion .... had driven the whole long north bound journey staying straight with hands off on flat straight autoroutes. Now has a slight left bias on rh lane of straight dual carriageways so going back in tomorrow for a recheck. So about to do the long return trek and will see how it goes.
Paul

[GiveMeABreak]

Well done and now we know who to blame for the piper shortage!

[osx]

Got the new rack a couple weeks ago. The old one has started to leak faster as I got a faulty suspension message this week from low LDS.
How much LDS do I need to order and how difficult is it to replace?

[GiveMeABreak]

I needed a fair few when my strut was replaced, but if depressurising the system, you shouldn't use re-use the same fluid (contamination) so I'd go for a 6 pack just in case.

[osx]

Had a couple so ordered another 5. Is there is step by step guideline on how to replace it - any special tools?

[GiveMeABreak]

I left this to the dealer the first time and my local mechanic the second time. Make sure to do the pinion boot mod as described in this thread - a lot of us have dome this now to try and prevent a repeat - considering how quickly my brand new Citroen original replacement went!

[osx]

No, it should be 9801415480 For new or 1663665380 for exchange

Will the number be the same for RHD and LHD vehicles?