C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

[dafydd]

Steering rack replaced!

I was unable to see the new rack before it was fitted, but I am sure that the seal would have been of the double lip type which would provide minimal extra protection.

After they fitted the rack, the front suspension was much too high which they eventually tracked down to one end of the "dogbone" being seized.

I was able to examine the old rack and am convinced that differential metal corrosion is the cause of the problem - the final proof being the lack of corrosion on the aluminium - it being protected by rusting the steel. So, in addition to fitting a boot to protect the area from water, I believe that any part of the aluminium where water could bridge to the steel should have an insulating coating such as underseal. This is particularly important on the flange which retains the seal, as water can collect there.

A sleeve made from zinc sheet around the shaft would act as a sacrificial anode and provide the final protection. It would need to have good electrical contact with the shaft. If it was to extend within 5mm. of the seal it would protect that area (the protection will extend for 10 - 20mm. from the edge of the zinc.

I am too old and decrepit to do any of these things, but I hope I have suggested a few ideas to mitigate the problem!

Apologies for this long diatribe.

David.

[GiveMeABreak]

Da Iawn Dafydd.

My third rack was completely coated in black, had the boot mod done and fingers crossed that will be ok for a good while yet for the new owner. It really is a shocking affair and not one of Citroen's finest accolades....

[osx]

Remanufactured with 12m warranty and you get to keep your old rack. Thinking of getting one as I don't think I will get away without needing one at some point if I were to keep the X7 for another 3 years.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114691805800

[GiveMeABreak]

Mine required the old rack to be returned. That's why they can keep the prices down for the refurbishments. it will likely be a lot more of you are not intending to return your rack - I think they put a refundable deposit on most.

[Patzer]

Hi All, first post for me on this forum. I just moved to the wonderful C5 world over a month ago.

I didn't notice it at the time of buying the car but I too seem to be plagued by the dreaded rack seal failure. As I'm in Ireland I don't have access to the various specialist available in the UK so I'm looking at sourcing a second hand rack from a breakers and looking if I can "repair" this one and get it fitted. I have checked the existing rack and it's part number is 9687179480 or the ZF number is 7832 974 236. Is this part number unique to the 1.6 HDI's. I've noticed the numbers on some of the photo's on this thread are slightly different. I'm asking because I've sourced a part from a local yard but it's from one of the 2.0 HDI's. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

Pat

[Hell Razor5543]

Hi Pat, and to the Forum. I cannot offer any major advice, other than to post the VIN of your vehicle in this thread. It will, for security reasons, be obscured so only forum staff can read it (for example; VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff] ), so they can see exactly which rack your car had when she rolled out of the factory. If you were to post the VIN of the other vehicle here they can let you know if it is compatible.

[GiveMeABreak]

Hi All, first post for me on this forum. I just moved to the wonderful C5 world over a month ago.

I didn't notice it at the time of buying the car but I too seem to be plagued by the dreaded rack seal failure. As I'm in Ireland I don't have access to the various specialist available in the UK so I'm looking at sourcing a second hand rack from a breakers and looking if I can "repair" this one and get it fitted. I have checked the existing rack and it's part number is 9687179480 or the ZF number is 7832 974 236. Is this part number unique to the 1.6 HDI's. I've noticed the numbers on some of the photo's on this thread are slightly different. I'm asking because I've sourced a part from a local yard but it's from one of the 2.0 HDI's. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

Pat

The racks do differ - as they can have different steering angles on the X7, depending on engine, so must be correct.

Some sellers may ship to where you are - so maybe worth contacting them:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from ... k&_sacat=0

[Patzer]

Thanks Guys, I really appreciate your help with this. The VIN is VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]. I've spoken to my local garage who are Citroen service agents and have given me a couple of names for companies in Ireland that they have used in the past so I'll see what prices they will quote me also.

[GiveMeABreak]

Ok, so you need to make sure that it is the rack with a 184 º angle.

Incidentally, your vehicle is outstanding an after sales campaign. I cant’t tell you what specifically, but it won’t cost you anything, so get it booked into a Citroen dealer as soon as you can. Being a DV6C engine, it could be injection or timing related.

[Patzer]

Thanks Marc, that's brilliant. Yes the garage informed me yesterday that I need to get the timing belt changed. Is there any easy way to check what the angle of a particular rack is?

[GiveMeABreak]

Not really - only by specifying the correct part numbers and for official part numbers we do ask for a £10 Forum donation as this info is chargeable. But this will cover you for any part number requests or parts diagrams for up to 2 years. If interested, please see links below and if you want to go ahead, your membership will be automatically upgraded:

A response to your question by a Forum Admin will require detailed vehicle information that requires you to have made a current contribution to the Forum.

Donate Further Information

[dawningtons]

Gents. Jumping in on this topic, as I have recently replaced the old C5 2.0 HDI 140 tourer (200k and still going strong), with a 62 plate with the 160 HDI engine. On arrival back from collection it disgraced itself by dropping PSF on the new drive. Under warranty it had a new rack fitted, but is still leaking, albeit much more slowly . Under it today I can see it is where the 2 pipes fit into the rack, which leads me to believe I may have the LP pipe leak that is described in this thread. If the pipe is corroded, is there a non-Citroen replacement for it out there? Is it possible to clean up the corroded pipe and fit new o-rings? Is there a spec for the o-riongs that I can grab to see if I can do this job myself?
Thanks all.
Francis

[GiveMeABreak]

There are no aftermarket pipes for these unfortunately (would of been a cash cow with hindsight). Have a read back through this thread - as there is plenty there about the pipes and the o rings.

[bobins]

Some people have had success with fitting new original 'O' rings, and some not. Some have had success with fitting bigger 'O' rings, and some not. It can be a bit hit 'n' miss. I've known pipes to be glued/bonded into place to cure leaks, but that really is a last ditch solution for the desperate.

[Lenny]

Well, after over 11 years and 114,000 miles my steering rack finally started leaking at the pinion seal last week.

So after reading various recommendations on here and elsewhere I booked it in with 'Steering Specialists' in Wakefield.
I took the car to them yesterday and it's was sorted in about 7 hours.

Excellent service all the way through and they are probably the most experienced place in the UK for C5 X7 racks as they've apparently done "over 200 as a conservative estimate"! I was warned of the possibility of leaking pipes and they were prepared with ways around that if there were any issues (thankfully there wasn't).
They appeared to be a very knowledgeable, professional outfit, gave an 18 months warranty, and the price was extremely reasonable so I'm pretty chuffed overall.

(Drove 70 odd miles home, another 20 miles today and not a drip of LDS anywhere yet)