My steering rack has gone =/

kenbw2 · 2021-10-04 10:29:56

Had a bit of a funny feel on the steering when turning right yesterday, checked and I was low on fluid (it's been leaking slightly since forever). Topped it up but it got worse through the day.

Had to put some more fluid in, but then I kept pouring, and it kept going down. Look underneath, ah that's why. It's coming out as fast as I pour it in sad

So it's replacement steering rack time neutral

I could live without the power steering while I wait for parts, but I also need the alternator so can't do that unfortunately.

So it's looking like £200 from EuroCarParts, and maybe feel brave enough for me and my brother to replace it ourselves.

Argh.

Last edited by kenbw2 (2021-10-04 10:43:11)

Pathfinder100 · 2021-10-04 12:35:26

Why do you need the alternator? For other power, like starting the engine? A stop gap would be to put the battery on charge every night, or if you have solar (and i can't remember if you do) redirect the power from your leisure battery to the vehicle battery. Or do both.

I see you have/had a similar problem to me. My power steering fluid leaks out from somewhere near the offside front wheel. Assumptions are its a hose with a hole or split, or a shot gasket. Its on my list of to do jobs. Will probably tackle it when I do the brake pads next week.

When you do it, could you take some pictures of it and post them. Their seems to be no information on how to do this on these vans (as usual).

OAT · 2021-10-04 12:57:12

Yes please Ken... a step by step guide with pics would be very useful.

Have you considered getting a quote of DD. It looks a horrendous job.

Pathfinder100 · 2021-10-04 15:16:56

OAT wrote:

Yes please Ken... a step by step guide with pics would be very useful.
Have you considered getting a quote of DD. It looks a horrendous job.

Is their any job on these vans that isn't horrendous? Nothing is simple and most things mechanical are an absolute nightmare. hmm

kenbw2 · 2021-10-04 22:04:23

Pathfinder100 wrote:

Why do you need the alternator? For other power, like starting the engine? A stop gap would be to put the battery on charge every night, or if you have solar (and i can't remember if you do) redirect the power from your leisure battery to the vehicle battery. Or do both.

I did consider this, I could take the gamble of relying on solar to replenish the starting battery. It'd be a brave choice given the great British weather tongue I also use most of my leisure battery every day for work etc, so I'm not sure how much I could spare for the starting battery.

Well we ended up starting the job today got the rack out in about an hour, I was all ready to say it was actually bloody straightforward.

Turns out, the rack was fine but when I had my clutch changed about 6 months ago, there'd been a knocking noise since. He'd cross threaded one of the two mounting bolts and it looks like it finally dropped out and the rack has spent the last day or two waving around wildly in the space yikes Explains the play in my steering...

So new rack anyway because why not. Get it all out and ready to fit.

But getting it back in, god it's been a ballache. Eventually got it all in but it's leaking again, so we'll have to tackle it again in the next day or so neutral

Last edited by kenbw2 (2021-10-04 22:36:37)

kenbw2 · 2021-10-08 22:19:25

Well it's all back together and I'm on the road again. What a stressful couple of days while we worked through it. Couple of cross threaded bolts neutral but we got there in the end thank god.

It's actually a fairly straightforward job once you work out access. I'll post up a howto thread so other people don't go through all the foibles we did

vaz2121 · 2021-10-09 13:50:29

Many moons ago now one of the guys I worked with was forever putting a little power steering fluid in his Toyota Celica but never any leaks ...drips on ground .............
It turned out He knew well what was happening until one day the proverbial hit the fan .................

The seals on his O/s steering rack had gave up the goose and fluid was being contained in the gaitor............
Until the day it let go and the steering gaitor which must have been attached well was blown up to ten or fifteen times normal ...........
And of course He had to do something about it................
It still operated if sketchy but I ended up leaving him to his own devices.............
From memory it was a replacement rack ..............

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#1 2021-10-04 10:29:56

My steering rack has gone =/

#2 2021-10-04 12:35:26

Re: My steering rack has gone =/

#3 2021-10-04 12:57:12

Re: My steering rack has gone =/

#4 2021-10-04 15:16:56

Re: My steering rack has gone =/

#5 2021-10-04 22:04:23

Re: My steering rack has gone =/

#6 2021-10-08 22:19:25

Re: My steering rack has gone =/

#7 2021-10-09 13:50:29

Re: My steering rack has gone =/

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