Wanted: advice on steering rack

[Bernie Benz]

Dave,  If the fluid is really coming out of the center of the rack boot area
(clean it all off and make sure) your problem is the high pressure piston
rod seal which, when leaking, leaks into this area.  This is the cause of
90% of all rack failures.

You need a new rod seal.  A rebuilt rack should have a new seal included in
the rebuild.  The seal can be replaced DIY with a $30 seal kit, but a big
job.  The largest part being the R&R.  BTDT on a "87 5KTQ.  Be sure that
your R&R mechanic knows how to center the steering wheel on the center of
the new rack.

Bernie

> From: Dave Haupt <quattrodave at yahoo.com>
> Date: Sun, 12 May 2002 13:35:27 -0700 (PDT)
> To: 200q20v at audifans.com
> Subject: Wanted: advice on steering rack
>
> Today I was about to replace the high pressure
> pump-to-rack hose I acquired a week ago.  As I began
> moving parts out of the way, I spied the dastardly
> problem.  The driver's side boot is torn in two.
> Pentosin sludge all over the place, although it's not
> spraying.  It's all landing on the transmission, going
> through about a pint every two weeks of very little
> driving.
>
> Seems to me there shouldn't even be Pentosin inside
> where that boot protects, so it suggests an internal
> leak.
>
> Did I get that right?
>
> So, I needs a new rack.
>
> The write-ups on Chris Miller's page, plus the
> Bentley, give me all the information required for me
> to know I should not try this myself.
>
> So, looking for BTDT on getting a mechanic to do it.
> Are there common mistakes they make?  Is there a
> preferred source for the racks?  Blau gets $250, any
> reason not to use theirs?  Anything else a mechanic
> ought to do, as long as the rack is out?
>
> Is the task possibly easier than I think?
>
> TIA,
>
> Dave
> 1989 200Q 10V sedan 148k miles
> Santa Rosa, CA
>
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