I think I found it....

[Bernie Benz]

Not much considered logic from an understanding of the PS hydraulic system
in your response there, Kneale.

The rack leak is the high pressure piston rod seal which is only pressurized
when steering assist is needed for left turns.  Within the pump's flow
limits, the pump will put out only the pressure needed to provide the
necessary steering assist and no more, controled by the rack valving.

Locking the rack against its stops, especially the left turn side, is the
ultimate test for the rod seal.  If it wasn't leaking before, this will
cause it, if anything will.  Since Dave already had the seal leak big time,
this was a good conformation test, but otherwise, tell your DSLB to NEVER
hold or even touch the wheel against the rack stops!

Bernie

> From: Kneale Brownson <knotnook at traverse.com>
> Date: Wed, 29 May 2002 07:00:53 -0400
> To: Dave Haupt <quattrodave at yahoo.com>, 200q20v at audifans.com
> Subject: Re: I think I found it....
>
> --
> If the pump "leaks a little" when there's a place for the pressure to
> escape at the other end of its plumbing, it likely will leak a bunch more
> when you stop up that place with a nonleaking rack, Dave.  I'd reseal the
> pump while/before replacing the rack.
>
>
> At 11:16 PM 05/28/2002 -0700, Dave Haupt wrote:
>
>> I'm in town long enough to get one or two
>> half-evenings available to look at The Beast.  I used
>> ye olde quarter-eating car wash to slough off as much
>> Pentosin as I could under the hood.  Then drove it
>> home.
>>
>> You see, during my last out-of-town trip, my DSLB
>> (Dear Sweet Lovely Bride) took the car shopping.
>> Inside of one mile, it drained the Pentosin reservoir.
>> No massive wetness under the hood, oddly enough.
>> Just a major mess on top of the transmission, but that
>> looked fairly old, given the amount of dirt mixed in
>> with it.  What strangeness!
>>
>> The rack boot was torn, and I was assuming there was
>> the trouble.  After some exchanges with other
>> knowledgeable list members, I decided it would be
>> appropriate to really figure out where the Pentosin
>> was going before plunking down six months' disposable
>> income for installation of a rebuilt rack.
>>
>> So, after said thorough cleaning, we got The Beast
>> home and ran it, sitting on the patch of dirt that
>> serves as our driveway.  I had my DSLB turn the wheel
>> right and left.  Aha!  At the rightmost extreme, I had
>> her hold it against the stop, with modest pressure.
>> Nothing.  But, hold the wheel against the left stop
>> with modest pressure, and a flow of Pentosin roughly
>> as large as you see coming from a drinking fountain,
>> came burbling out of the torn boot area spilling
>> directly onto the dirt below.  So that's how you lose
>> a lot of fluid without filthing the car!  The pump
>> still leaks, but it is a seep compared to this.
>>
>> So I will reluctantly plop down $700 for a rack
>> installed by some mechanic I've never worked with
>> before.  Next time I'm back in town long enough to
>> figure out how to get The Best to said mechanic.
>>
>> There's some satisfaction, anyway, in at least knowing
>> that I've identified what is most likely the biggest
>> of the leaks.
>>
>> Dave
>> 1989 200TQ Sedan, 148k, with self-changing hydraulic fluid
>>
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