Replacing Steering Rack?

[urquattro]

Don't discount the pressure hose to the rack ... it is not simply a hose,
and it has a sheath that can hide the true source of the leak.  I replaced
the pump on my '88 5kCSQ Avant and found that it was the hose that was the
real culprit.  Replacing the hose is a lot easier than a rack too!  You can
use Dave's method to ID a leaking hose ... squeeze the sheath to see if you
can get fluid to leak out ... that or you can cut a hole in the bottom part
of the sheath near that bulge in the middle.

HTH!
Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)


> Squeeze the boot on the rack - it should gush out oil if its leaking that
> much...
>
> Actually, the Bentley does pretty well. You need to remove the reservoir.
I also
> usually remove the heater hose with the shutoff valve, and the PCV hoses
on the
> passenger side where they go to the airbox.. Put the car in the air on
> jackstands. remove the passenger tire.
<<<SNIP>>>
>
> The Henrys wrote:
>
> > I have a 1988 5000CD Turbo Quattro Avant and it is leaking Pentosin at a
> > quarter of a litre per week.  I have replaced the steering pump last
summer
> > (as it was leaking badly).  That seemed to cure the leak for a few
months,
> > now that the weather has turned colder (I live near Toronto)... it has
> > started to leak from somewhere new!  I have had a mechanic perform some
> > diagnosis and he believes that it is the rack that is leaking...  I was
> > wondering if there are any detailed instructions on this procedure.  I
check
> > sjmautotechnik and did not find anything specific.  The Bentley has some
> > good diagrams, but does not appear to detail all of the preceding steps
to
> > remove other items to get access to the rack.  I would really like to
find a
> > concise list of what needs to be removed and how-to's.