steering rack!!!!!!!!!!!

[dunkdriver]

hi there, still having a bit of steering rack trouble. just wondered if anyone knows a trustworthy garage prepared to work on my leggy. in the meantime, what type of fluid should i use to top it up? cheers.

[bradc]

You can use normal Mitsi SP3 ATF or Dexron III for the Power Steering.

[elnevio]

Hi Dunk! Do you know exactly where it's leaking from?

[Davezj]

what is the issue with the steering rack, i have just fixed my leaking rack over the weekend. i replaced the rack wa while back and high pressure flex hose stated to leak shortly after, but it is a bitch of job to get to the hose in question and you have to unbolt the rack and subframe just to get to it. almost as big a job as changing the rack in the first place.

what do you want to know, fire away!

[Subaru ETA]

Dexron III is what should go in there

[dunkdriver]

here's how it is.........i noticed a small patch of fluid under the near side front area. upon inspection it appears tha fluid was dripping off the subframe. i traced the leak as best i could and found the part of the steering rack on show from under the car had fluid on it too! just before all this i heard a wierd noise coming from under the car. it only appeared when going over a bump doing tight left turns or roundabouts, suggesting to me a pipe swinging somewhere and tapping on the surrounding are when cornering due to the inertia of the turn. it sounds like that thing when the heat shield loses a rivet and sits on the back of the exhaust. so,are the two related (couldn't locate the tapping noise!) or am i looking at seperate issues? bear in mind the bottle is emptying really slowly...............?!?

p.s. thanks for the nod on the fluid guys. is it readily available at most motor factors?

[Davezj]

if the fluid is dripping from the bottom of the rack get a tourch under the car and look further up at the high pressure pipe work above the rack to see if that is wet with fluid. if it is then i would suggest it is a leak from the pipe work rather than the rack. the fluid on the rack would just be there because dips down not up.

i only say this as my flex high pressure pipe was leaking and wetting the rack making it look think the rack was leaking. it is worth a check.

[miller]

You sure its steering fluid and not ATF fluid? It sounds like its dripping from a similar region that the Torque converter seal would be.

Have you had to top up the PS fluid recently?