Uh Oh my steering racks leaking

[Matt_D]

I have a leak from my steering rack which is running down the side of the gearbox and onto the exhaust making a lovely burning smell.

I thought it was my rocker cover gasket leaking and oil running down the back of the block but having a look under the bonnet today i saw the rack gaitor has split, so i stuck my finger in it and theres fluid, so it looks like one of the seals has gone

I know a few people have recomended steering services and there prices seem reasonable but its in Greenwich and thats 150 miles away from me.

Does anyone know of a decent Audi specilaist that can do this for me in the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire/Oxfordshire area ?

Cheers

[dan_b]

Good luck getting this sorted. In the short term, buy yourself a bottle or two of the Genuine VAG PAS hydraulic fluid (G02000 I think?) and keep a regular check on the fluid levels and listen out for any nasty noises from the pump. This will fail you the MOT if it's a bad-enough leak.

In the longer term, you have the option of re-furbing the rack if you can find a specialist (good luck!), or you could buy a new rack (expensive, but there are options - the S2 uses the same generic rack as the normal Audi80 so don't believe the people who say it's a unique rack and is delisted. There are cheaper Patent part supplies availble too if you want to go that route rather than genuine OE). Either way, removing the rack is a right royal PITA.

When the rack is re-instated, be sure that all the rack mounts and bushes are replaced, especially the linkage between the rack and the steering column (and the damper too) - this is an area where wear to these parts causes vague steering and you should take the opportunity to renew the bolts.

Just a thought, MRC are in Banbury, they could probably help?

[Azman]

I have got a steering rack that isn't leaking if you want it

[Danoid]

My 100 leaks power steering fluid onto the exhaust sometimes and smells horrible and sometimes little bits of smoke comes out of the engine bay and in through my heater (if its on) also when I do a full lock left or right I get grunts. I probably got the same problem.

[BrianSmith_S2]

My 100 leaks power steering fluid onto the exhaust sometimes and smells horrible and sometimes little bits of smoke comes out of the engine bay and in through my heater (if its on) also when I do a full lock left or right I get grunts. I probably got the same problem.

Not necessarily. My S2 had this problem a while ago . Turned out to be just a small dribble coming from the cross head plug on top of the power steering pump. it was leaking down the side of the engine, and ending up on the exhaust .

you only have to remove this plug and replace the attached sealing 'o' ring.

i did this and the fluid leak dried up. no more topping up, no more burning smell from wet exhaust after a spirited run.

Brian

[Matt_D]

I have got a steering rack that isn't leaking if you want it

I will bear that in mind thanks mate, i have a few emails coming my way so we'll see