Leaking re-built steering rack

[Chris P]

Does anyone know if the seals in the steering rack would be designed to seal when under full pressure?. I have recently re-built mine and have filled it with fluid to test it and it seems to leak out on the rack end seal as the rod goes in and out. Now at the moment it is not under any pressure and as you move it in and out there is evidence of fluid on the rod.
The seal itself is a hard plastic seal within a machined metal encasement with a rubber o-ring on the outside. The inner plastic seal has three notches leading upto the seal which makes me wonder if these are there to allow pressured fluid to act upon the seal and expand it to create a seal.
Has anyone who has rebuilt one actually checked it before running it and had the same action thatr has gone away when the power steering pump pressures it?

[s2driveruk]

stu is your man (4wheeldrifter) seem to remember he rebuilt his rack

[A80Avant]

thats excactly what happend to mine after Stu had all the seals rebuild, and from a recent communication to AndyP as well.

could this be a bad batch of seals? or wrong part numbers?

[Chris P]

My local Audi dealer had to source the seals direct from Germany as there were none showing in England. Everything went together well but i am in a position where i have good access to the steering rack and don't want to put all the engine back together to get it running to find it still leaks. But if they are designed to work when under full pressure then maybe things will be ok.

[A80Avant]

i dont know
i used the old one once this happend to the secondhand one

[terrybullwon]

Mine after it was sat for two years did not leak until i gave it full pressure and alot of work. Its the gator on mine though, easy job thankfully.

[DeanG]

Qst

Just had mine re-conditioned by QST in Haywards Heath, who sent it to a third party. Mine doesn't leak anymore, so might be worth getting in touch with them.

[Chris P]

Yeah, think i may have to look at making enquiries about exchange ones