C5 x7 hydraulic stop leak

[jameslaird1985]

Ok so I've got a slow leak from steering rack one of the two small pipes that go to the column believe the lower of the two due to 0 ring im told can I use Lucas stop leak with LDS fluid or has anyone used an 0 ring expansion fluid/conditioner to such effect
As always your advice is greatly appreciated.

[GiveMeABreak]

Hi and welcome.

It doesn't bode well unfortunately. If you have hydraulic suspension - absolutely do not put any sealant in. I don't think to be honest that a sealant is going to help, The steering rack is a well-known problem on the X7 - just look at the threads here (and the poll currently running) to see.

There has been limited success with second hand replacement / refurbished racks - some have failed again. Citroen only sell the complete rack and a modified one was produced to help prevent the water ingress into the pinion, which rusts and corrodes the seals and then gets inside and destroys the other seals.

So although the leak may be from the pipes, it could very well be perished seals internally breaking down and will only get worse.

https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... ering+rack

https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... ering+rack

Please do go and put your mark against this failure in the poll if you get time.

[bobins]

For the avoidance of doubt, it's more than likely your pinion seals have been worn down by the rusted pinion shaft, and using any form 'fluid conditioner' will only buy you a matter of days - if that. The rust will just tear away at the newly expanded seals !

[GiveMeABreak]

And just to add to what Bobins says - if you do have hydraulic suspension - DON'T put anything other than LDS fluid in the tank or the suspension system will rapidly break down.

[jameslaird1985]

Hi thanks for replying peeps there's no rust on pipes just to let you know and leaks really small so can just put up with it just thought it'd stop it but with being LDS wasn't sure on compatibility, think I'll just tape it with thread tape and put rad putty on lol.

[GiveMeABreak]

James - please be aware that the rust isn't necessarily on the fluid pipes - it starts on the main pinion below. The only way you can really see and get to it is via the driver's side footwell recess where the steering column exits the cabin floor. You need to remove the cover (1) in the picture and then you can see the condition of the pinion.

[jameslaird1985]

Curious is this fixed or does it rotate?

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes that is the pinion that turns teeth on the inner rack by way of a gear. The inside has bushings and seals. Turning the rack one way or the other allows the fluid to push against a dividing part and so provides the assistance in the desired direction.

Some designs are far better encased around the pinion to better protect from water and the elements - unlike this one! The issue here it that water 'sits' around the bottom of the pinion where it enters the seal and the water eventually starts corroding the pinion and then the rust starts breaking the seals down and enters the inside and starts doing the same to the inner seals.

[bobins]

That's the bottom end of the steering column, and where that shaft enters the alloy casting of the steering rack is where most leaks occur. The bottom end of the steering column rusts and takes out the seals just inside in the rack.
Have a look at this brief thread about the steering racks - how they fail, how to fit a replacement one, and how newer ones have been modified.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=57734

[GiveMeABreak]

I knew there was an article on that somewhere Bobs -

I remember noting somewhere on one of these threads the Citroen price difference between the original and the replacement rack - there was something like £350 difference in price - so one would hope a little more had gone into the redesign than the neck of a Fairy washing up liquid bottle!

I simply have to believe that more went into this than that - otherwise I really have lost faith...

Incidentally, the cost of the new Citroen OEM rack (Part 9801415480) as of posting is an eye watering £1,506.74! inc. VAT, without fitting.

[bobins]

I'd like to think that the modified / new racks have pinion shafts that are NOT made of the fastest rusting metal known to man...... unlike the older ones

I suppose some of the extra cost may have been taken up with submitting the Fairy washing up lid to crash tests and Type Approval

[Stickyfinger]

They got a bulk load of old Lancia metal then

[GiveMeABreak]

Indeed!

I note now that they have removed all the old rack parts so they can't be ordered now - leaving the replacement ones only - which is what you'd kind of expect.

And by the way, we're now up to 10 replacement racks on the X7 poll!
https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... =3&t=59630

[bobins]

They got a bulk load of old Lancia metal then

Now there's a frightening thought - would you want to entrust any of your steering components to parts made out of recycled Lancias ?