Steering Rack Leak

[10051550]

Hi All,

I have a leak on my 2011 C5 MKIII between the steering rack and pipes

I'm told that the seals aren't available separately and have to purchase the pipes as well - anyone know of a source ?

Thanks in advance for replies

[GiveMeABreak]

Citroen won't repair these - they will only replace the complete rack. Some have had a third party refurb which has failed again shortly afterwards - so there is no guarantee and could end up costing more in the long run. There may be one or two members that will be able to recommend one from their own experience who have had refurbs. I had mine done at the main dealer at about 65k miles and that was a brand new replacement. It's usually water ingress into the pinion shaft and the resulting rust that ruins the seals causing the leaks.

I have never had a Steering Rack leak / issue on any Citroen I have owned, ever, until the X7. A very bad piece of design.

[10051550]

same here Mark never had one - I've just done 78k

[GiveMeABreak]

As you'll note from the video, good old Scotty doesn't even repair them anymore either:


I've seen how they refurb some of these, replacing the seals after pulling them to bits, but you need a special 'grabber' tool to get the large seal ring out from the inner shaft. I'm guessing that once rust and contaminants have got into the insides, it is hard to eliminate it entirely as you can't see inside and probably contributes to breaking down the new seals again.

Here's one being taken apart on a 2.2 C5

[xantia_v6]

If it is only the pinion seal that leaks, then I would just be replacing that, and doing whatever is needed to give it a clean surface to run on.

In the second video above, at about 18 minutes in there is a long discussion about the roughness on the shaft (I don't understand a word of Russian), and it appears that he polishes the shaft with a flapper wheel (which seems a bit harsh to me).

I would be looking to install a wear sleeve like a speedi-sleeve http://www.skf.com/caribbean/products/s ... index.html. This should eliminate the need to dismantle the pinion assemble, and will provide a surface that will not be subject to future corrosion. I have used them on crankshafts, but not yet on a steering pinion.

I am wondering if the problem with C5 X7 racks is limited to countries where salt is liberally applied to roads in winter?

[GiveMeABreak]

I just don't know what it is with the C5 X7 - never had the issue on either of my Mk I or Mk II facelift models. Though I should say that as I've posted elsewhere on this, I did note that on close inspection of both my previous models, there did appear to be copious amounts of heavy plastic sheeting around the rack - so whether that was by design or accident I don't know - but seems to have helped stop the crud from getting in!

[jgra1]

chaps I have an engine bay pic of mine .. will dig.it out

john

[GiveMeABreak]

I'm just trying to work out where your leak is John - doesn't seem to be from the pinion shaft - seems to be from from the pipe in the middle section obscured by whatever that protruding cylinder (?) is. Is this pre-replacement John - or as it is now - if replaced - did you get a refurb or a genuine one?

[jgra1]

I don't have one

was just letting you all see an x7 rack as is..

I may get a leak.. mine input shaft doesn't look to clever

[GiveMeABreak]

Whoops, well let's not tempt fate then! It's just when you said you'd dig out an engine bay pic of yours - and looking at all that fluid.... (John has now gone into panic mode wondering what that fluid actually is)!

[jgra1]

hehe ..I did swap.the engine whilst I was there..

can't remember much leaking but probably coolant Marc. .

[myglaren]

Your picture has gone AWOL John

[GiveMeABreak]

Your picture has gone AWOL John

I can still see it Steve??

[myglaren]

I just have a no entry sign - will try another browser.

[myglaren]

Strange - logged in to Google in both Firefox and Chromium and zillch. In Chromium there is a broken image icon, opening the image in another tab gives the no entry sign again.
Nothing in Arora either.
Will have to look with Ubuntu and on the laptop.