Steering rack pinion seals

[Dommo]

Hello all

After finally getting round to changing the pinion seals on my Xantia that has been off the road for over 18 months, we have replaced the leaking seals. Strangely though when removing the main pipes that go into the steering pinion, one of the pipes (around 8mm OD) has an LHM pipe seal on the end of it. What makes this strange is that I've never seen a pipe seal bigger than 6.35mm. There is no way that a 6.35mm seal will fit on this pipe, it is just over 8mm OD.

Has anyone ever seen a pipe like this, and if so, where do I source a replacement seal for it?


It's an odd one, the pipe in question goes into a flexy not far away from the rack, so it must be the return? On servicebox I can see no mention of any pipe seals, and the servicebox diagram shows a banjo sort of fitting which we don't have here.

Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[KennyW]

Domino, Are these the 2 pipes from rack to pinion valve if so both are supposed to be banjo joints.

Kenny

[CitroJim]

That's a new one on me too... The last pinion I dealt with like that had a 6.35mm seal...

[Dommo]

I should have updated this sooner, however we discovered on Sunday when the rack went back in that there were two pipes, one of 8mm thickness, and one of 6.35mm thickness.

Crucially the pipe seal that I mentioned was actually for the 6.35mm pipe, and not the 8mm pipe that I had measured (that did not have a pipe seal on it at all) - instead it was a more traditional flare type of power steering fitting. DOH!!

[Dommo]

A strange one here chaps.

After changing the pinion seals using a kit from a place called JayGee:

http://steeringseals.com/xantia.html

This kit only came with seals for the very top and bottom of the pinion, and not the strange stretchy seals described by Dean in the following thread:
https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... hp?t=26801

So we replaced the upper and lower seals with the Jay Gee kit only to find it pouring LHM at full lock. Clearly we need to avoid full lock, but try telling that to Mr MOT man. The next port of call was to try the kit described by Dean, 4048 Q8, £38 from Citroen.

Unfortunately, it still leaks from the pinion seal!!

Is there the possibility that there is overpressure coming from the pump? This car is getting closer and closer to being scrapped (after being stripped for parts of course), and that would be a real shame after all these years. It's not a fun prospect having to get the rack off for a third time!!

Thanks guys. Dom.

[xantia_v6]

I think that your symptoms indicate wear or damage on the pinion shaft where the the seal rubs, or (perhaps) worn bearings.

[Dommo]

Thanks for the reply V6. We did check the bearings out and they seemed to be absolutely fine. We're wondering whether there is an issue with the pressure regulator for the steering, it's as though it's receiving full pump pressure with no escape when the steering hits full lock. I've had a look on servicebox and found this device (see attachment).

With a quick googling of the part number, it comes up with this page, which mentions it being for a Xantia, however it is right by the starter motor, ie where the pressure regulator is on the XUD and XU10 engine. Does anyone recognise this engine and know what it is? And why the regulator isn't where it should be?

https://bartebben.com/parts/citroen/xan ... ierop.html

Any thoughts chaps? Thanks

[xantia_v6]

On all Xantias with 6+2 pumps (except the V6), the steering pressure regulator is built into the pump.

[CitroJim]

Any thoughts chaps? Thanks

That looks like the FDV fitted only to the very early 'Sinker' Xantias to me Dom...

[ekjdm14]

Dommo, if you fancy changing the pump to see if there's a fault there, the Silver S1 estate is still at PR Bibby in Knypersley. I believe the pump will still be present as the bonnet is still laid over the engine bay where I left it.

I suppose if you fancy a challenge/don't mind being muddy/potentially crushed by a 405 estate you could even swipe the rack off it somehow or at least the pinion valve...

[CitroJim]

Pleiades once told me that doing pinion seals is extremely tricky.. I believe they said it's all to easy to trap and damage the new seals on reassembly...

One job I'd leave to them...