The curse has struck again

[KennyW]

Hi All,

The dreaded steering rack curse has struck again,slight weep from pinion.

Reviewing my options but will not be going back to company I bought rack from.

Will get in touch with them to see what they will offer.

Kenny

[GiveMeABreak]

The steering racks from hell. - These are cursed Kenny, what a totally poor and unforgivable design - whatever they did different from the MK I & II - I've never heard the likes of this issue until this model.

Who did you get yours from incidentally? Was it completely refurbished and protected or just a reconditioned one?

[KennyW]

Hi Marc,

I got the rack from Cats & Carbs which use a specialist steering company in the Merseyside area, forgot their name but they are definitely on ebay. On reading the info I have it would appear to be reconditioned.

Just checked the my receipt and I got a 3 year warranty.

I'm going to send an email to see what happens.

Kenny

[elcustardo]

I notice mine had a new rack last year. Only a 1 year warranty which isnt much for a fitted part.

[GiveMeABreak]

Good luck with that Kenny - and pleased you got the 3 year warranty - that's what I had on mine - it's still not reassuring, but better than 12 months. You shouldn't have any issues, but consider doing the CV boot mod that Stu, myself and a few others have done to protect the pinion when you fit the replacement. Seems to be holding so far......

[KennyW]

Marc,
I carried out a rubber modification with a steering rack gaiter.Similar to CV boot,but I think seal has not been fitted very well. Checked today and no drip on sub-frame, so very slow leak.

I've got and idea for a further mod to my mod will get back to the forum with the results.

Kenny

[Sloppysod]

Hi Kenny, Hope it all goes well, hope it was not AutoSteer!! Yes please do keep us informed of the your modification as it looks like the boot mod may not be upto the job as a permanant fix. However, I have seen the CV boot option that fits rather well.

November 2018 was it?

[KennyW]

Yes, Nov 2018 but rack went at Pinion Mar 2019. Didn't even bother to mention it, the dreaded curse.

[KennyW]

Well under the car again, fixing the sticky piston. Steering rack leaking but I suspect it is a low pressure leak because when it is left for a few days it stops.

It suspect the low pressure seal going into the pinion due to movement in the pipe over time ie 1 year.

I'll think over what to do next.

Kenny

[bobins]

I'll think over what to do next.

Kenny

May I suggest one of the following :

[KennyW]

The wall has fallen down,run out of alcohol and my frustration levels have gone through the roof (no moji for that).

I wish I had spare HP and LP pipes as I was thinking of taking them to a hydraulic pipe maker to furnish a pair.

Well cleaned up and sprayed the caliper now to fit the new piston.

Kenny

[bobins]

I have a spare set of used HP & LP pipes, but I'm not sure they'd do you much good ? I can investigate trying to wrap them up if you want, but it might prove a bit of a PITA to ship them as they are rather wriggly in design.

[bobins]

Thinking about the issue, if there was a way to replace the last 6" or so of the pipes, then that would provide a solution. There's a join in one of the pipes up by the front left wheel which can be split and the new pipe added, but this is manufactured to allow a join there i.e. there's (I think) a swaged part that makes for a pressure tight join with a flexi pipe. Can a pressure tight seal be made on the existing alu pipe without the need to swage it ?

[KennyW]

Bobins,

That's what I was think about, getting short piece made to the same spec as the Citroen originals and joining them together. I was even consider using the Xantia pipe maker as i'm sure there was a 9mm version.

Kenny

[white exec]

This is Citroen's hydraulic coupling for 3.5 and 4.5mm pipes, and totally leak-proof.
Something similar might be possible for a larger fitting.
Just an idea.

The clever bit is that the rubber sleeve actually tightens its seal as the pressure increases.
The 'olive' is actually swaged into the pipe, and not a loose one.
Soft metal (brass, thin steel) olives cannot be used on steel pipes, as they do not embed. A loose olive must be harder than the pipe, so that it does.