C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

[KennyW]

Jay,

Have a look at this viewtopic.php?t=65021 page 3

[bobins]

Note mainly for Jay - have a close look at why the LP pipe wouldn't seal on the bits I sent you. Although it has signs of wear and tear on it, it really should have sealed considering I used varying (over)sizes of 'O' rings to try and stop it leaking.
A thought regarding possible solutions - I think producing a length of new pipework(s) to be joined into the existing pipes may be favourable as that'd accommodate for differing pipe designs for the different types of pumps as you'd only be replacing the final short section that always fails. Also it'd be cheaper and easier to send in the post

[KennyW]

After all my fun with the steering rack pinions I thoughts have both HP and LP permanently fixed to pinion with some sort of connection for changing same. Also thought why not steel instead of Aluminium alloy. These joining pieces need to be short not a lot of room in there.

Kenny

[aerodynamica]

I have a leak! it's the steering. Usual place. I replaced the steering rack less than a year ago and it's leaking again. I want to cry now.

The LDS can be seen dripping from where the new pipe and the return pipe go into the pinion valve and I thought at first it might be the pipe connection needing looked at but had an idea to check through the rubber bung in the driver footwell and..

Looks like it's wet around the seal again. Not even one year.

Possibly also bad news for the effectiveness of the modification of fitting the CV boot around the area

[Paul-R]

Was it a brand new rack fitted or a recon? If recon, where from?

[aerodynamica]

It's a recon rack. I'm not sure where from because the garage fitted it - there was a whole story about the poor service from the garage I was kind of hoping not to reopen..

Basically I supplied a recon rack from Glasgow Power steering but the garage fitting it managed to wreck it by tightening the mounting studs when they were not fully located and cracked the casting.... they admitted their error and supplied a recon rack that is now leaking.

[aerodynamica]

My steering rack story began around half way down this page of the thread:

viewtopic.php?t=70118&start=150

You can see by the date it was less than a year ago....

[Paul-R]

Makes you wonder whether the rack was actually a recon and not just a S/H one.

[wheeler]

I got my first rack from Glasgow Power Steering, Lasted roughly 2 years. When that one went again I tried to get another one from them but they told me they don’t do them anymore as not worth the hassle.
Got another rack on it then about 2 months later one of the (no longer produced) HP pipes went on it as soon as that happened it was goodbye C5 so i have no idea how long the second rack lasted.

[aerodynamica]

I got my first rack from Glasgow Power Steering, Lasted roughly 2 years. When that one went again I tried to get another one from them but they told me they don’t do them anymore as not worth the hassle.
Got another rack on it then about 2 months later one of the (no longer produced) HP pipes went on it as soon as that happened it was goodbye C5 so i have no idea how long the second rack lasted.

..I'm not surprised it was goodbye C5...

[aerodynamica]

Makes you wonder whether the rack was actually a recon and not just a S/H one.

Well, it 'looked' reconditioned.. in that it had new gaiters and seals etc and was painted. I don't know the supplier though. I'm concerned as to how/ where to actually source another one.

[KennyW]

Graeme,

There is a place in or near Wakefield which does a refurb service somebody on here used them and was impressed by their work and service.

Sorry can't remember who.

Kenny

PS Not saying anything about mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[aerodynamica]

Graeme,

There is a place in or near Wakefield which does a refurb service somebody on here used them and was impressed by their work and service.

Sorry can't remember who.

Kenny

PS Not saying anything about mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't jinx it!

Darn, it would be good to know the refurbisher

[Jay-Bruce]

Graeme,

There is a place in or near Wakefield which does a refurb service somebody on here used them and was impressed by their work and service.

Sorry can't remember who.

Kenny

PS Not saying anything about mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't jinx it!

Darn, it would be good to know the refurbisher

Voila, et bonne appetite mon amis!

I've just had my leaky steering rack refurbished by:

Steering Specialists Ltd / SSL Autoparts,
Units 2 & 3, 97 Bridge Rd,
Horbury,
Wakefield
WF4 5NW

I couldn't fault the service, the price was good and they knew all about the issues that afflict X7 steering racks (and had remedies up their sleeve for most of them).

They offer an exchange service, recon and return or a drive-in service in Wakefield.

https://sslautoparts.com/

I have absolutely no connection with the company, I was just impressed with the service and price.

(I'm quite confident the rack will be fine but if I have any problems with it in the future I'll make sure I report back on this thread!)

Gutted to hear you've just entered the steering rack big leagues...

Correction: Sorry you've become the steering rack league champion, with your first recon rack that didn't even make it out of the garage car park, and a second recon rack that now failing at a mileage lower than a fan belt's service life interval...

However, I hope that the post I've quoted above this helps you out.

[Jay-Bruce]

PS: I'd offer to help with a shot of my two post ramp or something, but I'm almost as far away from you as Steering Specialists Ltd are, just in the opposite direction.