C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

[Stickyfinger]

I agree.

[xantia_v6]

I was thinking more about a donut cut from closed-cell foam wedged between the rack and the floor.

[GiveMeABreak]

Looking at that third photo, Alasdair, I'd be tempted to
- clean up the shaft, polished would be good!
- clean up the cast area around the bearing and sensor lump
- cut a length of plastic/rubbery tube that will fit over the shaft, but will allow rotation of it inside, tube length as long as possible
- grease the shaft, and the top of the bearing (but keep the casting clean)
- place the tube over the shaft
- generously coat the bottom of the outside of the tube and casting with polyurethane adhesive*, to anchor the tube in place, waterproofly, and so it won't rotate; adhesive maybe up to a cm thick where it meets and surrounds the casting and its lump.

That will
- keep the weather out
- keep the shaft externally greased
- allow everything to be stripped off without damage if ever necssary

* I use PU298 polyurethane adhesive (a Henkel Pattex brand) for making suspension bushes/mounts, and also for windscreen rubber-glass surrounds. Comes in a standard cartridge, in various colours (including black). Squirts in place like smooth peanut butter, can be palette-knifed into shape, doesn't run or sag, and goes firm within a few hours. Cures by reacting with atmospheric moisture, and a thick mass of it goes fully rubber-like in several days, although quite touchable after 24hrs. Solvent for it is petrol, but clean surfaces to be adhered to with a thinner of some sort. Sticks superbly to plastic, fabric, rubber, metal, glass... Old/unwanted adhesive which has set can be cut away with a sharp blade.
Apologies for the sales pitch. Henkel, 3M etc have good few products like this. This one primarily sold here for constructional use.

Thanks for the info Chris & Mike. We'll have to compare with the old (new one) fitted first and make sure it is the same - then see what we can do - Pete has done a 'flexi boot tube mod' as I call it on his were he fitted a boot straight over and through into the footwell - so it is something to consider.

[GiveMeABreak]

It seems a chap on a French Forum with a 2011 X7 had his rack replaced which again failed like mine did and he complained to Citroen about the quality of the components used and even though it was a 2011 model they replaced it with 75% off the bill!

So sometimes it is worth digging your heels in - although I would probably lose it if I called them over this.

[Stickyfinger]

It would be advantageous to get in contact with him and ask to see the communication from Citroen on the matter.

[RichardW]

They've clearly cocked something up. It seems unlikely to me it's just water splash, even sea water would be hard pushed to generate that amount of corrosion - and I've never heard of it on any other car! I think there must be a stray current somewhere that is causing electrolytic corrosion. I'd be tempted to add some more earths from the rack and the column support to the body (and also, if it could be made to work, the column itself).

[EDC5]

They've clearly cocked something up. It seems unlikely to me it's just water splash, even sea water would be hard pushed to generate that amount of corrosion - and I've never heard of it on any other car! I think there must be a stray current somewhere that is causing electrolytic corrosion. I'd be tempted to add some more earths from the rack and the column support to the body (and also, if it could be made to work, the column itself).

Very interesting, the X7 does have a different steering wheel design to the other cars built on the same platform that don't suffer as badly.

Maybe a spring loaded electrical contact could be placed to earth the pinion shaft?

[GiveMeABreak]

Well, I've just changed my search terminology to "Steering Shaft Boot" after getting nothing but tie rod boots and then found these.

Despite this little lot looking as though they might belong in an Ann Summers catalogue (not that I've got one of those of course) this is just the sort of thing needed on the X7.

So far as I can see, we don't have one (ignoring the driver floor cover of course) on the X7. These would seem to slip over the shaft and is more or less what I think would help protect the shaft. They seem available for many makes on this link:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw= ... noapp=true

I'm tempted to get one even if it just covers the small exposed bit - but that damned speed sensor is annoyingly close and shouldn't be needed on the X7 as the Steering Wheel Angle sensor is in the steering wheel unit and AFAIK all the X7s have ESP for speed control without double checking.

[Sloppysod]

Hi All,
This is what I used and a rough guide of how, it can be retro fitted, partially from under the car and through the floor WITHOUT removing the rack.
Fitting without removing rack.

• Remove under-tray

• Undo & Separate steering column universal joint - try not to turn steering wheel more than 1/2 a turn

• Remove Steering Column Gasket, using 10 mm socket/spanner

• Cut small end,+1" from Track-rod end (TREB)

• From inside the car slide TREB over steering rack input shaft

• From underneath pull wide end of TREB over speedsensor spigot to and tie-wrap in place

• From inside the car cut TREB to 1/2"-1" below floor level - Tricky, but can be done using side-cutters of pinchers OR mark it, remove it and cut it with scissors & refit

• Refit Steering Column Gasket, - with mine the domed part facing downwards fitted inside the TREB

• Refit steering column universal joint

• Refit undertray

.

The wide end of the TREB has to fit over the steering rack which is 39mm diameter.

But - it is a lot easier with the rack off!!

[GiveMeABreak]

Stu, thanks for this, a really useful guide. I think I will give it a go.

[Sloppysod]

You should be able to get a boot from any car spares shop for less than a £5.
I personally did not and would not use grease of any kind as it would mask future seal failure and hold onto any grit/muck that does get in, but this is my personal choice and only time will tell if I am right. What ever happens it has to be better than leaving it in fresh air!
I am waiting for delivery of an Endoscope and will inspect and post pictures, but I am not expecting it to arrive until end of June.

[GiveMeABreak]

I’ve ordered some heavy duty waterproof marine grease that I will coat the shaft with. I take your point on that issue. Hell, looking at the seal just sitting there without any protection, it can’t be any worse than trying to prevent any crap getting in with a boot mod.

[GiveMeABreak]

So I just went down to the garage after ordering the boot, armed with a tub of Marine grease and Stu's pictures and notes and to my surprise, they have already done the job!

Amazingly they have used the same mod as Stu has and had no problems at all fitting it. They haven't packed it full of grease, just put some on the shaft. The replacement rack went in fine, no real problems - just had to drop the subframe a little to get it out. They used the new over-sized seals I ordered for the LP / HP Power Steering pipes and there were no problems there after a spin.

So just waiting for them to do the tracking later on and I'll go and pick her up to get this rack returned. I'll take a few pics of the old (supposedly new) rack with the codes on for reference and comparison for everyone before sending it off.

Now - I asked about whether there was any sign of the green 'Fairy Liquid' cap seal plug thingy that others have mentioned that is supposed to be supplied and there was nothing - not even in the footwell area, so if it was a Citroen supplied mod, it wasn't supplied with mine....

I asked about the quality of the refurbished rack especially what Alasdair mentioned about it looking a bit rough - but they said no rust - it was just the type of coating they have applied to it.

So at some time, I may check the rack out from the footwell and put a little of the Marine grade grease on the shaft, but it looks pretty well protected now.

The timing kit service was fine and all new pulleys and a water pump and Anti Roll Bar links done. The old water pump didn't look too bad - a little of that calcification on the metal but looked ok - interestingly, he was surprised they still used plastic impellers, as these have been known to get too hot and melt!

She just needs the tracking and I'll be off for a decent spin as I've been without her for a few weeks now! I'll post the pics of the old one up later when I pick the car up.

[Stickyfinger]

phew....one down 1500 to go

[GiveMeABreak]

Racks or quid?