Steering Rack Leak(?) + Outer Driveshaft Boot

[bobins]

Do you reckon you've got your original rack back on the car now, or do you reckon it's been substituted for a different one by the reconditioners ?
I assume you've got either 17", 18", or 19" wheels fitted as original, and not 16" ?

Standard 17" wheels and 99.9% sure it is not my original rack.......

In theory, to have your steering wheel out by 180 degrees, there will be noticeably different amounts of thread exposed between the left and right track rods.

Remembering your earlier post about rack lengths, I measured today and I have 18-20mm of adjustment thread on the right and about 5-8 mm of thread on the left hand track-rod. - and i hope this will be enough to bring it right again.

If I get the chance today, I'll nip down to one of my sheds and measure up the exposed threads on my old rack. My car has 17" wheels as well so - theoretically at least - I should be able to tally up approx 26mm of total exposd thread.

There have been rumours of cheap Chinese replacement racks doing the rounds, but I don't know if that was based on fact or fiction

I'm guessing the reason that Kwikfart ended up with the steering wheel upside down is because they thought that was actually the right way up I can't think of any other reason (based on mechanical necessity) for adjusting it up 180 degrees out !

[Stickyfinger]

If there is any damage to the clockspring make sure you claim from KwickFart, it is not cheap to replace.

[bobins]

Well that was a wasted journey ! Drove over to my shed to measure the steering rack.... and it wasn't there....... that's because it was in the shed in the back garden Unfortunately, it seems I've previously stripped off the old track rod ends so I can't accurately measure the exposed threads as the lock nuts have been moved, but I did climb under the car to measure the rack on there About 9.4mm and 9.3mm on those +/- 1mm

Now... we both know that this isn't a particularly scientific way of sorting out your rack !...... but we also know that it might well be pointing to the fact you've got the wrong length rack now fitted to yours Ideally though, I think you need Kwikfart to centre yours up properly so you can take the measurements again. Might also be worth contacting your rack refurbers and asking them if they're aware there are two different length racks for the C5 X7....... though I'd reckon they'll tell you they're aware of that and they've given you the right rack. Yeah, right !!

For info - my original rack that is now sitting in the shed was p/n 96 871 791 80

[Sloppysod]

Thanks to you all so far.

Thanks for you time Bobbins, for taking the time and going out in the cold to measure your rack, but your rack has a different part number.

I have been to Kwikfit again today and my steering wheel i still upside down!!
We realigned the steering wheel to the correct position and measured the toe angle, the right one was 11.25 degrees out, then tried to adjust the tracking and at 2 degrees the track rod end fell off of the track rod, so basically with the steering wheel correctly aligned the tracking can not be corrected - therefore, there are two possibilities.

• the rack is the wrong length

• When it was assembled the the rack was not centralised

Either way it has to come off and get replaced.

I am at the point where I no longer trust the re-conditioners to give me a rack that works so tomorrow it will be a case of asking for my money back and either the correct rack, part number verified I can part-exchnage, or some money to buy a 2nd hand rack, because, when I take the rack off and hand it back I will be rackless, and getting a replacement will cost.

I am even tempted, as I only want to change the rack once more, to but a genuine new rack. - Who supplies Citroen and any recommendations as to where I can get a new one at a good price?

[GiveMeABreak]

There are some here Stu: (for part: 9801415480)
https://www.buycarparts.co.uk/oen/9801415480

[bobins]

Just to clarify - my old original rack which is sitting in the shed was p/n 96 871 791 80 , whilst my replacement one is p/n 98 014 154 80

My old rack is still up for grabs if you want it. Get it refurbed somewhere else and when it comes back, then swap yours over and send back the duff one for a refund ??

[bobins]

There are some here Stu: (for part: 9801415480)
https://www.buycarparts.co.uk/oen/9801415480

Interesting !!! My original rack (as originally fitted at the factory) was a ZF rack - the same make as some of the ones in Marc's link. The ZF p/n was 7832 974 238 - NOTE, that's the ZF p/n for my old rack, and not a PSA p/n.

The ones in Marc's link are exchange units requiring a refundable deposit and your old rack back.

[Sloppysod]

I confirmed it last night the 2nd rack, is the right length but has been assembled wrong, my steering wheel is now only 145 degrees out.

I have another rack coming this weekend but as I have had the column disconnected, rotated, disconnected, rotated etc.... How do I check that the relationship to the steering wheel angle sensor and steering wheel is correct, possibly not a turn out, I don't think it is but I would like to check. Also, is there a major spline at the top of the column?

Marc, those racks you link goes to are all out of stock!! - thanks for the link anyway.

OEM =£1,595!!
All, Thanks, hopefully this weekend will have the issue sorted.

[wurlycorner]

I have another rack coming this weekend but as I have had the column disconnected, rotated, disconnected, rotated etc.... How do I check that the relationship to the steering wheel angle sensor and steering wheel is correct, possibly not a turn out, I don't think it is but I would like to check. Also, is there a major spline at the top of the column?

Presumably connecting up to Lexia will tell you what angle it thinks all the angle sensors are set at?
The steering wheel sensor though (assuming it's the same as original C5's) doesn't count the number of turns, it just counts angle, i.e. 0-360^. So as long as the steering wheel is up the right way up and centred, you will be around 0^ and that's all that should matter.

[xantia_v6]

But the clock spring does count the number of turns. I don't know this model, but I expect that you need to remove the steering wheel to see the centering indicator marks.

[Sloppysod]

Thanks for your answers,
I was expecting to have to take the steering wheel off, but I am not exactly sure what I will find, to say it is correct.
I had thought about using Lexia, but if it is over 360° out then how would I know.
I have noticed the indicators cancel at different times, left and right, do that may get me close.
Stu

Sorry for any smelling mistakes as this was sent from my mobile phone with predictive text turned no

[GiveMeABreak]

Lexia will show you the angle in degrees when you turn the wheel Stu - so 0 degrees should be dead ahead.

[Sloppysod]

Lexia will show you the angle in degrees when you turn the wheel Stu - so 0 degrees should be dead ahead.

Hmmm....
I Fitted the replacement rack today, this one self centres after turning a corner and is not stiff - and, tomorrow, I will get Quickfit to try to tack it with the steering wheel in the correct position as it is not bad but about 15-20 degrees out See rough sketch below, so I am getting there....

However, I still have the issue of the steering angle sensor fault
I would imagine a new sensor is going to be mega bucks, any idea on a possible fix, as you can see the sensor angle is 5773 degrees out!! -I would imagine this means broke!!

[GiveMeABreak]

Better get near a couch Stu....

Part number 2, (4545 H8)

ahhemm

£477.67

PS including VAT

[GiveMeABreak]

Are you sure there isn't another menu there or a configuration option? There has to be something as this is what the dealer uses to calibrate it when it's out - so when the wheels are aligned straight ahead, you can reset the sensor angle to 0?

I suspect it will be in the ESP ECU after a global test - clicking on the ESP ECU should provide some other settings - I believe you have to drive in a straight line for about a 100 Metres whilst activating the calibration routine - I don't think it can't be done at standstill - but I hope it would give you instructions once you see the option to undertake the calibration Stu.