C5x7 NEW steering disaster..

[aerodynamica]

Measured the pipe diameter, pinion housing bore and a bunch of other measurements and it looks like it would need a 6mm O ring with a 1,5 section. 9mm outer diameter. I notice when you fit the o ring on the pipe the outer diameter stretches to 9,33. I think what I have is corrosion in the pipe bore and the pitting is too much for the 6mm o ring. My experiment was going to be to try a 6mm 2,0 section o ring. It'll be tight to fit but should go in.

But increasingly I'm thinking I might do as bobins suggests and use some stuff to bond in the pipe. I have bonding chemical metal and this might just do it if I can figure out how to stop the LDS constantly running out of the removed pipe bore. Might have to fully drain the LDS tank and the PAS pump that I reckon holds a fair old bucket of the stuff...

[aerodynamica]

It is leaking from here

This lower pipe is the supply to the RH of the rack

The little clamp that holds 2 pipes with one screw. Seems that it's simply to hold them as the bore is straight in. O ring is to simply contact around the bore. It's not pressed-in to seal as such. As far as I can tell.

I'm really not keen on this type of pipe fitting

I think the bore is corroded larger by pitting. I have yet to visually confirm this.

Cleaned up the little plate because corrosion material was building up between the plate and the pinion housing. Much like the old C5 / Xantia thing where this happened where the brake caliper contacted the trailing arm. A well known thing from back in the day. I had initially thought it was building up this hard compound stuff that was then pushing the little plate up and lifting it off the pipes letting them leak but I don't think it is. I think the only other thing that could cause this is pitting in where the o ring is meant to touch.

I only fitted this plate in April when I fixed and modified the steering rack. Incredible how quickly the corrosion built up.

[aerodynamica]

Morning all, I have taken bobins' suggestion and used a bonding/ filling epoxy to try and sort this. Basically chemical metal.

There was no real way to verify exactly where the leaking was from because the steering rack is hard to access. But I managed to take a snap of the pipe bore in the pinion housing.

It looks clear of obvious corrosion but I still think there is pitting or damage to the pipe bore.

Biggest task was really to stop the constant flow of LDS from this hole. Solution was to refit the pipe at the wrong angle so it aimed forward of the rack to the gap in the subframe and ran the engine so that the pump emptied the remaining lds out. It actually did completely run dry. Suspension left on maximum to lock a volume of LDS in the system.

Anyway, the chemical metal added in small amount to the pipe bore well away from the internal port - don't want to get any in the pinion valve! And another small bit of the stuff on the pipe between the pipe flare and the new o ring. Went for the same o ring size. So the idea was that the chemical metal will fill any damage in the bore and on both sides of the o ring. Then spread the bit of the stuff at the outer face of the pinion valve to blend the filled-in part to the outermost surface. Added a bit to the other adjacent pipe too and then refitted the little plate.

Can sort of see the chemical metal here.

So that was 3 days ago, so far so good!

But it's a C5X7 steering rack so no doubt a new, unexpected thing will be happening next like spontaneous combustion or something

[stu9]

I will say this you definitely have a lot of patience and perseverance than me, well done.

[aerodynamica]

I will say this you definitely have a lot of patience and perseverance than me, well done.

Hi Stu, well its that or the whole car goes in the bin. True achillies heel on the x7

[KennyW]

Graeme, Been away for a weeks holiday and just read your thread today. I have several new unused 'o' rings for the rack during my C5 time.

if you want them PM your address and I'll post them to you.

The chemical metal glue will stop the leak, I used JB weld found it very useful even made new threaded holes over the years.

Kenny

[aerodynamica]

Graeme, Been away for a weeks holiday and just read your thread today. I have several new unused 'o' rings for the rack during my C5 time.

if you want them PM your address and I'll post them to you.

The chemical metal glue will stop the leak, I used JB weld found it very useful even made new threaded holes over the years.

Kenny

Hi Kenny, good to hear from you, yes I'm hoping the chemical metal will do it.. I'd like to have modified the pipes to threaded connectors but I'm hoping the steering rack doesn't need to come out again! Still have high hoped for the modified steering shaft seal solution.. well see how it lasts. Been 7 months now