Leaking Rack

BrianM · Unread post by **BrianM** » 03 May 2005, 17:59

For a while now there has been a leak out of the steering rack on my 97 Xantia TD. Having cleaned off the LHM, checked the pipe unions etc I still cannot see exactly where the leak is coming from, (although it is concentrated on the are where the steering column joins, not the trie rod ends area.) Is there any 'user replaceable' parts here ?. I have a good rack from a 93 TD, does anybody know if they are the same ?( look it anyway)
Thanks
Brian
97 Xantia TD
93 Xantia TD ( scrapped )

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 03 May 2005, 22:58

Brian I believe the origin to the problem could be worn bushes in the ram cylinder mounts.
If the ram itself is allowed to move from the rack then the piping from pinion valve to ram will split on the unions.
Try remove the piping (NOTE the connections !) and look for hair line cracking at ends.

Unread post by **Jon** » 03 May 2005, 23:05

You could only use your 93 rack in the later car if you swapped the pinion valves over (later cars with anti-sink have different pinion). The pinion valve itself may also be leaking, noy uncommon.

BrianM · Unread post by **BrianM** » 05 May 2005, 15:22

Thanks guys,
I did not seem to have a leak until after I did a hydraflush ( when I got the car could not describe the colour of the substance in the LHM tank). Have read somewhere else that a blocked return can cause leaking. If it is the pinion valve can this be replaced with the rack in the car, or must it come out ?
Brian

Unread post by **alan s** » 05 May 2005, 15:42

If it's the same as a BX it can be done in the car.
The trick is to remove the bearing don't try to fit new seals with it in place. No doubt someone will confirm if in fact I'm correct.
Alan S

BrianM · Unread post by **BrianM** » 06 May 2005, 14:09

Does this mean the it is possible to get a repair kit without replacing the whole pinion valve ?.
Apart from the odd drop of LHM on the drive it is not much of a problem ( yet !!!).

BrianM · Unread post by **BrianM** » 23 May 2005, 14:46

Got a repair kit from Citroen but unfortunately there was no suitably coloured top in it, on my rack the top is clear/white but there was none of this colour in the kit. My question now is, if I want to replace the pinioin valve which one is it from the GSF shop
N43452 STEERING PINION VALVE XANTIA PINION VALVE RP 6779>
or
N43450 STEERING PINION VALVE XANTIA PINION VALVE ALL >RP6778
Does the colour of the top determine the size of the spigot that connects to the steering column ?.
or maybe it would be easier to go to the scrapyard for a complete rack ?
Brian
97 Xantia TD
93 Xantia TD ( scrapped )

Unread post by **RichardW** » 23 May 2005, 18:07

Brian,
RP 6778 comes out as 31/05/95, so I guess this is probably the change over from single to twin output pump. RP number on your car should be stencilled on the bulkhead behind the OSF suspension turret - if it's a 97 car it will probably be 7300 range. Either way, I guess you need the later one.

BrianM · Unread post by **BrianM** » 24 May 2005, 01:32

Ah, now the part numbers/descriptions make sense [:I].

BrianM · Unread post by **BrianM** » 25 May 2005, 18:10

Looking at the web shop it leads me to believe that the Steering rack in a petrol xantia is the same as a diesel, does anyone know if this is so. Could make sourcing a secondhand one alot easier for me [;)]
Brian