Xantia Steering Rack

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
Toby_HDi
Posts: 1354
Joined: 05 Jan 2008, 21:31
Location: Malvern, Worcestershire
My Cars:
x 3

Xantia Steering Rack

Post by Toby_HDi »

Right, my gaiter is hanging off and I don't trust the garage to do it again. The problem is getting worse and so I think I need to remove the rack and clean it before reassembling with a new gaiter.

As I see it, remove the wheels, track rod ends, disconnect all pipes, remove rack?

I know thats a generalisation but is that it? Are there any pitfalls to this job? Anything that might make it easier to what the BoL suggests?

The BoL also suggests a number of bolts need renewing. Is this so? Any seals that'll need replacing?

Any input appreciated

Thanks
Toby


Previous:
2004 Peugeot 407 HDi 138 SE Luxury Pack
2001 S2 Xantia HDi 110 SX
2001 Peugeot 406 V6 Coupé
1998 S2 Xantia Activa
2000 S2 Xantia HDi 110 SX
1999 Peugeot 406 2.0 16v Estate
rory_perrett
Posts: 715
Joined: 05 Nov 2001, 19:18
Location: Leeds, Yorkshire
My Cars: Xantia Exclusive 110Hdi Estate 1999
x 1

Post by rory_perrett »

That's just about it. Removed my rack over Easter to replace the ram which was leaking. The 2 bolts that hold the rack to the sub-frame require an 18mm socket - a size that often isn't in socket sets. A 19 does seem to fit, but can than slip and knock the corners off the bolt. Must confess I have re-used the bolts.

Remember there is a small plastic hydraulic return pipe on the ram gaiter that needs to be disconnected.

The 2 biggest pains of the job for me was getting the steering shaft coupling off and back on again and manouvering the rack out and back in again, there is very little room.

I found I had to un-bolt the rack in order to get the steering shaft coupling off and had to reconnect it before bolting the rack back down again. This made it impossible to get the steering wheel straight. Resorted to taking the wheel off and repositioning after the tracking had been re-done. Good luck.

Rory
Peter.N.
Moderating Team
Posts: 11563
Joined: 02 Apr 2005, 16:11
Location: Charmouth,Dorset
My Cars: Currently:

C5 X7 VTR + Satnav Hdi estate Silver
C5 X7 VTR + Hdi Estate 2008 Red

In the past: 3, CX td Safaris and about 7, XM td estates. Lovely cars.
x 1199

Post by Peter.N. »

An 11/16" socket is a good fit, if you are as old as me. :D
User avatar
KennyW
(Donor 2022)
Posts: 2499
Joined: 17 Jan 2006, 21:22
Location: Letham, Fife
My Cars: Current Citroen's
C5 x7 2010
SWMBO C3 2012
Previous Citroen's
Xantia 2.0 90hp estate
Xantia 1.9 TD estate
x 132

Post by KennyW »

Hi Toby,

I recently replaced my rack after a leaking steering pinion.

I found to remove the rack from the car via the offside, i removed the wishbone and this improved the access.

As you pointed out remove the UV joint from the pinion and replace that first when installing.

Which gaiter is goosed :?:

On my rack it was the nearside gaiter where the bolt for the ram is located and I found it easier to remove the track rod from the rack to replace same.

Otherwise not to hard a job.

Kenny
C5 x7 2.0 HDi 160 hp Estate exclusive, the newbie
Xantia 2.0 Hdi 90hp 1999 only 189,000 and rising!!!!!!! Moved on to a new home
C3 1.4 petrol (SWMBO)
Xantia TD 1.9 Mk 2 Estate LX 1998 model over 210,000 miles now and still rising!!!!!!!!!!!!! now deceased 17/12/2010.
citroenxm
Posts: 8061
Joined: 30 Dec 2004, 23:10
Location: Somewhere in North Wales, Anglesey
My Cars: M reg Xm S2 2.1td Auto Exclusive. 269k and rising
L reg XM S1 V6 12v Manual SEi
L 94 XM 2.1 TD auto total resto

2008 Peugeot 207 Sw 1.6 16v hdi. 217k and rising
2010 Peugeot 207 SW 1.6 8v HDi 161k and rising
x 70

Post by citroenxm »

Thats an interesting point about removing the rack! HOW!!??

I recently changed a leaking pinion valve on the S1 Xantia TD.. however, tried as I could the damm rack was NOT comming out of the off or near side - the pinion valve was just too tall... I guess removing the wishbone might have helped, but I just could not see how to get it through, twisting or turning it on the way - nope no chance!!

So I just settled for having the pinion right above the wishbone so I could get to the pipe unions, and swapped it through the wheel arch..

Refitting - I reused all bolts and nuts and just tightened them DAMM tight.. if yur not happy with that, put a bit of thread lock on the bolts!

Rgds
Paul
Sharing a pug 207 1.6 hdi Sw 16v.
M reg Xm 2.1 td auto exclusive S2 269k and rising
L reg XM V6 12v SEi auto .. Light project

A very sad...
1994 XM 2.1 d auto
rory_perrett
Posts: 715
Joined: 05 Nov 2001, 19:18
Location: Leeds, Yorkshire
My Cars: Xantia Exclusive 110Hdi Estate 1999
x 1

Post by rory_perrett »

I got the rack out thought the offside without removing anything else other than uncliping the heat shield (sorry forgot that bit earlier). But as Paul says it is an incredibly tight fit took me ages of twisting and turning to get it out. I wish I had taken a photo of the way it was orientated as it came out because it took me just as long (if not longer) trying to get it in the right position so it would go back in again. Whether the engine varient makes any difference I don't know.

Thinking about the bolts, the usual reason for new bolts is when they are in an application where they work in tension and may stretch eg cylinder head bolts. On the rack the torque setting is not that great and they don't really operate in tension, once they've held the rack down the force they have to resist is mostly side to side. You are supposed to fit new nyloc nuts each time and off course we all do don't we.

Rory
Toby_HDi
Posts: 1354
Joined: 05 Jan 2008, 21:31
Location: Malvern, Worcestershire
My Cars:
x 3

Post by Toby_HDi »

Thanks fellas.

I think the main one the BoL states to replace is the UV joint pinch bolt, but from your replies I guess all the bolts can be reused. I have some threadlock anyway.

Will try to get away with not removing the wishbone. Is the heatsheild easy enough? Just a few bolts I assume?

As for the track rods, will I need any special tools (eg. separator tool)?

I see GSF sell the gaiter, do they supply the clips to secure it too? Seems the garage just secured it on with a cable tie (and not too well it seems) but I thought it would use a proper metal band like a CV boot.

Am not really lookinf forward to it as it'll have to be done up on stands in the road :(

I may attempt it this weekend, it's got to be done though.
Toby


Previous:
2004 Peugeot 407 HDi 138 SE Luxury Pack
2001 S2 Xantia HDi 110 SX
2001 Peugeot 406 V6 Coupé
1998 S2 Xantia Activa
2000 S2 Xantia HDi 110 SX
1999 Peugeot 406 2.0 16v Estate
citronut
Posts: 10937
Joined: 29 Apr 2005, 00:46
Location: United Kingdom east sussex
My Cars:
x 92

Post by citronut »

if its the N/S the garage did they may well have fitted it the wrong way round, as one end has a very slight diferance in diamiter, and if fitted the wrong way it will not stay put,, when its the right way round cable ties are fine, unlike a CV gaitor it is not beeing rotated

so check and check again

also i found the rubber GSF gaitor to long, but the OE gaitor is thermo plastic so dose not stretch over the steering ram spigot, as they intend it to be fitted by stripping the rack down

regards malcolm
MikeT
Posts: 4809
Joined: 11 Jun 2007, 16:17
Location: Christchurch, Dorset. UK
My Cars: 2005 C5restyle 1.6HDI 16v 110hp VTR Estate
2008 C5 X7 1.6HDI VTR+ Saloon
x 231

Post by MikeT »

Hi Toby,
Mind if I pop over to observe? Always willing to lend a hand if need be. Not sure I'll be free at the weekend yet but if I am, is that ok?
Toby_HDi
Posts: 1354
Joined: 05 Jan 2008, 21:31
Location: Malvern, Worcestershire
My Cars:
x 3

Post by Toby_HDi »

Of course Mike, no worries at all. TBH an extra pair of hands and eyes could prove helpful.
Toby


Previous:
2004 Peugeot 407 HDi 138 SE Luxury Pack
2001 S2 Xantia HDi 110 SX
2001 Peugeot 406 V6 Coupé
1998 S2 Xantia Activa
2000 S2 Xantia HDi 110 SX
1999 Peugeot 406 2.0 16v Estate
Pleiades
Posts: 234
Joined: 28 Apr 2008, 21:04
Location: Sunny East Anglia
My Cars:
x 1

Post by Pleiades »

Hi Toby.

As Malcolm states, if it's the left hand gaiter, you should realy be stripping the rack to fit, otherwise you cannot get it over the spiggot bit that holds the ram on, unless you are going to stretch a rubber gaiter over this, in that case, why not do it this way without removing the rack?

If you do go down the removal route, then personally, I allways remove the pinion from the rack before taking the rack out, as the gap just aint big enough, it will go through with pinion attached but takes a bit of swearing and personal insults about Andre Citroens parentage!!

If you are going to strip the rack to do the job, then just make it easier by removing the pinion in situ.

Once out, the rack is dead simple to strip and put the gaiter on.

Have fun.

Regards
Martin.
Toby_HDi
Posts: 1354
Joined: 05 Jan 2008, 21:31
Location: Malvern, Worcestershire
My Cars:
x 3

Post by Toby_HDi »

Thanks Martin, will look into removing the pinion.

I am removing the rack as I feel there is it possible that muck and stuff has found its way under the gaiter. I want to clean it throughly before refitting the gaiter. It is indeed the nearside gaiter
Toby


Previous:
2004 Peugeot 407 HDi 138 SE Luxury Pack
2001 S2 Xantia HDi 110 SX
2001 Peugeot 406 V6 Coupé
1998 S2 Xantia Activa
2000 S2 Xantia HDi 110 SX
1999 Peugeot 406 2.0 16v Estate
rory_perrett
Posts: 715
Joined: 05 Nov 2001, 19:18
Location: Leeds, Yorkshire
My Cars: Xantia Exclusive 110Hdi Estate 1999
x 1

Post by rory_perrett »

The heat shield just clips on - just unclip it and push it up out of the way.

Good luck.
citronut
Posts: 10937
Joined: 29 Apr 2005, 00:46
Location: United Kingdom east sussex
My Cars:
x 92

Post by citronut »

the heat shieled is held on by a wire clip

regards malcolm
MikeT
Posts: 4809
Joined: 11 Jun 2007, 16:17
Location: Christchurch, Dorset. UK
My Cars: 2005 C5restyle 1.6HDI 16v 110hp VTR Estate
2008 C5 X7 1.6HDI VTR+ Saloon
x 231

Post by MikeT »

Toby_HDi wrote:Of course Mike, no worries at all. TBH an extra pair of hands and eyes could prove helpful.
So sorry Toby, I couldn't make it over this morning, Dad left his wallet on the bus and asked me to run him around. How did you get on, well I hope?
Post Reply