C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

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Re: C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

Post by Stickyfinger »

Thanks Chaps, will let you know tomorrow. I thought as much re: the trip to Scotland and back. Gerrrr

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Last edited by Stickyfinger on 09 Jun 2018, 21:25, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

Post by GiveMeABreak »

One SMALL consolation is that you noticed it now, before your friends were out and about touring the UK in it....
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Re: C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

Post by Stickyfinger »

This is true.
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Re: C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

Post by Sloppysod »

Alastair, the position of the pipes can give a false assumption, apart from underneath, take the righthand wheel off and shine a torch onto the shaft, and as Marc suggested, also look from the inside by removing the floor gromit under the column for a 99% accurate diagnosis, but I think you will find it is the rack, and not the pipes.
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Re: C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

Post by Stickyfinger »

Yep, I plan to look in via the footwell hole in the morning, I am 95% sure the rack is the problem from what I got to see tonight.
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Re: C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

Post by Stickyfinger »

Question, how is the pinion seal fitted , is it pressed in from the outside ?
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Re: C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

Post by Homer »

Stickyfinger wrote: 09 Jun 2018, 19:19
How long can they weep for,


Mine was a tiny drip for a few weeks then overnight dumped the entire contents of the reservoir on the garage floor. It was a steel suspension version though and the LDS reservoir on those is quite small and there is no low level warning. If you have the proper Citroen suspension then you will have a bigger tank and a warning when it gets low (assuming they still do that like the BX and Xantia did).
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Re: C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

Post by bobins »

Stickyfinger wrote: 10 Jun 2018, 00:38 Question, how is the pinion seal fitted , is it pressed in from the outside ?


I'm pretty sure it's fitted from inside. I'm familiar with oil seals (!) and I can't see how it could be pressed in from outside. I'm presuming you were thinking of stripping the shaft and replacing the oil seal yourself ? The thought had occurred to me in the past but it would involve dis-assembling the rack (or at least the pinion area) and that's a job i'm not familiar with. It might be an easy job - but it might be filled with potential pingfukkits 8-[
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Re: C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

Post by GiveMeABreak »

There was a video - but they use some Carlos Fandango type tools to get the innards out - I wouldn't attempt it without the tools unless you were 100% confident as there are quite a few bits in there and if needing an exchange unit they might refuse to take yours if it has been dismantled.

So were you planning to grind down the corrosion on a lathe and fit an over-sized seal? The seal is definitely fitted from the inside though.

This video is for a 2.2 C5, (doesn't say what year though), but may give you an idea of what's involved.

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Re: C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

Post by bobins »

The specialist tools wouldn't be needed to just strip out the pinion shaft. The hardest part of the job would be successfully turning down the shaft on a lathe so it could take a Speedi-sleeve, and also lining it all back up correctly so the shaft goes in and has the correct alignment once it's back in its housing. Correct torque settings and adjustments might prove a bit hit 'n' miss though :( It'd be critical to mark up the relative positions of the components before disassembly so they could go back spot on in the right position.
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Re: C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

Post by xantia_v6 »

Having replaced the seals in a couple of steering racks (but not Citroen) and watched that video, I would say that a careful worker could remove the pinion assembly and repair the shaft without any special tools.

I would not remove the rack shaft or touch its seals, these are easy to damage during reassembly.

If the pinion shaft is keyed (as apparently was the one in the video), then it should be replaced with the same tooth engaged in the rack, which takes a bit of prior measurement and planning.

Don't attempt to dismantle or adjust the pinion valve components (other than removing the assembly from the tower housing), the adjustment does require special equipment. Be careful not to damage the nylon seal rings around the valve assembly, especially when reassembling.
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Re: C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

Post by bobins »

xantia_v6 wrote: 10 Jun 2018, 10:13
If the pinion shaft is keyed (as apparently was the one in the video), then it should be replaced with the same tooth engaged in the rack, which takes a bit of prior measurement and planning.


To confirm, the shaft is keyed - not splined - at the top, so will only fit on the steering column shaft in a single position, so the pinion shaft HAS to go back exactly in the right alignment, so - as you say - a bit of marking / measuring / prior planing is essential.
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Re: C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Or, Autosteer have one left with est Wednesday delivery
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-C5-P ... 2735151783

This is a completely rebuilt one with 3 year warranty, but if you need it sooner they may be able to get it expedited.
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Re: C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

Post by Stickyfinger »

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Re: C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

Post by bobins »

Or, if you've got money to burn and want to have your own one rebuilt - currently a snip at £9179.99 :shock: :lol:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OWN-UNIT-REB ... 1622515332
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