C5 X7 Steering Rack - Again!

[bobins]

Knowing how the original ones for the rack pipes seem to leak for fun, would it be worth sourcing very mildly (as in tenths of a millimetre) oversized O rings to see if they fit and seal better ?

[GiveMeABreak]

Ahh, I see on the Viton ones there is a configurator - I didn't look at these until you mentioned that type Chris, as I just went straight to the HNBC type and they don't seem to have a widget to enter the size in.

I wonder if there is any significant benefit between the composition / chemical make up of the Viton / Hydrogenated Nitrile Rubber ones when it comes to LDS fluid then?I'll see what they say tomorrow, when hopefully they will send a reply.

[bobins]

If you need me to nip up to Polymax next week for anything (sample of LDS for them !?!? ) then not a problem as they're just up the road from work and I know where they are well.

[GiveMeABreak]

Knowing how the original ones for the rack pipes seem to leak for fun, would it be worth sourcing very mildly (as in tenths of a millimetre) oversized O rings to see if they fit and seal better ?

These from the land of the rising sun, have a good selection - not the exact sizes , but some

7.65 x 1.78
7.8 x 1.9
8.0 x 2.0
88 x 1.9

So not exact, but for £7.40, maybe worth a shot if the others aren't suitable.

If you need me to nip up to Polymax next week for anything (sample of LDS for them !?!? ) then not a problem as they're just up the road from work and I know where they are well.

Thanks for the offer Robin - I will see what they say in the email tomorrow and let you know. They probably won't be starting the job until later next week - and the timing kit won't be picked up until Saturday either - will go on the hunt for Eolys tomorrow as my dear X7 has completely sapped me today

[white exec]

If you google 'viton chemical compatibility', DuPont rate it as 'A-Excellent' for use with both mineral and synthetic oil. Plenty of chemical compatibility listings on the web.

[GiveMeABreak]

Chris thanks for that - I think I'll ask our resident chemist Elis (EDC5) to check that out, well I prepare to smelt down some of the family krugerrands for the bill!

[EDC5]

It's strange that the same ARB has been picked up 3 MOTs in a row and still fine - it isn't actually noisy, with just a small amount of play - they checked the other one and it is solid as a rock - so I'll leave that one, despite the advice as yes, I would normally get both done - but I'd rather focus on the other issues at this stage pending major surgery if the seal doesn't do it

Elis - Here's my 'simplified' guide on the dreaded Eolys: Your RPO is 11656 so you should be with the Green Click Fit Unions and on the Eolys 176 the same as me

On that matter without going too off topic - I just had a quote for the 3 Lt kit for Eolys 176 from Citroen - £124.16 inclusive, which includes the filling kit. I've just got to try and determine how much I need of the stuff - I'll see what Diagbox thinks tomorrow

So here is a guide I've put together:

Click Fit Colour	RPO	Date	EOLYS
White	To 9492	To 04/11/2002	EOLYS DPX42
GREEN	9493 to 12109	05/11/2002 to 03/01/2010	EOLYS 176
GREEN	12110 to 12165	04/01/2010 to 28/02/2010	Infineum F7995
BLUE	12166 on	01/03/2010 on	EOLYS Powerflex

So only the GREEN fluid types can be mixed when topping up - you must never mix the DPX42 or the EOLYS Poweflex with any other additive fluid.

Click Fit Connector

Click Fit Green.PNG	Click Fit Blue.PNG
Green Click Fit	Blue Click Fit

Thanks Marc, I'll bear this in mind when I get the dreaded low EOLYS warning. I think last time I checked I had about 1500ml out of 2300ml left so I should be good for a while yet.

Chris thanks for that - I think I'll ask our resident chemist Elis (EDC5) to check that out, well I prepare to smelt down some of the family krugerrands for the bill!

LDS is a fully synthetic oil so I can't see any issues with compatibility with either type of seal to be honest.
The seals that connect the top of the suspension strut to the oil pipe has a green seal too come to think of it so I think we're on the right track compatibility wise.

[GiveMeABreak]

Good to know. And on that subject you just reminded me that when I had the from strut replaced a few weeks ago, I noticed that on the top of the strut there is an exposed nipple or valve (driver’s side), that is not present on the Passenger side. I’ll take a picture tomorrow as I can’t remember now if the old one had this.

[EDC5]

Good to know. And on that subject you just reminded me that when I had the from strut replaced a few weeks ago, I noticed that on the top of the strut there is an exposed nipple or valve (driver’s side), that is not present on the Passenger side. I’ll take a picture tomorrow as I can’t remember now if the old one had this.

That's the manual drain valve. I used it once when I changed the strut as an alternative to depressurisation via diagbox.

The green seal I mentioned is on the suspension oil pipe.

[fastjet]

I feel real sorry for C5 X7 owners. Those rack prices are a real blow to take. I think that Citroen should pay for the replacement as the design sounds to be fundamentally flawed.

[GiveMeABreak]

They are flawed - no doubt, I’ve NEVER had a car with a failed rack ever - until now. It was totally unheard of as far as I was concerned until the X7. The rack prices from Citroen just keep going skywards!

[fastjet]

The magic money tree, supply vs demand. Citroen should pay for your rack in full, not fit for purpose.

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes but this has already been replaced once with a £1500 new rack supplied and fitted under warranty 20k miles ago, so if the seal repair is not going to work, it will be the third rack to be fitted......

[EDC5]

Yes but this has already been replaced once with a £1500 new rack supplied and fitted under warranty 20k miles ago, so if the seal repair is not going to work, it will be the third rack to be fitted......

The seal repair has to work, unless the mating surfaces have been designed wrongly it cannot fail

[GiveMeABreak]

If you need me to nip up to Polymax next week for anything (sample of LDS for them !?!? ) then not a problem as they're just up the road from work and I know where they are well.

I've just heard back and there is a min order quantity of 100 pieces of each, so although I accept that Citroen have an issue with faulty steering racks, I can't see me needing a 100 of these seals....yet!

Thanks for the offer of picking them up for me (Robin) and the recommendation (Chris) though - I'll just order a box of the mixed 'miniature incredible hulk hoola hoops' as backup.