C5 Steering rack

[EJAP]

Hello.
I’m looking to buy another C5 and I know earlier models had an issue with leaking steering rack. I had to replace the rack on my 2008 C5. It wasn’t cheap even for a recon.
Did Citroen resolve this in later models? It is it something I need to be still checking? Car I’m interested in is 2013.
Thank you.

[wheeler]

The did attempt to sort the issue but not very well later ones still have the same problem. The other issue you will have is the steering pipes, many of them are no longer produced any more.

[GiveMeABreak]

The only thing they seemed to update on the rack was putting a small plastic ring over the pinion!

I had one of the Citroen replacement genuine new racks on mine and that too failed within a couple of years.

[EJAP]

Are there 3rd party pipe makers? Can’t be beyond the reach of some engineering shop somewhere.
I’ll check for leaks on the car I’m looking at. At least the fluid is easily seen around the underside of the engine.

[EJAP]

And thank you. Btw.

[wheeler]

There are companies that can make up hydralic pipes. I contacted a few that said as long as the ends were ok they should be able to do something with it but would need to remove the pipe & bring it to them first to asess it. My issue was mines was only weeping at this point & removing it would almost certainly make it worse & potentially cut the cars throat if they couldn’t do anything with it. In the end i traded it in as it kind of sickened me that the manufacturer stopped producing parts for a car before it was even 10 years old & has made me seriously consider ever buying another french car. I have a 27 year old Mazda & it has only been in the last 3-4 years i have started struggling to get some dealer parts.

[Stickyfinger]

EU agreed with EU car makers, 5 years from "end of model production" for parts "manufacture"......... so you know who to blame.

Still 10 years in the USA, so buy a model sold in the USA and you will be fine (Golfs, BMW, Honda, Jag, Land Rover etc)....as a Citroen/Pug owner you are stuffed.

[EJAP]

I wonder how the warranty company would deal with a car that couldn’t get the parts?

[GiveMeABreak]

Like anything, warranty would be subject to parts being available I suspect, so no other comeback.

[EJAP]

Final questions on this. I promise. Did the leaky rack manifest itself after a certain mileage or was it just random? And is it common enough to consider not buying a C5? I’m looking at a 2013 diesel 1.6.

[GiveMeABreak]

Just have a look at the poll for X7 steering racks - and bear in mind these are just some of the members here who have completed it...

viewtopic.php?t=59630

It will be random - given my brand new one failed again in a couple of years (and it was not the power steering pipes) - it was the pinion that rusted again. I finally fitted a refurbished one that was completely coated and with that, fitted the boot mod to reduce water splash on to the pinion.

I would of kept mine, but was getting fed up after the front suspension strut leaked and was replaced, but it had over £6k of work done before I called it a day.