Steering Rack Failure
 

Well, you can imagine I was right peeved off when I found my 3 year old replacement steering rack leaking. After a bit of looking about the web I found, on this very site no less, some interesting info. It seems my premature failure of the seals on the rack, causing it to leak, may be due to old debris swimming about the steering fluid. I did renew the fluid the last time I replaced the rack but you can't flush the whole system out. So what I intend to do is suspend a strong magnet in the pump reservoir to catch any magnetic debris floating around. How I attach it is another question. I am thinking I should bore a small hole through the dipstick of the cap and feed a piece of metal wire through it. I would crimp or solder the wire in a loop suspending the magnet(in the shape of a washer) in the fluid. I appreciate having either of these items dropping off would cause problems. Instant death to the pump, or not?

The second idea was to bore a small hole in the reservoir cap and feed a longish bolt down into the fluid and have the magnet on the end. I don't know if the pump system runs pressurised or whether a leak at the bolt/cap may cause problems. The reason I have it on the cap is to gain access to clean the debris off.

Has anyone any better solutions? New rack goes on this Saturday. Oh no, more sore necks. Pics to follow.

I have heard of the magnet 'cleaning' method but never used it.

I tend to flush my steering fluid every 2-3 years and it's not difficult.

It's much easier if you have an assistant. Basically take the top pipe off the reservior and put it into an old 2 litre pop bottle. Caution as the reservoir outlets are fairly delicate plastic.

Top the reservoir up as high as the top pipe entry point. Run engine and turn lock to lock. Stop engine, top up fluid and repeat until fluid is clean.

It's amazing what a difference can be seen in the fluid colour and transparency.

Perhaps not likely to help you if you have leaking seals though.

Here is the very item I found:-

Power Steering Fluid Cleanliness. I keep inside the power steering fluid reservoir a small but VERY STRONG magnet. I lowered it down inside on a wire and because it is strong it attaches to the metal bracket holding the reservoir. After first two weeks I was cleaning it every second or third day and you would be surprised how many metallic particles it was able to take out. For the first week the magnet was all covered and black every time. Now my power steering fluid is so clean, that I can see the bottom of the container with a flash light. Of course I changed the fluid after I take most metallic particles out. Besides there was a bulletin issued by Volvo stating that inside PS container there should be a magnet.

And the whole page for your reading:- http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/faq/Stee...id_Cleanliness

That's the one !

A write up of this job (and reasonable photos are always worth their weight in gold!) would be really helpful to quite a few folk I think - it seems that this job is cropping up quite often now, no doubt due to the age of the earlier 850s now.

My own rack ('93 850, 140k) has been slowly leaking for longer than I care to think, but I've been putting the replacement job off for a variety of reasons.

One consolation is I suppose if you've had the thing off before you're not likely to be hit with bolts that haven't moved in 12 years...

How difficult a job is it really?

Cheers,

AJ

The first time I did it, it took about 7 hours as you have to get the rack from behind the lower chassis. I did this by leaving the front and rear wheels on the ground, loosening off the front suspension bolts, removing the rear suspension bolts(on the front chassis) and then jacking the car up leaving the running gear on the ground. I could then get a gap at the back of the chassis to wangle the rack out. Something I should do this time is to measure the distance between the front wheels to avoid a wheel alignement. I must point out I did this at my friends place as he has a pit I could use. It makes life a lot easier.

Where I get my MOTs done said a leaking rack is an MOT fail. Can anyone verify this?

You're an unlucky guy
 

Tek, you must be one of the unluckiest guys i know!! Something else to add to your list of bits fallen off. :angry2:

Might as well do that CV boot while you're dirty eh! :lep_tongue:

Good luck mate

Steve

Who needs ICE
T5 at full throttle....
Open the window and floor it :)

Well, I might add that I am already counting this particular failure in my list of failed parts. My mate is getting me the gators out of MACCESS nice'n'cheap for me. That'll be a job for next weekend.

Just to rub salt in your wounds, my 95 T5 has done 170k, i've had it a year now and my list of failed parts is...erm....none so far :Dancing_chief:

Hope i havn't just put the kiss of death on it....lol

Steve

Who needs ICE
T5 at full throttle....
Open the window and floor it :)

I've had my 850 for nearly 8 years, hence the long list. It's not as if the bits are cheap either.