Steering: Help please! New steering pump hasn't work -new rack needed?

[giljonath]

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone can help me.

I've had heavy steering on my 2011 XC90 (circa 93k miles) and my Volvo independent garage thought it was my power steering pump which I've had replaced today. It hasn't made any difference, and they think the rack needs replacing now!

Is this a common failure? Worth spraying it with lube first so just bite the bullet and replace?

So, how much does a new rack cost (should I get a second had one, recon or new?)?

How much is labour roughly for a rack replacement i.e. how many hours for a garage? Conscious a fair bit needs to be taken off to get at it.

I'm based in Manchester if anyone has any recommendations of where to get done.

Really appreciate your advice. Love my XC90 but not enjoying it at the minute!

Jonny

[gmonag]

So you are going to trust the same guys who said it was the pump? I would get a second opinion before doing any more work and I wouldn't be paying for the pump either.

[Chunk11]

Not sure which garage you used but I have used Hallmark Volvo in Stockport aprroximately 4 times and always found them very professional and knowledgeable. They are an independent specialist rather than a main dealer

[XJSDriver]

if you want to do it yourself you can use someone like Lion Automotive who will exchange yours with a refurbished rack.

I used Lion for my power steering pump which was leaking at the shaft seal - get your old pump back and sell it on eBay if dry as they all do this eventually - must be a weakness in the bearing/design

The upside is you have replaced yours in good time - you can rest assured if you keep the car for a few more years you have saved yourself a job already!

The stiffness could be an issue with steering column joints which can become dry or a problem somewhere else in the suspension e.g. one of the ball joints is stiff and needs replacing; as gmonag suggests, more diagnostics needed before replacing anything else. The rack may be fine.