Leaky steering rack

[Mike from Spain]

It's not a Renault it's a Toyota but you lot have helped me out before and as I have 2 R4's on the road (in Spain) then I hope you'll let me off! Basically I'm attending to a friends leaky power steering rack gator on her Carina. I've taken it off and it is split which would account for the large amount of fluid she's been putting into it. However, If I renew the gator then the new one will fill up with fluid surely! This wouldn't be right would it? What I'm asking is; does a seal or 'o' ring need renewing in the rck as well as the gator?

 

[Steve Hennessey]

Mike, from my limited knowledge of power steering racks I do know that there is always a little fluid in the gaitors when you take them off. However, if a seal has gone the pump will push fluid through towards the gaitors at high pressure and pop them like a baloon. It may be worth putting a new gaitor on if it's not too difficult, fill up with fluid and then bleed it, observing the gaitors as you do it. If it shows signs of balooning, then put a recon rack on, or if you are brave, strip it and fit new parts as needed. If it does not baloon then you've done a cheap fix!!

 

[Mike from Spain]

Cheers Steve, she's been putting 2 small bottles of ATF in every week. By my calculations; if the boot was replaced, it would be full and probably under pressure in no time! So I think you've answered my question; ie; a seal has gone. From the tone of your reply it looks more like replacement of the rack than renewal of the seal!!