The_Hamster

Mine is leaking like mad. Seem to be the rack, the hoses look dry going to the rack but it leaves a puddle of fluid everywhere it goes.

Anybody rebuilt these on their own? Difficult?

If not what is a good source for a rebuilt unit etc?

Anybody know of a good writeup for replacing these?

Kneale Brownson

I think you still can get a kit of seals for resealing a rack, but the problem is the original seals probably are leaking because the piston in the rack has become scored, usually by dirt. New seals will leak soon after a rebuild if the surface of the piston is not smooth.

Generally accepted best source for rebuilt racks or rebuilding of your rack is <a href="http://www.jorgenauto.com/">Jorgen</a> in Ann Arbor, MI.

S4for73

I had a leaker, and my friend rebuilt it with a kit. It turned out well. He did not do the motor and I had to take it out again and he did that too with the kit. It stopped my leaks. I guess there is a hydraulic motor at the end of the steering column. Its part of the rack. It can leak into the car so do it.

Kneale Brownson

The rack is a tube, one end of which basically is a hydraulic cylinder inside of which a small piston moves back and forth in response to pressurized hydraulic fluid being supplied by what amounts to a valve operated by the shaft the steering wheel moves. The piston is connected to another shaft that carries the fixture to which the steering arms attach back and forth, this latter assembly covered by a rubber boot. The piston has seals and the valve has seals, as do the pipes to the cylinder and the connections where hoses supply and take away the hydraulic fluid. Any or all of these seals can leak.


<img src="http://www.vagcat.com/p/B005/074000.png">

If you want to see a breakdown of where the seals, etc., are and how to replace them, you need to review the Bentley repair procedures for your model Audi. In my Bentley for my 200s, it's Section 48.

Calbha

that worked great replaced the boot though got it from autohaseaz.com for like $15 dealer wanted something rediculious for like $85 for just the boot. imho if you can find one that would fit your car in a salvage yard in descent condition pull it instead of repairing it, (the $68 might be worth the frusteration).....those banjo bolts were welded in my old one when i was replacing outer seals had to tap them out with a air hammer and didn't look real easy to take apart.....if im not mistaken only the sevro steering racks have motors in them btw.

The_Hamster

Not sure how long that will last though. :|