Member Since: 24 Jan 2011
Location: New York
Posts: 183
Steering rack leaking fluid... help!
After noticing my power steering fluid was low last week (approx. 1" below 'MIN' line), I went ahead and ordered power steering fluid from LR to do a flush.
Well the fluid arrived in the mail today. And when I removed the side plastic panel by the driver's side wheel... I saw why my reservoir was low. There was fluid all on the rack.
Here's a few pics:
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Perhaps someone can tell from the pictures where the leak is originating from and what my options are? Could it be a bad seal? Are new seal kits even sold for these racks or do I need to buy a whole new unit?
To find out if it's coming from the boot area and not the housing, do I simply just remove the boot and look for fluid?Long Ranger aux fuel tank, Traxide w/ yellow top battery, Sasquatch rods, G4 tail guards, GVIF 6.2, CarPC (Dual-Core Atom D525, 64GB SSD, 4GB DDR3 & M3-ATX 125W PSU, Win7 Pro 64 w/ Centrafuse 3.5), Yaesu FT-8900R ham radio w/ Comet CA-2x4SR, reverse CCD camera, RLD laptop seat mount, RLD roof antenna mount, Viair 400P compressor, 3K xenons, 2.5K halogen fogs, Series 3 mudflaps, 1.25" Wheel Spacers (Motorsport Tech), Baja Roof Rack
26th Jun 2013 12:12 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10363
On mine, it was leaking through a joint in the casting. New Steering rack fixed it
AlVolvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
Gone - MY18 D5 HSE - Corris on 22's with Black Pack
Now gone - MY16 D4 SE Tech, Loire Blue, Almond Leather, Privacy, plus some other goodies.
Old - MY12 D4 SDV6 XS Auto - Ipanema Sand with Almond Leather - Plus other niceties, and D4.com sticker
Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
Ancient - D3 TDV6 S - Tonga with Ebony, 20" Stormers, satnav & DVD
26th Jun 2013 12:35 pm
er1c
Member Since: 24 Jan 2011
Location: New York
Posts: 183
That's what I'm afraid of, too. Long Ranger aux fuel tank, Traxide w/ yellow top battery, Sasquatch rods, G4 tail guards, GVIF 6.2, CarPC (Dual-Core Atom D525, 64GB SSD, 4GB DDR3 & M3-ATX 125W PSU, Win7 Pro 64 w/ Centrafuse 3.5), Yaesu FT-8900R ham radio w/ Comet CA-2x4SR, reverse CCD camera, RLD laptop seat mount, RLD roof antenna mount, Viair 400P compressor, 3K xenons, 2.5K halogen fogs, Series 3 mudflaps, 1.25" Wheel Spacers (Motorsport Tech), Baja Roof Rack
26th Jun 2013 12:37 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10363
well if there's no obvious leak from one end or the other, or from the gaiters, then it might be it. On mine, it was wet all along the alloy, (there a seem along the casting) with no obvious leak at either end.
AlVolvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
Gone - MY18 D5 HSE - Corris on 22's with Black Pack
Now gone - MY16 D4 SE Tech, Loire Blue, Almond Leather, Privacy, plus some other goodies.
Old - MY12 D4 SDV6 XS Auto - Ipanema Sand with Almond Leather - Plus other niceties, and D4.com sticker
Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
Ancient - D3 TDV6 S - Tonga with Ebony, 20" Stormers, satnav & DVD
gotta be worth a shot cheaper than a steering rack and it does say money back guarantee
GD
26th Jun 2013 3:56 pm
er1c
Member Since: 24 Jan 2011
Location: New York
Posts: 183
Funny you mention that. I just got back from the auto store picking some up! I guess what I'll do is clean all the fluid off of the steering rack, put the Lucas power steering stop leak fluid in and check it every day to see if it's still leaking and if so, where exactly it's coming from.Long Ranger aux fuel tank, Traxide w/ yellow top battery, Sasquatch rods, G4 tail guards, GVIF 6.2, CarPC (Dual-Core Atom D525, 64GB SSD, 4GB DDR3 & M3-ATX 125W PSU, Win7 Pro 64 w/ Centrafuse 3.5), Yaesu FT-8900R ham radio w/ Comet CA-2x4SR, reverse CCD camera, RLD laptop seat mount, RLD roof antenna mount, Viair 400P compressor, 3K xenons, 2.5K halogen fogs, Series 3 mudflaps, 1.25" Wheel Spacers (Motorsport Tech), Baja Roof Rack
26th Jun 2013 5:28 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8247
I once put some Wynnes in a old Volvo estate that was spewing ps fluid out in more than one place and it stopped it leaking It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
26th Jun 2013 5:36 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8247
Edit DPIt can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
Last edited by M3DPO on 26th Jun 2013 5:40 pm. Edited 1 time in total
26th Jun 2013 5:38 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8247
Edit, triple post, silly IPad dosn't like outdoor sunshine It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
I had a leak in mine as well, the local dealer replaced the rack. Apparently it is only replaced as an entire unit. I have read online that it is sometimes related to seals being blown in the rack, and there are options to rebuild it. I opted to just have it replaced, because they already were replacing tie rod ends, and lower control arm bushings at the time, so I figured what the heck, they were going to do an alignment anyways, so I might as well go ahead and get it done.
27th Jun 2013 3:21 am
er1c
Member Since: 24 Jan 2011
Location: New York
Posts: 183
Dcwilliams29id, how many miles did you have on your LR3 before the rack went?Long Ranger aux fuel tank, Traxide w/ yellow top battery, Sasquatch rods, G4 tail guards, GVIF 6.2, CarPC (Dual-Core Atom D525, 64GB SSD, 4GB DDR3 & M3-ATX 125W PSU, Win7 Pro 64 w/ Centrafuse 3.5), Yaesu FT-8900R ham radio w/ Comet CA-2x4SR, reverse CCD camera, RLD laptop seat mount, RLD roof antenna mount, Viair 400P compressor, 3K xenons, 2.5K halogen fogs, Series 3 mudflaps, 1.25" Wheel Spacers (Motorsport Tech), Baja Roof Rack
Mine had about 85,000 miles on it when it was done. The shop tech said it wasn't a very common problem. With mine, it was leaking from within the boot on the side if the rack. Land Rover will just replace it, but if it looks like just a seal, I am certain you can have it rebuilt by a good Indy shop.
Last edited by Dcwilliams29id on 27th Jun 2013 4:21 pm. Edited 1 time in total
27th Jun 2013 12:20 pm
SADISCOBOB
Member Since: 08 Oct 2010
Location: Alberton
Posts: 246
You asked if, from those pictures one could tell where the leak came from. Weeeeell, the white plastic drain (?) plug shown in one pic. appears to be very wet to the extent that the original plastic is now showing through the muck. I would suggest that a good clean of the area, top up and run to check. As we all know, a leak of this stuff very quickly spreads and gives the impression of disaster ---- for the sake of a little top-up and check after say, 2 days you may hopefully find cheap fix. Best of luck.Life always good with a Landy
2006 LR DISCO 3 4.4 V8 HSE
DISCO 1 2.8 TDi
DISCO11 TD5
RR CLASSIC 1980 3.5 V8
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