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Banned
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: St Paul MN
Posts: 19,426
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power steering rack leaks, what to do?
stock rack was leaking out the boots, so i bought a rebuilt rack from detroit axle. i know, probably a bad plan, but it was cheap and "lifetime guarantee" so it can't be that bad right?
well, im on my second rack from them, and now its leaking too. the first rack i hooked up and ran for a few days, it was leaking badly. out of the steering shaft seal. really bad. when i called them up they said that seal can only leak if there is a restriction or kink in the low pressure lines. so they didn't even want to send me out a new one. but i tested the crap out of it. i even removed the reservoir, and blew with my mouth fluid through the low pressure lines, and if your mouth can push the fluid out, the oring better be able to hold that kind of pressure loss. second one, i installed, and ran and made sure it wasn't leaking at all from even that top seal before buttoning the whole car up. 3 days later now, its leaking from the steering shaft seal again, really slowly. so, options: 1. call Detroit axle again, who have been a serious PITA to deal with already, and get a third. not sure if thats possible as they will tell me my low pressure side lines are messed up, even though, again, if i can blow fluid though them with my mouth, then they are probably fine. 2. take it to the local 944 shop, pay 1200ish or whatever they want for it, and forget about it. 3. take rack #2 apart and attempt to reseal it myself. 4. buy a more quality rebuilt rack and install it myself. any other ideas im not seeing? anyone ever had this kind of problem? as i said, i totally believe the detroit axle guy when he says those seals almost never leak, because the low pressure side is just a vent. but there are no real restrictions on my car, as evidenced by the blow test. any other tests? just replace the hoses out of spite? 
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06-01-2015, 04:28 PM
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Banned
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: St Paul MN
Posts: 19,426
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looking at the prices, i could do all the low pressure lines myself, and then KNOW that they are not the problem. not that that solves the steering rack problem in all likelihood, but maybe. and on cars like these, its never a bad thing to put in new rubbery bits.
the high pressure line is not leaking, it was ~2 years ago, and i replaced that. so its pretty new. |
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06-01-2015, 04:33 PM
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 106
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That sucks. I just bought an '86 944, and as a condition of the sale, prior owner was to have a new steering rack installed at ~$1000.
It's leaking only two weeks after install. Not sure if it is the pump or a line. Haven't gotten the underbelly pan off and traced the leak. I did get the Rennbay kit to reseal the PS pump. Someday. I will be watching your solution with interest. Good luck. |
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06-01-2015, 06:06 PM
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Banned
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: St Paul MN
Posts: 19,426
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i just popped open one the rebuilt racks, and took some scathing pictures. looks like **** on the inside, filthy dirty and gross. even some sand inside. dont buy from detroit axle. i'll probably post them up here in another post.
but actually, overall, i have to say i agree with the guy at detroit, despite thinking he does garbage work. if the top seal is leaking, the only thing i can be is either a crappy top seal, or overpressure on the relief side. not really seeing any other way for it to fail to function. another opition might be to depower the rack, and go without. its daily driven, but i also daily a miata in the winter time and love it, so my "daily" needs are pretty strange. Last edited by cockerpunk; 06-01-2015 at 06:11 PM.. |
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06-01-2015, 06:09 PM
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Registered
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The power steering pump on my 924s failed.
I've been driving without power assist for over a year. I prefer the feel of the "armstrong" steering. An added bonus is the wife doesn't want to drive it any more.........
__________________
1988 924S It's still cheaper than psychotherapy................... |
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06-01-2015, 06:52 PM
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Toofah King Bad
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Get in the Zone. . .AutoZone!
__________________
» 1987 924S Turbo - Got Boost? « "DETERMINATION. Sometimes cars test us to make sure we're worthy. Fix it." - alfadoc |
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06-01-2015, 07:08 PM
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Banned
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: St Paul MN
Posts: 19,426
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Quote:
and if that is awful, which ill know in a couple of days, then ill replace rack with the power one, and replace all the low pressure hoses. which doesnt look too hard, but does look kinda expensive. |
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06-01-2015, 08:29 PM
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Nigel Tufnel Wannabe
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Channahon, Il
Posts: 222
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I bought an Autozone rack a few months ago. I installed it and it worked intermittently. I replaced the pump and all of the hoses and made sure there were no obstructions. But, no change. So I pulled the rack and took it back for a replacement. New one works fine. So I guess you get what you pay for. By the way, their supplier just sprays them with black paint, over grease, oil and dirt. You'll need to detail if you care about appearance.
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1986 Porsche 944 Turbo, Sapphire Metallic. Nice restoration. I'm done spending $$$$ on this car. Ha,ha...it'll never end! |
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06-02-2015, 04:58 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Buzzards Bay, Ma, USA
Posts: 620
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Two years ago I went the rebuild route, thinking the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know. My rack had not been abused and was a good candidate, not somebody's castoff core in unknown condition. The kit is relatively cheap. It was time consuming and a little tedious but done carefully and hasn't been a problem since. We won't talk about the seal that ended up in backwards and the disassembly to make that right but overall this was the right way for me to go.
Jon
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87 924S 82 924-Gone. 80 924 parts car-Gone. |
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06-02-2015, 06:03 AM
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944 addict
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I bought a rebuilt unit from Buyautoparts.com in San Diego for $437 (prepaid return mailer for core of $200 included). They sent the core charge back promptly and the rack was of very high quality. So for $237 I got a very good rebuilt rack for my 951. They listed the rack on ebay.
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3 944's, 2 Boxsters and one Caman S, and now one 951 turbo. Really miss the Cayman. Some people try to turn back their "odometers." Not me. I want people to know 'why' I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved. |
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06-02-2015, 07:34 AM
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Banned
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: St Paul MN
Posts: 19,426
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well today i learned why 944 turbos have power steering.
dear lord, with a non-powered rack these things are a ***** to get around. ordered up the low pressure hoses. we'll get this thing figured out one way or another. |
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06-02-2015, 05:26 PM
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Banned
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: St Paul MN
Posts: 19,426
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well today i learned to never buy from detroit axle. dont do it. please, i know, its cheap, and they claim its a lifetime guarantee. but dont. dont ever. nope nope nope.
even with replacing all the low pressure lines, the top seal on the rack still leaks. gonna be a swear word ladden conversation tomorrow on the phone ... |
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06-11-2015, 05:18 PM
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ASE Master
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Quote:
__________________
1989 944S2 (sold after 11 great years) 1980 911SC Weissach (bucket list car) 1975 914 1.8 (future restoration) 1993 968 Coupe 6 speed (new acquisition) |
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06-11-2015, 11:20 PM
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Shaggy
Red
Chumpy
Weiße Scheiße
Porsche 944 NA
1986 Porsche 951
944 S2
