SWMBOs Ka in for MOT today and passed as expected. Adisory note that the rack was 'damp'!
Car/Ka is 02 plate with 24k on the clock-seems a little early to be replacing a rack although the car by bar breakdown does mention reports of this.
The test centre had another Ka up in the air having the rack replaced at 4 years and 5900 miles. The owner had approached main dealer as was as shocked as I was especially at this mileage. Dealer sent the lady away with a flea in her ear .
I will keep an extra eye on the fluid level and rack, is the only option to replace or are there any servicable seals in the rack itself?
Garage quoted around £250 + vat to replace when the time comes although he did say it may get worse very slowly and not need replacing for quite some time as long as we keep an eye on levels for safetys sake
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there is an additive available to put in power steering systems which makes the seals swell slightly to make a tighter seal ,it works ok on small leaks
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thanks defender- do you know what its called ? anyone else used this stuff?
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google power steering stop leak ,made by a few companies ,lucas, wynns etc ,hope it helps you
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there aren't any replaceable seals in the rack you will know when its leaking as the gaiters will fill with fluid just keep an eye on your fluid levelif it drops below minimum get a reputable garage to inspect it.WHY do people always put additives to stop leaks this eventually causes more problems and could end up costing you a power steering pump as well as a rack IF ITS FAULTY REPLACE IT DONT BODGE IT THE DECISION IS YOURS???????
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Van Man, just out of interest can you explain the "causes more problems and could end up costing you a power steering pump as well as a rack " and why this would be caused by seal conditioner.small leaks are often caused by the seals going slightly harder and almost glazed resulting in not wiping the working surface as they should ,leak stop conditions the seals by softening this glaze and allowing them to work as they should
it is not a cure for damaged seals with grooves worn in them due to dirt ingress but can also slow down leaks of this kind
obviously any major leak which needs constant topping up of fluid levels needs a more serious investigation
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these racks are always failing mot"s at my testing station for leaks,so O/P yours must be very small for it to get an advise but it will get worse.
I agree with stop leak in both respects ive used it and it does work but i still consider it a bodge and replacement in my opinion is the only long term cure of failing components.
--
\"a little man in a big world/\"
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if seals were meant to swell a manufacturer would have made them that way if you start mixing fluids and additives they wont all react in the same way if these additives were meant to be used on racks why arn't they put in when they are replaced or at time of manufacture there's 2 sorts of racks a good one and a bodged one a bodged one will pack up eventually sorry i don't agree with temporary repairs especially on safety related items such as steering and we are talking about a proper repair a good rack carries a good gaurantee........
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van man, why would this cause the pump to need replacing ?
addatives are not put in originaly on a cost basis
they will all pack up sooner or later as the one needing replaced at 5900miles shows and addatives extend the life so would hardly call it bodging ,if it was unsafe it would have failed mot
3T the original poster is well aware of the need to observe fluid levels so no a safety problem as if the levels need topping up replacement can be done then but it could be later rather than sooner
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there are various different oils for different makes of cars i dont agree that additves are not used because of cost.. if oils are mixed or dirt enters a system it becomes contaminated do you think enzo ferrari would build a car and before he sold it for a ridiculous amount would purchase some additives for the steering system to prolong its life,so next time i fit a rack on a bmw or a merc should i order some additive for a tenner even tho dealers dont advise it and manufactures dont the only people that do are the people that make it and some bimbo on the bottle saying how good it is
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Additives which seal PS leaks are basically a 30 weight mineral oil with added esters which act as a seal swelling agent to make the rubber seals expand and stop the leak. OK as a short term fix, but I wouldn't use them if I was keeping the car.
Ka racks are dead cheap anyway.
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thank you just what i said as a bodge yes as a proper repair no no no ...
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Most of these racks fail because people will wind the steering wheel round without the front wheels rotating and pressures go sky-high.
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seem to have opened a bit of a can of worms here!
have read up on the fluids available and opinions seem just as split here as on the wider net.
thanks for all the info - some head scratching ahead
will keep a close eye on the level and see what happens over the next couple of months. Could be that a stop leak fluid buys some time that could be needed with a planned house move this year .
Agree with the last post- I don't suppose that banging the wheels into the kerb every time the car is parked will have done the steering much good either but there you go . Wheel trims are cheap-maybe this more expensive job could help cure a couple of bad habits at the same time
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