Is My Steering Rack Rogered?! UPDATED with pics!

[Endless325]

Today, idling in traffic, I smelt something, smelt a bit strange, dismissed it as something irrelevent, then, my car started smoking from the underside.

I pulled over and had a look, and from what I could see, it was my power steering fluid leaking and burning on something, I guess it was leaking from my rack.

I haven't had a chnace to get under it and have a good look yet, but is it time for a new rack, or could it be something else? (hopes and prays)

Cheers

[Brianmoooore]

If it's the exhaust side, which I presume it is because of the smoke, then it could be a loose banjo connection, but if the bellows on the end of the rack has any fluid in it, then it time for a change of rack!

[Endless325]

Thanks for the reply Brian, I will have to get underneath it and have a look, out of interest, what is the standard labour charge for replacing a rack?

Also, this's what you mean by bellows right?



Thanks again

[Brianmoooore]

That's the bellows! Usually a small hole about half way along somewhere, and the fluid will squirt out there when you turn hard left, or even push the bellows off the end of the rack.

[Endless325]

Thanks Brian, fingers crossed!

[Endless325]

OK, since this has happened I have left the car in the garage as I haven't had much time recently, today (some 3 weeks later!) I got underneath the car to have a nose around.

Now as far as I could tell, the bellows didn't have any fluid in them (I gave them a good squeeze) but there was some fluid on them as you can see in the pics, but everything down there seems to have a bit of fluid on it. Other than that, I don't really know, as I'm not sure what I should be looking for?

Here are the pictures

This is what greeted me after I moved the car

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2281/78983631ef4.jpg

And the rest

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/2750/11hc6.jpg

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/9920/12ee5.jpg

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/8265/13ta8.jpg

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/3871/14td0.jpg

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/4052/15hz1.jpg

http://img474.imageshack.us/img474/7924/16vv7.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/9718/17rf6.jpg

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/5291/18ho2.jpg

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/2028/19oy7.jpg

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/5134/110vq1.jpg

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/6963/111ss0.jpg

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/5766/112lf2.jpg

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/8158/113ng9.jpg

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/1849/114qt0.jpg

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/995/115ya8.jpg

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/7364/116pj5.jpg

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/3406/117wc0.jpg


Cheers

[smithy318i]

OK, since this has happened I have left the car in the garage as I haven't had much time recently, today (some 3 weeks later!) I got underneath the car to have a nose around.

Now as far as I could tell, the bellows didn't have any fluid in them (I gave them a good squeeze) but there was some fluid on them as you can see in the pics, but everything down there seems to have a bit of fluid on it. Other than that, I don't really know, as I'm not sure what I should be looking for?

Here are the pictures

This is what greeted me after I moved the car



And the rest




































Cheers

Jetwash all of that sh!t off and you will be able to see the source if the leak.

[Endless325]

Cheers for the pics, and the advice, if anyone wants to see full size pics, please click on the links in my post.

So, anymore advice anyone

[Martinaston]

Looks like the pipe connections are leaking, don't bother trying to tighten them you'll just bugger the thread up.
Get new crush washers, two for each bolt and fit them. Give it a jet wash first to be sure though as you may have a punctured pipe.

[Endless325]

Are there any tips, as space is a bit tight down there?

[Martinaston]

I think with it in the car still you have to use spanners as a socket set is a bit awkward.

[Endless325]

Cheers mate, I gave that area a jetwash, but still can't see where the leak is coming from!

[Martinaston]

At a guess its that clean one, but i'd just replace all the washers anyway.