Leaking power steering fluid

[irish-e30]

Hi,

Since I bought this car the power steering fluid has been leaking and now more heavily. When it goes low it makes a weird whiirring noise when you attempt to steer. Ive been solving it temporarily by just topping up the steering wheel fluid but a job has to be done. The oil is leaking somewhere in the engine.

Any ideas what this may be?
The approx cost of a new part?
And is it a common fault in the E30?

[cliffybabe]

The rack seals have gone im guessing, were abouts is the fluid coming from???

U can buy a tear downkit/ refurb kit from the dealers still.

However there are PAS/ rack kits including pump, pipes etc on the for sale section all the time

[cliffybabe]

As a indercatiopn of cost i paid £50 for a rack that had recnetly been refurbed, I bought this off a fella zoner

[irish-e30]

Would I be better off replacing the whole lot or just gettig the refurb kit like you said?
Ive no idea where the leaks coming from, I just know the power steering fluid is leaking as ive to reg top it up and i see it under the car in the driveway. Im told the only way to really find out is to spray the engine bay. will this mess up the electrics??

[cliffybabe]

Na have a look underneath the car mate see wear the fluid is collecting/ dripping.

I would just replace the part rathet than trying to refurb it.

If u do the rack dont forget ull neeed to get the tracking etc done aswell

[irish-e30]

tracking etc done? Bollx jus had the tyres done.....ah well!

[Chris-W]

How quickly does it lose fluid? If slowly, and the gaiters are clean, check the return pipe (plastic hose which runs from the n/s end of the rack to the centre) for holes. You'll hear if there's a hole by squeezing the gaiter.

[irish-e30]

good man cheers

[dannosail]

A lot of E30s I've seen leak from just under the power steering bottle itself - I imagine you checked this tho. It then runs down the hose and either onto the plastic guard or sometimes onto the rack itself.