Steering rack leak.

General engine questions/issues that aren't specific to the other categories
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Steering rack leak.

By Karr
- Wed Mar 18, 2009 12:46 am #104018 I have an extremely bad leak on my power steering rack. ALL of the power steering fluid leaks out overnight. I've put like 4 bottles in and took it to a shop. They said that someone put regular bolts in where the seals go and may have possibly threaded them out. So i have a super problem and the rack is shot unless i can find me a repair kit or new seals. Anyone had this problem or know a cheap fix? The guy that works on my car said he'll fix it for free if i buy the kit or the parts. So help me out guys!
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By Classiccarsrule85
- Wed Mar 18, 2009 12:50 am #104019 hate to say it but id get another rack most likely used since they dont go bad very often unless its from an accident but yea itd save you the headace and stuff such as that and its relatively easy to put in.
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By Karr
- Wed Mar 18, 2009 12:54 am #104020 They aren't cheap though...I've already put an additional 600 bucks in the car. Honda wants 300 for them and ebay has them for like 160...I'm STRAPPED on cash right now.
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By teal_dx
- Wed Mar 18, 2009 1:15 am #104025 you could try getting the holes re threaded and use a larger bolt.
I'm not really sure what seals have bolts in them though so it may not work.

is this a power steering rack that someone incorrectly converted to manual?
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By Karr
- Wed Mar 18, 2009 1:22 am #104027 No he didn't want it leaking on his garage floor so he plugged the line holes....The bolts were too big and he made the threads larger so the line doesn't seat properly. I found some new seal kits but they are like 70 bucks.
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By Classiccarsrule85
- Wed Mar 18, 2009 1:45 am #104035
Karr wrote:They aren't cheap though...I've already put an additional 600 bucks in the car. Honda wants 300 for them and ebay has them for like 160...I'm STRAPPED on cash right now.


I wasnt talking about getting a brand new one i was talking about going to a local junk yard or craigslist. and finding a used one
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By Karr
- Wed Mar 18, 2009 2:03 am #104040
teal_dx wrote:is it the 3 holes that the lines used to go into, on the driver's side?

Yeah its the 3 holes the lines go in.
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By teal_dx
- Wed Mar 18, 2009 2:23 am #104048 those 3 lines cannot be plugged. fluid is supposed to move in/out of them when you turn the wheel.
if the holes have bolts in them then the fluid will be forced and have nowhere to go.

All of that pressure is probably forcing the fluid out because it has nowhere else to go. I don't get you you filled the rack if those 3 holes are plugged... one of the holes had the power steering line which ran to the fill tank.

Have you considered converting to manual steering?
http://civic-eg.com/viewtopic.php?t=7198

alot easier than replacing the rack (and cheaper too)
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By Karr
- Wed Mar 18, 2009 2:36 am #104053
teal_dx wrote:those 3 lines cannot be plugged. fluid is supposed to move in/out of them when you turn the wheel.
if the holes have bolts in them then the fluid will be forced and have nowhere to go.

All of that pressure is probably forcing the fluid out because it has nowhere else to go. I don't get you you filled the rack if those 3 holes are plugged... one of the holes had the power steering line which ran to the fill tank.

Have you considered converting to manual steering?
http://civic-eg.com/viewtopic.php?t=7198

alot easier than replacing the rack (and cheaper too)

They aren't plugged lol. We took the bolts out, the lines don't seat properly and some (A TON) of fluid leaks out.
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By teal_dx
- Wed Mar 18, 2009 2:48 am #104058 so is manual steering out of the question for you? the only time you can really tell a difference is when turning the wheel while not moving or while barely moving.

power steering is a pressurized system while manual is not. The smallest tolerance will leak in a power system because of the constantly pumping psi of fluid. converting to manual would have the same pressure in the rack as outside.

(except when you are turning the wheel, but a breather will prevent any pressure from building.)
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By Karr
- Wed Mar 18, 2009 5:24 pm #104145
teal_dx wrote:so is manual steering out of the question for you? the only time you can really tell a difference is when turning the wheel while not moving or while barely moving.

power steering is a pressurized system while manual is not. The smallest tolerance will leak in a power system because of the constantly pumping psi of fluid. converting to manual would have the same pressure in the rack as outside.

(except when you are turning the wheel, but a breather will prevent any pressure from building.)

yeah it is a problem because i'm a new driver and not very experienced. i want as much control as possible.
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By boosted94
- Wed Mar 18, 2009 5:49 pm #104154
teal_dx wrote:so is manual steering out of the question for you? the only time you can really tell a difference is when turning the wheel while not moving or while barely moving.


your lack of driving experience will not be affected by manual steering and it will give you a better feel for driving.

manual everything FTW!
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By teal_dx
- Wed Mar 18, 2009 5:59 pm #104158 do you know anyone with a 92-95 civic that has manual steering? It's unbelievably similar to power in feeling except for the couple of instances noted above. Drive one yourself to see what little difference there is.

Now a days you hear "manual steering" or "no power steering" and you think about old cars that were a bitch to control because it was like trying to steer a boat. The older civics like our were so small & light that while the car is moving there is little to no difference. The one thing that will make manual steering a little harder is if you have aftermarket wheels/tires on your car. A wider more square low profile tire takes more effort to steer, mostly when not moving.

It's that or do some major work on the car.
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