Rack and Pinion Leak: Common Causes and Their Solutions

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Rack and pinion leak can be very confusing for car owners who don’t know how to troubleshoot the source of the problem.

Rack and Pinion Leak

In this guide, we highlight the common causes of the issue and their fixes. So read on until the end.

What Are the Common Causes of Rack and Pinion Leaks?

The common causes of rack and pinion leaks are defective seals, age and constant usage, wrong installation, and polluted steering oil. Other possible reasons for the problem of steering fluid leaks are corroded components, overfilled steering, and the use of low-quality parts.

Defective Seals

The rack and pinion are designed to allow your vehicle to turn easily. The rack and pinion come with three main seals. One seal is located where the steering column enters the rack and pinion assembly, while the other two are situated where each tie rod attaches itself to the assembly. The purpose of each seal is to control high-pressure steering oil, allowing the steering rack to rotate and the tie rods to move.

If these seals become defective due to shrinkage, cracking, or drying out, the steering system will leak. These seals are prone to wear and aging, which causes their rubber composition to deteriorate and start to leak the high-pressure power steering oil.

This leak will make the steering rack difficult to operate, and if this problem persists without prompt fixing, the system will fail. Now, if the steering system fails when you are about to turn while moving at a fast speed, your safety can be affected. Furthermore, the leaking liquid can cause more problems, such as overheating the power steering rack or gearbox.

Age and Constant Use

Prolonged use and age are two major factors that cause steering oil leaks. Due to constant usage, the supply and pressure hoses of the steering system will start to age, and they may develop holes. These holes are often due to cracks or dry heat, creating an opening for the fluid to leak out. However, the hoses aren’t the only components affected by age and constant usage.

Common Causes of Rack Leaks

As the vehicle’s mileage increases due to prolonged use, the O-rings and seals will gradually lose their flexibility. Once this happens, the seals can harden, and small fragments will drop into the fluid. These fragments will lead to contamination of the fluid, which is another source of steering oil leaks. Age can also affect the pump, making it deteriorate to the point where it leaks.

Polluted Power Steering Oil

Steering oil is used in a vehicle’s steering components to create an effective hydraulic link between the steering wheel and the front wheel. It helps to decrease the amount of effort required to turn the wheels. Because of the steering oil, you can steer your car with little to no effort.

Although it is often advised not to have a low steering oil level, another problem that can affect the performance of this hydraulic fluid is contamination of the fluid. A contaminated steering oil could be the reason for pinion leaking in your vehicle. Contamination of the steering oil is often caused by pump failure due to housing deterioration or external moisture entering the fluid.

Once the fluid is polluted, it will lead to pluggings of small openings, and the pressurized fluid in the steering system will start to leak. A burning oil smell characterizes a contaminated steering oil and is often reddish or pinkish.

Once you discover a red or pink puddle under the rear side of the engine, it means that the steering oil has become polluted. If it is not fixed immediately, this issue can lead to the complete failure of the power steering system.

Wrong Installation

The power steering system of a vehicle is made up of different components that help it to function correctly. For example, the rack and pinion is a gear set that converts the steering wheel’s rotational motion into linear motion used by the wheel. However, if installed improperly, this rack and pinion may fail to perform its function.

The wrong or improper installation of the rack and pinion will cause the steering oil to leak out from the steering system, leading to a distinct burning smell. Hence, it won’t be easy to turn the vehicle’s wheels. Furthermore, the gears in the system are expected to have a proper fitting. If they don’t, it will result in a loss of steering oil.

Corroded Components

Corrosion is another common cause of leakage from the rack and pinion system. When the seals that protect the rack and pinion become corroded, it will lead to seal failure, which causes power steering fluid leakage.

Corrosion usually occurs due to wear and tear and aging, such that the rubber composition of the seal deteriorates. This deterioration will lead to cracking or rotting of the seal, permitting the pressurized fluid to seep out.

Similarly, the hoses and lines connected to the rack and pinion are made from flexible rubber. This rubber often cracks due to corrosion, leading to steering oil leaks. Also, when some rack and pinion system connections become corroded, they will loosen, and the steering system will start to leak. In essence, corrosion causes the rack and pinion system not to function appropriately.

Overfilled Steering Oil

There is no standard amount of steering oil for vehicles. The amount of steering oil used depends on the model of the car and its specific requirements. The oil pressure should be at the required level so that the rack has enough force to transmit the rotation of the steering wheel into the linear motion of the vehicle’s wheels.

Nevertheless, you shouldn’t have excess steering oil, which causes excessive pressure or overloading. Although overfilling the steering oil shouldn’t necessarily damage the steering system, it has other consequences. Overfilling the vehicle’s steering oil can lead to steering rack leak. This leakage can reach the reservoir, causing the hydraulic fluid to foam and shortening the system’s life span.

If this problem isn’t fixed on time, it can affect certain engine components such as belts and batteries. The leakage will lead to the wear and tear of these components and cause a grinding noise whenever you are driving the vehicle.

Use of Low-Quality Parts

When the power steering system’s components become damaged, you should get a mechanic to replace these components with new units. However, if this replacement isn’t done with high-quality auto parts, it can lead to further problems, such as steering oil leaks.

Low-quality parts tend to deteriorate easily and quickly due to wear and tear or corrosion. When this happens, the fluid will seep out of the system into the open, where it will give off a burning oil smell and appear as oily spots or a red puddle under your car.

Common Fixes for Rack and Pinion Leaks

Common fixes for rack and pinion leaks are changing the seals, inspecting power steering lines and hoses, and removing contaminated steering oil. Other common fixes for the leak include applying leak-stop products, replacing a bad rack housing, and changing the entire rack and pinion assembly.

Change the Seals

If you discover that faulty seals are responsible for the steering oil leak, the remedy is to have them replaced. Seal replacement is the preferred option because repairing or servicing seals is difficult to achieve. So, it’s best you drive to an auto repair shop to have the worn-out seals removed and replaced with a new unit.

To change the seals at home, you need to unscrew the dust cap from the pinion, then use a crescent wrench to remove the nut underneath it. This step will expose the steering shaft, allowing you to remove the circular dust seal and open-circle snap ring using needle-nose pliers. Next, use a punch tool to separate the pinion from the rack.

Apply the tip to the other end and gently tap the punch with a hammer till the pinion slides out. At this point, the old seals are ready to be removed using pliers. After removing them, put the new seals on the pinion and tighten each seal to the shaft of the pinion with pliers.

Similarly, pry off the thin, open-circle seal from the passenger end of the rack and the passenger side seal using needle-nose pliers. Attach the new seals on both sides of the rack and tighten them securely with pliers.

Inspect Power Steering Lines and Hoses

Inspecting the steering lines and hoses helps you evaluate the steering leak’s root cause. The first step is to check the fluid inside the reservoir. If the fluid looks grayish or blackish, then there is a possibility that the inner layers of the hose have been damaged by worn-out or contaminated fluid.

Fixes for Rack and Pinion Leaks

The discoloration is often caused by rubber or metal particles in the fluid, so the remedy is to have the vehicle serviced by a mechanic. The mechanic will not only have to drain out the polluted power steering fluid but will be required to change the damaged hoses. Other things you should check for when inspecting the power steering lines and hoses include abrasions on the outer layers of the hoses and bulges.

If there is any physical damage to the outer layer, then it means that the inner layers could be exposed to damaging chemicals, heat, and ozone. Likewise, bulges on the hoses are a sign that the internal layers of the hose have failed and that the fluid has begun to work between layers.

Furthermore, if a hose feels soft in an area, it could mean that the internal or external layers are breaking down. Also, check for cracking or flaking on the outer layers of the hoses and for corrosion on the fittings of the hose assembly. If you spot any of these faults, contact your local mechanic for a pinion repair service. In most cases, you must change the whole steering hose assembly to remedy the problem.

Remove Contaminated Steering Oil

The pinion steering oil is expected to be light golden or bright red/pink. Once your steering fluid looks dark, it has been contaminated, so you should drain it out and replace it with a new one. This process uses the power steering pump to flush the contaminated power steering fluid out of the reservoir and refill it with new and clean steering oil. After that, locate a low-pressure line in your steering system.

Disconnect the low-pressure line and feed it to an oil drain pan. Then start the vehicle’s engine to allow the power steering pump to pull the new fluid from the reservoir and push the old fluid out of the disconnected low-pressure line. After confirming that you have clean and new fluid running out of the low-pressure line, turn off the engine and reattach the line. Then burp the system and top off the reservoir with new fluid.

Apply Leak-Stop Products

Another remedy used to fix power steering leaks is leak-stop products. Many leak-stop products are available, so you should consult your mechanic on the most suitable product for your vehicle. Applying leak-stop products will seal leaks in the differentials and worn-out rack and pinion systems. The products are often housed in bottle containers.

You will have to turn off the vehicle’s engine to use such products. After switching off the engine, pour a third of the bottle’s contents into the steering reservoir. Then start the vehicle and take it on a test drive for one to two hours or until the leak has stopped. In extreme cases, you may have to drive the vehicle for days to confirm whether the leak has stopped.

Change the Entire Rack and Pinion Assembly

Changing the seals or using leak-stop products won’t stop most steering oil leaks permanently. In such cases, the solution is to change the entire rack and pinion assembly. You will require the help of a professional to perform this task, which will cost you some money. However, the repair cost is worth it because changing the rack and pinion assembly ensures you are now using new and undamaged components in the system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Drive a Vehicle With a Leaking Rack and Pinion?

No, you can’t drive a vehicle with a leaking rack and pinion because it is unsafe. The continued loss of steering oil can deteriorate into complete power steering failure. If this power steering failure happens while driving, it can be very dangerous for your life and vehicle.

Can a Faulty Gasket Cause a Steering Oil Leak?

Yes, a faulty gasket can cause a steering oil leak. Once a gasket is worn-out or damaged, it will lead to the flow of fluid out of the steering system. To fix this problem, you must replace the gasket with a new one.

Contaminated Steering Oil

Conclusion

You no longer have to worry because your rack and pinion system is leaking.

Here are our concluding thoughts on the main points and frequently asked questions discussed in this article:

  • The common causes of leakage from the rack and pinion system are defective seals, age and constant usage, wrong installation, and polluted steering oil.
  • Other possible reasons for steering oil leaks are corroded components, overfilled power steering fluid, and the use of low-quality parts.
  • You can fix rack and pinion leakage by changing the seals, inspecting steering lines and hoses, applying leak stop products, removing contaminated power steering fluid, and changing the rack and pinion assembly.
  • You shouldn’t drive a vehicle with a leaking rack and pinion because it is unsafe. The continued loss of power steering oil can deteriorate into complete power steering failure.

With the knowledge in this article, you should be able to troubleshoot the problem and determine a suitable solution once you discover leakage from your rack and pinion system.

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