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86 Wagon - leaking power steering - help please

Hi, I own a 1986 DL1800 Wagon (since new) that has travelled 190,000 kilometres.

The power steering fluid had been leaking slightly for a while but was very easily managed with the occasional top up of fluid.

I recently used a product through the power steering that "guaranteed to fix any seal leaks". It seemed to work ok for about a month then the leaking became worse (now quite serious). Not sure if it was as a result of using the additive or just a deterioration of the original problem..

I would appreciate any advice on what type of problem to look for, seals, bearings etc, and also, is working on, or replacing a power steering unit, something that I could tackle myself in the home workshop

Thanks in advance

Trevor

Reply to
trk
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Don't know about your car, but I usually find the rack & pinion is shot when I start going through power steering fluid. The leak stopper won't help since the leak is too big, and may cause pump problems too. As such, when you replace the rack or whatever part, I would get that stuff out of there.

-Kurt

trk wrote:

Reply to
Kurt C. Hack

I'm guessing when you stated the system has a leak that it is leaking at the rack and not at the pump. To my knowledge any GL/XT/Loyale rack from

85 to 94 will interchange if you decide to replace the rack with used. Rebuilt rack aren't that expensive. Replacing the rack is also very simple. As I recall, 4 bolts hold the rack, one steering shaft bolt, and two fittings. Will need a special tool to separate the tie rod ends. Good idea to just replace the original with new stuff. Measure how far the tie rod ends are threaded onto the shaft. Helps with alignment problems. The rack will also have to be "centered" when installed. Just count the number of turns it takes for the rack to travel its full distance, divide by 2 and that's the center.
Reply to
johninKY

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