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C900 steering gear potential problems...

Hi folks,

I noticed when driving my late-1982 C900 the other day that there is a rattling sound which was sort of metallic but sort of not coming from under the left side of the front of the car.

When I got back, I checked under the car and found that the rubber boot over the steering extension arm is broken, and the part of the boot still attached to the fixed part of the steering gear was full of oil.

The oil appears to be fresh, but it doesn't look to be power steering fluid as the level in the power steering reservoir hasn't changed markedly.

I have to jack the car up properly to get a good look at it, but I'm guessing something might be leaking steering fluid, or on of the oil seals around the bottom of the transmission might have developed a leak.

The car still drives fine, and the steering is fine, but of course with the boot broken and each part having a pool of oil in the bottom, I'm not keen on driving for long distances with the steering mechanism exposed to whatever material is in the air stream passing under the car as it moves along.

How easy it is to work on the steering equipment? There was a suitable, brand-new steering rack assembly on Ebay a few weeks back which I could have a go at fitting myself when I have my annual leave which starts at the beginning of March. Is it something which should be done by a specialised mechanic who deals in steering/suspension/etc.?

Craig.

-- Craig Ian Dewick ( snipped-for-privacy@lios.apana.org.au).

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APANA Sydney Regional Co-ordinator. Operator of Jedi (an APANA Sydney POP). Always striving for a secure long-term future in an insecure short-term world Have you exported a crypto system today? Do your bit to undermine the NSA.

Reply to
Craig Ian Dewick
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Almost certainly steering fluid, accumulated over time.

It would have a job finding it's way into the steering boot.

Not at all difficult, but this depends on you level of experience. You'll need a ball joint splitter, and you'll need to cut down a spanner (17mm IIRC) to easily reach the hydraulic unions.

It's just nuts and bolts like the rest of the car.

Reply to
Grunff

This is what I'm suspecting. Once I get a chance to lift up the car properly to get under it I'll look at the problem more closely.

That's what I would have thought too. I'm guessing that I need to replace the seals and have found a place which has quite a lot of them available so when they arrive I'll work on fixing them.

A friend of mine has a ball joint splitter which he's said I can use. I'll work out the spanner I need in the next few days. There's probably a special Saab tool for it.. might try to track one down.

Well I'll have a look and do what I can. It's all a learning experience!

Craig.

-- Craig Ian Dewick ( snipped-for-privacy@lios.apana.org.au).

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APANA Sydney Regional Co-ordinator. Operator of Jedi (an APANA Sydney POP). Always striving for a secure long-term future in an insecure short-term world Have you exported a crypto system today? Do your bit to undermine the NSA.

Reply to
Craig Ian Dewick

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