| Author | Message | ||
     Cliff Biggs Experienced User Username: cliffy Post Number: 158 Registered: 09-2021 |
Has anyone ever tried a "stop leak" product in the power steering system to seal the rack drippings? Seems everyone has or will get a leak on it and as how it seems to be such a problematic arena for repairing it maybe some "chemical treatment" might pull it along for a few more years before the dreaded overhaul needs to take place. Shields are up for the incoming torpedos! | ||
| Mark Aldridge Frequent User Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 889 Registered: 10-2008 |
In the UK Cliff. I just fit exchange racks.UK RHD are not too difficult to do. Did use a leak seal in a Jag auto box years ago, lasted about 100 miles and the seal went completely ! | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 3394 Registered: 06-2009 |
Cliff, Well, I'll be the contrarian: Why not? Most of these stop leak products for oil-based systems (and power steering that's ATF based qualifies) work by doing a "controlled attack" on the seals, causing them to swell on the surfaces where the product makes contact ever so slightly. I've never known of a single one of these to do damage and I have known of them to work. If they do, then you get to put off an expensive repair (and can budget for it while putting it off) until leaking returns at a later date. When it comes to things other than power steering (where pressurized fluid is mostly involved) I've seen some of these stop leak products effect a years-long fix. There's nothing to lose. Brian | ||
| Mark Aldridge Frequent User Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 890 Registered: 10-2008 |
Cliff, which seal is leaking ? The pinion seal in my experience leaks for a little while and then fails big time. Have had this happen 3 times and always inconvenient with a recovery cost. | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 3395 Registered: 06-2009 |
Mark, Thanks very much for that input. These sorts of specifics are invaluable. My advice was very broad and general, but there are plenty of specific exceptions, and yours would be one of them. Brian | ||
| Cliff Biggs Experienced User Username: cliffy Post Number: 159 Registered: 09-2021 |
Thank guys! I'm putting it up on a rack when I get back from holiday here in the top of the world :-) It looks to me that one end seal is dripping slightly. Just enough to be annoying on the garage floor (I put a cardboard square down under it to absorb the drips) There is a utube guy "project farm" who did quite a test piece on leak sealers that got me to thinking. He does a LOT of different testing and his methods seem proper. I'll be back :-) I'll report when I get it done | ||
| Mark Aldridge Frequent User Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 891 Registered: 10-2008 |
Brian, do I recall that Richard Treacy did some posts on rebuilding racks and failures a while ago on this site. Mark | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 3396 Registered: 06-2009 |
Mark, Racking Your Brains by Richard Treacy is one I have pointed people to on numerous occasions. That being said, the question at this juncture didn't really focus on that aspect of things, so I simply tried to address the specific question asked. I have had success on more than one occasion with additives whose intent was to stop leaks if said leaks were not the result of seals that were "really, really far gone." Brian | ||
| Mark Aldridge Frequent User Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 892 Registered: 10-2008 |
Thanks Brian, I have noted it, a useful article. Mark | ||
| Darryl Watson Frequent User Username: inox Post Number: 211 Registered: 04-2015 |
Before the Bentley I had a couple Rover P5 3Ltr cars which use a Hydrosteer steering box. Leaks from these boxes is not uncommon and I found that stop leak type of products had little of no effect with these boxes. Darryl | ||
| Cliff Biggs Experienced User Username: cliffy Post Number: 166 Registered: 09-2021 |
I guess I've been lucky in that I have had only the slight drip from the steering rack as my only "leak" in almost 4 years UNTIL recently when the front hyd pump seals went out and drained the sump on my garage floor over night. That repair is almost complete and I will return to the steering gear leak next. I would much rather maintain this "gem of transportation" in good order than go out and spend $70K on some other less than desirable mode of everyday transportation with its massive depreciation on any new vehicle in today's market. To answer Mark's question- its dripping at the left end cap area. The rack was put in "rebuilt" the week before I bought the vehicle (@ 4 years ago) and started dripping fairly soon after I got it. The car only had 24,000 mi on it and it had full service records from a RR dealer for its entire life before I got it. The rack however was not put in by the RR dealer. | ||
| Cliff Biggs Experienced User Username: cliffy Post Number: 167 Registered: 09-2021 |
To carry on- The front hyd pump leak is fixed and not really a big issue just that the big A/C pump had to be rolled over to gain access, disassemble in place, clean things up a bit, roll in 2 new orings and side the outer housing on. actually pretty easy. Now as to the steering rack- In looking over the disassemble process I'm left wondering if I could find a way to replace the split teflon ring that seems to be the issue with the seal leaking, replace it with maybe a custom machined oilite bushing of some sort. More thought needs to be done on this. Also in reading Richards article and its admonishment of leak sealers I'll forgo that option for the time being. There has to be a solution somewhere. | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 4294 Registered: 04-2003 |
Cliff, Have sent you a PM regarding removing old files that might have overloaded your memory which is causing your access problem. Kind regards David |
