power steering rack

[greg and nyree]

Anyone know how easy the oil seals are to replace on the power steering rack.

[missfixit70]

I might be interested in this one, is there a kit available to anyone's knowledge?

[greg and nyree]

yeah theres one available for around £36 at ava leisure ,follow link from home page of fury

[missfixit70]

Site's down at the minute, I'll have a look later, cheers guys

Has anyone done it then?

[helen&tony]

Hi
Not on the Bongo, but I stripped and renovated one on an XJ6 years ago....you just have to be fastidiously clean, and work carefully....it should be an easy job.
Cheers
Helen

[paul9]

seal kits available direct from mazda £28 plus vat,it is usually just the top seal that leaks,but not sure if this seal is available on its own,wheelquick, are making enquiries at the moment,seal is relatively easy to replace with rack off the vehicle,but can be done whilst still attached,if its just the top seal.

[missfixit70]

By the top seal I guess you mean number 1 on lush projects steering rack diagram, 1 - 5 are seals & o-rings. I'll have to check where mine is actually leaking from.

[greg and nyree]

Will have to get on a ramp and try to find which part leaking ,the kits are'nt to badly priced fingers crossed can be done on bongo

[missfixit70]

I'll let you guys have a go first , make sure you take some pics as you go & post them up, a new fact sheet addition? I reckon there'll be more & more steering racks going as the seals deteriorate with age, be good if they are do-able cheaply & relatively easily.

[dandywarhol]

I've sorted a few PS leaks with a change of oil with Wynns "Stop Leak"
http://www.wynns.be/product.aspx?nav=1& ... 64559&l=EN

Sceptical at first but it works - different feel to the steering and a quieter pump.

[missfixit70]

I've put a bottle in, still seems to be leaking a tiny amount, I'll leave it for a bit longer, but if I'm going to do a run to France later in the year, I think I'd prefer to know the seals have been done. I had the power steering seals let go on my espace in the middle of town - not funny Managed to drive it home but manoeuvering was virtually impossible & it nearly did my back in again trying to turn the wheel.

[mikeonb4c]

Out of interest how did you get to realise you had a ps leak Kirsty. Where do you look to check the seals? This is new stuff for a non mechanic like me

[missfixit70]

Level dropping slightly over a month or 2 & ps fluid on the rack, something I check carefully now after last car going with very nearly disastrous consequences halfway around a tight corner - had to change my underwear when I got home . If your fluid level needs topping up & there's signs of oil around the steering rack, you got a leak, as dandy says, try the "stop leak" additive first, it may work. Mine is very slight & may not get any worse for years, but......

[paul9]

By the top seal I guess you mean number 1 on lush projects steering rack diagram, 1 - 5 are seals & o-rings. I'll have to check where mine is actually leaking from.

myself and mike at wheelquick were looking at the seals,seals 1-5 on the lush projects diagram, look to be the same, and it was one of these that were leaking,the same seal on 3 different racks,all the top seal were the knuckle joins the rack,so mike ordered a set of seals from mazda,thinking we would get all 5 seals,but there was only one set in the pack,we thought one set of seals would be enough for all 3 racks ,but you only get the one seal and spacer in each kit,along with a couple of small O rings,so only 1 steering rack got repaired that day,took about 2 hours to replace seal without removing the rack,this was the first time so next time may be easier,but once rack is removed it is a very simple job,about 10 mins work,so for what time it takes to remove rack,i would remove it and make the job easier for your self.

[missfixit70]

The AVA kit has 2 o-rings & 4 different seals pictured - http://www.mazdabongo.com/display.products.php?pId=432 - I take it this is different to the mazda kit then?