GunSamir

Hello everyone,
I have a steering fluid leak from the steering rack on my 1999 Accord.

Before, it was leaking from steering gearbox at the joint where it meets the steering column. No leakage from the sides needs the boots. I took it to a shop that repairs steering racks and he fixed that.
After installing the steering rack and using it for a short time, i noticed it started leaking from the sides filling the boots with the fluid.

I removed the boots and cleaned everything, filled the reservoir with the fluid, and started the car (Front wheels lifted). For the first minute or so there was no leak. After that, the left side started leaking. After about a minute later, the right side started leaking too. however, the left side leaks heavier than the right side.

I took some pictures and i wonder:

Isn't there anything missing like a bushing or aring on the left side? caus I'm thinking the mechanic forgot to replace some parts when we worked on the gearbox leakage! How come it was not leaking into the boots before and after he repaired it it started leaking?

Does anyone have the same steering rack model and can check for me if what he has matches the pictures below?

Left side:











Right side:






thanks in advance

GunSamir

I was told that the steering rack (inner rod) got thiner due to friction, and now is moving vertically a little bit leading to fluid leak!!!
I am not so convinced by this explanation. I still believe it is something like an O ring or something not in the right place?

what do you think?

I am planning to remove it, open it, and inspect it, but not sure what to look for. It looks to me very complicated.

GunSamir

Does anyone have an idea on this issue please?

thank you

redbull-1

It could be the seals inside the gear box.

sgraham01

he may not have set the preload on the rack correctly (too much preload). that picture, besides the leak, looks normal. there is a seal inside the rack body, but it goes in from the other side and has to be pushed over there with the steering rack rod.

i recently rebuilt the rack on my 94, and i wouldn't recommend it if you don't have much experience, a bunch of tools and a FACTORY service manual. you don't have to follow the manual exactly, but it's a pain to do no matter what. i would recommend buying a reman unit and just swapping it out.

if you want to rebuild it, let me know and i'll let you know what i had to do, but i don't want to post it if you don't need it.

sgraham01

the preload i mentioned is for the rack guide. it has a special preload process that must be followed. it's items 4,5,6,and 8 in the top picture above.
if that's overtightened, it can leak.

you have to relieve the preload to remove the pinion assembly, but you have to retighten it correctly. this may be what happened upon reassembly if it wasn't leaking before the repair.

GunSamir

Thanks for the reply. I think I'll remove that steering rack and take it back to the shop to be checked again.

So, you think (besides the leak) that picture of the left side is normal? it has nothing missing at the end of the cylinder?

Thanks

nus_dogg

Once that happens, you need a new Rack-N-Pinion unless you get it rebuild. Thats what I learn in Auto Tech. Time for a new one.

#9 is only there so you can bend the ends to prevent the inner tie-rod from backing out.

sgraham01

yes, the ends of the rack look normal. you should not be able to see the seals, and nothing on the end would have been touched to stop a leak at the pinion shaft. you may have also noticed an increase in steering effort if the guide is overtightened.

this is the procedure from HONDA for the 94-97 rack guide adjustment, probably the same or similar for yours.

"with wheels pointed straight ahead, loosen the rack guide screw locknut (outer ring) with the special tool (you can use a large crescent wrench-40mm), then loosen the rack guide screw (hex head)

tighten the rack guide screw to 18 ft-lb, then loosen it

retighten the the rack guide screw to 2.9 ft-lb, then back it off the specified return angle:

20 degrees +- 5 deg.

tighten the locknut to 18 ft-lb while holding the rack guide screw."

(because the guide screw is over the top of the locknut, this isn't possible to perform without an open or boxed end torque wrench/adaptor, so just get it close with the crescent)

the shop should know about this. if not, they don't know what they're doing.