Steering Rack advice

trihead

Hi

My girlfriend's car ended up failing the NCT. Reason was Steering Linkage – Rack & Pinion – Leaking. Car is 2005 Chevrolet Matiz, low milage, good nic otherwise. It was serviced 2 weeks before the test. It was noticed in the service and advised it would have to be looked at next time and would be expensive.

We brought it back to the garage that serviced it (well know chain) expecting them to be able to clean it as such as that’s what the guy in NCT centre said.

Turns out it – will cost about 650 euro appro as ‘Reconditioned Steering Rack needed”. Takes 3 days as part will be sent somewhere else to be cleaned etc. A lot of money as the car is probably worth less than 2000, but one of those things I guess.

So just wondering should she just let the garage sort it or would she save money by sourcing a new part herself and getting someone else to fit it? Or it the price expensive and cause of the steering rack is a big job to take out and recondition etc and wont make much difference to the overall price?

She is going to get another quote anyway off another garage.. or does that price seem fair/ consistent with that job if you have had similar job done.

Thanks for advice you can offer

Trihead

rex-x

For a reconditioned steering rack that is not too bad a price, the power steering fluid has to be changed and the tracking re done aswel as the steering rack itself not being the easiest thing to change.
You could get a second hand one and reduce the cost by a few hundred but you are playing the roulette game with the quality of the part.

browniepoints

There exist a product called stop leak availble from car repair shops
I Never met anyone who had any luck with the product .It did slow down the leak on my car but didnt stop it .Probably works OK for small leaks enough to get past the NCT . It cost €15 to €20 a bottle depending where you buy it .Look the oil that drops over night on the ground if it small patch less than dinner plate sized it might be the trick

I have seen on Ebay UK reconditioned steering racks often selling for £60 to £90. They come with warranty
However these are big things and heavy so postage will be interesting .Also the cost in euros . .Its probably still cheaper than the part sent off to be reconditioned in Ireland .
However there are risks .If they sent you the wrong model for different year or different model you could run u extra postage returning the item for swap out .
As a rough rule that risk isnt so likly as most cars of certain types will use the same steering rack across all the same sized models and across all the fleets both for diesel engine and petrol engines of all sizes .
Also you need to ch3eck it is for right hand drive car as the left hand drive is not the same the steering racks worm drive is on the other side of the steering rack.
There does exist repair seal kits cost typicaly about £35 to £45.
The older indy mechanics know how to strip the steering rack apart and replace the rubber seals so the leaks stop .
That could bring price down to less than €400 to fix but it might leak again in the future if the mechanic isn't competent and he wont want to fix it again for free under warranty

Most the big garages wont do it any more as they want to just swap in new or reconditioned parts Also the younger mechanics are often not trained to do that type of work so asking them to do it will often be met with blank staring expression what us fix that are you nuts .

There also seems to exist universal steering racks on the ebay UK but i dont know how many issues that can cause so never went there .

The NCT test fails because leaks in the steering racks can suddenly fail and dump all the oil . Sometimes the leak gets worse the steering pump doesn't get oil to lubricate it and the steering assist fails when pump fails . normally there is whining sound from pump when it has no oil .If there was long periods of lack of oil with whining sounds the steering assist pump might be close to clapped out and that ant cheap if you buy it new often cheap enough second hand
For a guy who is strong if the steering rack seal bursts and oil goes out driving will be much harder without engine assist when driving slowly .For girls they often dont have the strength to turn the car when moving slowly like parking. Driving on the motor ways steering will be a bit heavy but still possible for average girl to steer with but many can panic as they dont understand the nature of the fault and often assume all steering is lost .
Steering is very heavy if the steering pump fails as your fighting the oil in the rack and the unassisted hard steering of the car.
Worth explaining to herself what to do if the steering starts to act up

Let us know how you get on .

Jed