Power steering help!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 1
From: Port Charlotte FL
Power steering help!
So tonight some @$$ clown tried throwing a beer bottle at my car leaving a bon fire out in the middle of nowhere because they were jealous of a 13 year old C5 (pathetic). I was pretty pissed at that point and did a few donuts in the car (I know not the smartest decision), then imediately after lost power steering. When I got it home I seen fluid all under the hood, and where the steering coloum connects to the steering rack assembly it looks like the boot has slipped off. Is there fluid in this area where the knuckle connects to the rack and the boot goes, or am I looking at another serious problem? Guess its just one of those nights, hopefully thats the problem and nothing more... Thanks for any help guys.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 1
From: Port Charlotte FL
nobody has any idea? I filled it back up with fluid, and its groaning like crazy when i go to turn the wheel... Can't seem to find the exact place its leaking from either, no one else has ever had this problem with the steering after hard driving?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 787
Likes: 11
From: Santa Rosa California
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 1
From: Port Charlotte FL
I know it wasnt the best idea to do that, but like I said I was pissed after some random guy tried throwing a bottle at my car! I've read the horror stories trying to get the rack out, and my car is a Z51 with the powers steering cooler.... Does this make a difference?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,266
Likes: 8
From: Indian Rocks Beach FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Z51 isn't any harder than standard. The rack isn't that hard to get out IF you follow the service manual procedure and lower the cradle. Most people who have problems try shortcuts. Having the correct tools, of course, makes all the difference in the world. The most important tool for making the job easier in my opinion is a crowsfoot for the power steering pump lines.
Last edited by Mark C5; Oct 5, 2009 at 11:07 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 1
From: Port Charlotte FL
I'm going to have to take a better look at this before doing all this, maybe its just a line broke or something and the pump went bad from running dry. Thanks for the great info, zip products certainly does have the best price!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 946
Likes: 2
On my 97, there is a hose coming out of the steering rack and going to the PS pump that travels right over that knuckle. That little black plastic boot keeps the bolts on that joint protected, and in my case, with that boot off, the hose would get snagged when I turned sharply.
In your last pic, it looks like the hose on your car runs under the rack (see the bottom left hand corner in the last pic) and so this may not be an issue, but before you invest in a new rack, I'd check that hose for damage.
In your last pic, it looks like the hose on your car runs under the rack (see the bottom left hand corner in the last pic) and so this may not be an issue, but before you invest in a new rack, I'd check that hose for damage.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 1
From: Port Charlotte FL
Turbo, thanks for your great input. Wherever its leaking from it is slinging up on the belts and all over the engine compartment as well, is it common for these racks to go bad?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 1
From: Port Charlotte FL
How can i definately tell its the rack and not the power steering pump itself? The wheels turn fine, just no power steering and makes alot of noise from the pump when I turn the wheel...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 1
From: Port Charlotte FL
just went outside and started it, for a minute the steering was fine and actually worked... then it started spraying up onto the belts again and making that grinding/groaning noise coming from the pump. Grrr this really sucks because I'm without a car, and as it is the ac compressor just went again along with some other minor things!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 1
From: Port Charlotte FL
Looks like I may have got lucky... I had my friend turn the wheel while I looked where it was coming from, appears it is coming from the power steering pump itself and slinging all over the belts. This would deff be much cheaper than replacing the whole steering rack, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. stock power steering pump with 115k miles is about time huh?