How to Fix a Rack and Pinion Leak
Photo by Bill Oxford on Unsplash
For those that drive cars, a rack and pinion serve many purposes on a vehicle. According to caranddriver.com, they both turn the steering wheels turning into linear motion for the wheels and make the steering wheel easier to use. They can be vital when driving. One flaw of this system, however, is the leaks that occur. If this happens, you might wonder how to fix a rack and pinion leak.
Fixing a rack and pinion leak is tricky, but it can most certainly be done. Keep reading to learn more about your options if this happens to you. It might be possible to avoid an expensive auto shop repair if you can locate the problem with enough time to spare.
Get a Price Quote
The first thing that you should do when you notice a rack and pinion leak is take it to a local auto repair shop for a price quote. Though this problem tends to warrant an expensive fix, your unique situation might be cheaper than expected. Getting a price quote is especially vital if you are not confident in your auto repair skills.
According to autos.com, most auto repair shops are ready and willing to give you a quote before they do any work on your vehicle. This task lets you know how much cash you’ll need to part with and prepares them for what they need to face. If this price is low, it might be easier to let them fix your leak. If it’s very high, you should attempt to solve the rack and pinion leak yourself.
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Locate the Leak
When fixing the leak by yourself, you must locate the source of the leak. Without being able to do this, there is no way that you will be able to fix the rack and pinion leak without extra help. There are a couple of places that you can check to ensure that you know what you are dealing with on your braking system.
Some of the places that you can check for a leak, according to moogparts.eu, include:
- Connections points within the steering system
- Cracks in any of the lines
- A seal on the rack and pinion
These are the three main places where a leak can occur.
The most common location is the seal of the rack and pinion. You can tell a leak is happening if you can see steering fluid on the ground. This item is often pink and smells like burning oil. You will see this gathered on the ground, which should help you locate where the leaking is coming from on the braking system. From there, you can figure out your next step.
Invest in Leak Stop
Once you have located the source of the leak, your next step is to find a way to stop this issue before it gets worse. Investing in leak stop is a great choice. There are a few different brands you can try, such as BlueDevil. Most of them can be located at a hardware store or an auto repair shop. It shouldn’t drain your pockets to purchase materials for this fix.
Some locations that you can find leak stop includes:
- O’Reilly Auto Parts
- Pep Boys
- AutoZone
- Advance Auto Parts
Any of these places will provide you with leak stop for an affordable price.
If you are struggling to find this item in-store, you can always look for the material online. Places such as Amazon will always have options for a price that anyone can afford. Try these if you cannot find leak stop in a local auto shop or hardware store.
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Ensure All Areas Are Covered
Once you have the leak stop, it is time to make use of this material on your rack and pinion leak. This liquid is simple to use, so you should not feel fearful of making the most of this item for your power steering system.
To use leak stop, all you will need to do is pour the liquid into the power steering fluid. From there, according to itstillruns.com, the leak stop will swell and soften the seals and gaskets. This should help to fix the leaks. It is critical to note that this is not an end-all-be-all. It is possible leak stop will not work. If it doesn’t, you may need to resort to other options for your car.
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Find a Professional
If all else fails, you should seek out a professional to fix a rack and pinion leak. This is not the most ideal option, as it is much cheaper to take on the project by yourself. However, inexperience or a tricky leak can sometimes make it impossible for you to solve this complex repair on your own. If you cannot figure out the issue yourself, search for a professional.
Some places you might look include:
- Local car repair companies that have good reputations online or with locals
- A friend that is experienced in car repair and knows about a rack and pinion leak
- A parent or elder that has dealt with this issue before on their car
All of these are expert options that you can look to in case the situation proves too difficult for you to take on by yourself.
A car repair location should be your last choice, as it is the most expensive. This would mean resorting back to the price quote you received at the beginning of fixing your rack and pinion leak. However, if you have no idea what to do, paying for a professional fix is better than losing the entire car altogether. The price can build up over time if you wait too long.
After you have completed this process, your leak should be dealt with and fixed. As with most cars, this fault will likely pop up again now and then. When that happens, you can either take the issue on yourself or take it to another repair shop. It might seem like an inconvenience, but fixing this leak is vital to your ability to turn a car with ease.
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