Power steering fluid leaking from drivers side boot

[unitzero]

Tried posting on my UK forum but everyone seems to either not care or don't want to be the bearer of bad news !

So.. I did a search but found finding nothing but pressure hoses and pipes being the culprits of fluid loss I decided to post my question :-


Yesterday whilst out shopping I noticed my steering beginning to squeal/grind and it got progressively worse over a short amount of time.

Checked my fluid level and it was just touching the end of the dip stick, so I added some generic power steering fluid, tuned from lock to lock a number of times and all was well and managed to get home with no issues.

Started the car later that afternoon and turned the wheel and the squealing was back and I also noticed brown fluid on the drive, I opened the fluid reservoir and was greeted by a brown foamy mess.

Upon on further inspection (after cleaning the mess behind the drivers wheel and all down the side of my car !!) I have power steering fluid leaking from the end of the tie rod gaiter.

I have bought 2 bottles of fluid so I can get the car somewhere for repair but I have a feeling it will be an expensive one !!!

Does this indicate a blown seal ? Is there any way of getting this fixed without replacing the entire rack ?

Any help would be much appreciated as I'm sure I can't fill the reservoir before every journey !

Thanks in advance

[The_Ocho]

On the driver side is where the hoses, servo, input shaft all go in aswell as the actual rod that moves back and forth comes out. remove your little plastic inspection cover so you can actually see the rack and not just the boot, then pull back the boot. clean it all and then look for leaks

[gavin_j]

Not that it matters so much as you're going to likely get fresh fluid after this repair but vw/audi uses special fluid chf. Not a good idea to mix. Foamy mess is because of air in the lines due to low fluid. My experience ends there though.
Best of luck.

Sent from my One X using Tapatalk

[unitzero]

On the driver side is where the hoses, servo, input shaft all go in aswell as the actual rod that moves back and forth comes out. remove your little plastic inspection cover so you can actually see the rack and not just the boot, then pull back the boot. clean it all and then look for leaks

Thanks, mine is Right hand drive if that makes a difference ? The leaking boot is the opposite side to the fluid reservoir

Although, thinking about it. Whatever side the steering wheel is on would be where servo and shafts would be located irrespective of which side.

Not that it matters so much as you're going to likely get fresh fluid after this repair but vw/audi uses special fluid chf. Not a good idea to mix. Foamy mess is because of air in the lines due to low fluid. My experience ends there though.
Best of luck.

Sent from my One X using Tapatalk

I read that I needed mineral oil only but as the Audi Dealer wasn't open today I just bought some generic fluid to keep the dang thing lubricated.


Thanks both for the advice. I really hope it's not going to be a new rack

[The_Ocho]

Thanks, mine is Right hand drive if that makes a difference ? The leaking boot is the opposite side to the fluid reservoir

Although, thinking about it. Whatever side the steering wheel is on would be where servo and shafts would be located irrespective of which side.

Ah yeah, I read the UK part but didnt think into it haha. Im pretty sure everything is still going to be on the driver side. input for sure but the hoses and servo should still be there.. if you remove the small plastic cover in the wheel well you will see this, only on the other side of the car because mine is left hand drive. The hoses and servo are both right there. you can remove the boot and check the end seal

[unitzero]

It can get confusing with LHD/RHD !

I did take some pics after cleaning all the mess today ...



The boot is full of fluid, I can squeeze it and it leaks out by the clip. I got the wife to turn the wheel and got squirted in the face !

Should I still need to check the hoses and investigate ? From looking at your picture and pictures of racks on eBay (yes, I'm already preparing for a huge bill!) It seems that the only way fluid can get into this boot is via a blown seal where the shaft enters the rack.

[pule333]

Hi mate. I am having very similar problem. I haven't located the leak yet but already gone through 2 bottles of fluid in the last month.. My under tray is covered in oil and I just don't have enough hours in the day to locate the exact leak spot. Yet. Waiting for new coilovers, so I can take her to hired garage to fit as well as snub mount, and top links. As well as try repair this problem or atleast find the cause. Please keep us posted on your progress. Also, what is the difference between servotronic and non servotronic? Good luck. I am from London By the way:)

[unitzero]

Hi mate. I am having very similar problem. I haven't located the leak yet but already gone through 2 bottles of fluid in the last month.. My under tray is covered in oil and I just don't have enough hours in the day to locate the exact leak spot. Yet. Waiting for new coilovers, so I can take her to hired garage to fit as well as snub mount, and top links. As well as try repair this problem or atleast find the cause. Please keep us posted on your progress. Good luck. I am from London Blythe way:)

Alright mate,
I think if I drove mine then I would get through 2 bottles in as many days ! I don't think mine ever had an under tray since I bought it. I'd take it off and a get some cardboard under the car overnight so you can at least get an idea where your leak stems from.

I shall keep this thread updated

[pule333]

Alright mate,
I think if I drove mine then I would get through 2 bottles in as many days ! I don't think mine ever had an under tray since I bought it. I'd take it off and a get some cardboard under the car overnight so you can at least get an idea where your leak stems from.

I shall keep this thread updated

That's the thing, I am doing an extension to the house so the car is just parked on a street for now and a rather busy one. So can't exactly tinker with it at the moment :( But there is a slight pattern to all the drops on the road right now and it seems it is coming from passenger side where the bottle is..

[//S POWER]

Yesterday whilst out shopping I noticed my steering beginning to squeal/grind and it got progressively worse over a short amount of time.

......I opened the fluid reservoir and was greeted by a brown foamy mess.

......... I have power steering fluid leaking from the end of the tie rod gaiter.........

.........Does this indicate a blown seal ? Is there any way of getting this fixed without replacing the entire rack ?

Thanks in advance

...........My under tray is covered in oil

Good luck. I am from London Blythe way:)

Sorry mate to inform you the bad news that you have all the P/S problems that I had.

The only way to fix the problem is to install a new or remanufactured OE P/S rack.

[pule333]

Sorry mate to inform you the bad news that you have all the P/S problems that I had.

The only way to fix the problem is to install a new or remanufactured OE P/S rack.

Bollocks :(

[//S POWER]

I wish you the best mate that you don't need to replace the P/S rack like i did.

[fly300kts]

And I had to replace mine (for a different problem), Expensive part

Phil

[unitzero]

Booked in with a local VAG specialist next week.

[pule333]

Booked in with a local VAG specialist next week.

Good luck!

[waiapasi2006]

Good luck OP. I had some minor leakage as well. Damn expensive.

[pule333]

Yesterday found time to take the front off the car to look for a leak. And I had a luckiest escape! Both pipes connecting to the cooler at the front had holes in them and were leaking. Cut off 1 inch and reattached :) free fix! I love when a good plan comes together!

[DRAKLORE]

That's lucky! I just posted about this, makes me want to go check mine out..

[DRAKLORE]

My problem is just like OPs though, tons of fluid in the boot

[unitzero]

My problem is just like OPs though, tons of fluid in the boot

Your avatar pic looks like you are pretty low, as am I - Do you think that's causing our racks to prematurely die ?

Mine is still in the shop. Been a few delays in getting the rack but should be finished tomorrow morning.

and yeah... damn expensive :(

[unitzero]

Yesterday found time to take the front off the car to look for a leak. And I had a luckiest escape! Both pipes connecting to the cooler at the front had holes in them and were leaking. Cut off 1 inch and reattached :) free fix! I love when a good plan comes together!

glad you got yours sorted

[Firefox250]

I've been having the same problems as all of you guys, and I bet the torn boots are caused by being lowered. So since I'll be replacing my rack I want to get a rebuilt RS4 rack I saw for $539.55.

http://www.buyautoparts.com/buynow/2...FeZDMgodQmwARQ

[DRAKLORE]

The S4 and RS4 rack are the same, they both are tight ratio with power assist and should bolt right in.

I have a new B7 not pictured in my avatar, but it is pretty low.
It's also got 150,000 miles
My boots are fine, it's just that they are not meant to have fluid in them. So once they fill with fluid, and then you turn really tightly. All the fluid in them squishes out of the boot.




And the ETKA:


There's no part number for the rack seal because of course it's not serviceable