Steering rack question

[vowler]

Hi Guys, sorry if this should be posted in the "steering" section but I really need a quick response. My car ( turbo ) has been idle for a couple of years and is showing power steering fluid coming from both gaiters...quite a lot of it... I'm assuming there should be no fluid in there.. so some seals must have failed somewhere. Is this a reasonable assumption?.. if so, is the rack serviceable by me or will I have to send it to a specialist? If so, can anyone recommend someone to do the job?.. I live in Dubai so would have to bring the rack over to UK this summer..
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated..
Vowler

[Enright]

Because many people who frequent the forum use the "View unread posts" link first, posting this new topic in "Problems - Need Help!" doesn't guarantee that it gets any quicker a response (as you can see from the fact that nobody has already replied). It just means that someone has to spend time re-filing it.
A quick look down the topics in the steering section threw up this:
viewtopic.php?f=108&t=22121
But if you put "+rack +refurb" into the search box you get loads of helpful hits.
Personally I would recommend seeing if you could get a 2nd hand "non-leaky rack" (and to any of our American owners, please stop laughing at the language differences and the images they conjure up! ), and then get your original refurbed at your convenience.

[vowler]

Thanks for that... I'll see what I can find out
Vowler

[Simon_P]

And in answer to your questions.
No the power steering fluid shouldn't come out - Are you sure it is power steering fluid (Red). The rack also has oil in it.

Yes there is a seal kit available from Lotus and I think that the instructions are in the WSM. Any competent repairer should be able to get parts and do the job.


If everything has to go in the right section, then why do we have a "Problems - Need help"?

[vowler]

yes it is power steering fluid... and lots of it!! Thanks for your input and help... I'm back in the UK in a month... I'll try to track down some seals and bring them back.... Then all I've got to do is get the rack out... not the easiest job apparently.. although I have got a 4 post lift so that should make life easier!!
Thanks again
Vowler