5 Symptoms of a Rack and Pinion Leak (and Common Causes)
The rack and pinion is a component found in the power steering system of almost every vehicle. They are a dual gear set that is ultimately responsible for allowing the driver to turn the wheels of the vehicle.
In other words, they convert the rotational motion of the steering wheel into the linear motion required to turn the wheels. Of course, if the rack and pinion loses power steering fluid due to damage or wear, you will have major problems steering your vehicle.
Top 5 Symptoms of a Rack and Pinion Leak
Below are the top 5 signs that indicate a rack and pinion leak. 1) Steering wheel is hard to turn
If your steering wheel feels heavy or stiff when you turn it, you may have a leak in the steering rack and pinion.
The transmission needs an adequate supply of fluid to generate enough oil pressure to turn the steering wheel smoothly. Low servo oil will result in low oil pressure, which means the steering wheel will be hard to turn.
2) Red or pink fluid
Your vehicle contains fluids of various colors, including oil, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid. If you see fluid leaking from your car, it can be hard to tell where it’s coming from.
Note that leaking power steering fluid will be red or pink in color. It will then have a burning smell, which we’ll discuss in more detail in the next item on our list.
3) Burning Smell
If you’ve ever smelled burning oil, you know what that smells like. Leaking power steering fluid will fill the cabin with a burning smell. This is because there is not enough fluid in the transmission for the hydraulics to function properly.
4) Grinding noises
When power steering fluid leaks, you will hear a grinding noise every time you turn the steering wheel. This is because the gearbox is not properly lubricated. When metal comes into contact with other metal, all you will hear is a grinding noise.
5) Inability to center steering wheel
If the rack and pinion is working properly, the steering wheel will normally return to the center position. However, if it does not return to the center position, you may have a rack and pinion leak.
3 Most Common Causes of Rack and Pinion Leaks
To understand why rack and pinion leaks occur, here are three of the most common causes:
1) Loose Connections
If the rack and pinion is installed too loosely and not properly, it can leak out and cause power steering fluid to leak. Make sure these components and all other power steering system components are installed securely.
2) Bad Seals
When the seals on the rack and pinion are worn or damaged, power steering fluid leaks will occur. Simply replace the broken seal with a new one before the problem gets worse. New gaskets aren’t too expensive, but for best results you should probably use an OEM replacement part.
3) Bad Seal
The ends of the rack have seals that keep servo fluid out. However, if the seals are worn or damaged, fluid can leak out.
The longer you wait to fix the problem, the worse the hole will get. The cheapest solution is to repair the seals, but this is not always possible.
Otherwise you would have to replace the whole rack and pinion, as the seals cannot be replaced separately – they are integrated into the component.
