Steering rack leaking when turning wheels

[Roysneon]

I'm assuming that since it still leaks with the PS pulley disconnected but only when the wheel is being turned that it would be the pipe that goes between the two sides of the rack is rusted out?

pn 32131132816

No: 1 here: http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...41&hg=32&fg=10

[jlevie]

Get the car up in the air and see where the fluid is leaking. My guess is that it is the rack end seals.

[klavender1]

Mine did that when I first bought it. It would dump fluid out with steering wheel turned. It was the rack seals. Had to replace the rack.

[Roysneon]

Get the car up in the air and see where the fluid is leaking. My guess is that it is the rack end seals.

Is this something that can be replaced/rebuilt or am I looking at imminent replacement?

[guibo09]

no point rebuilding an e30 stock rack. just upgrade to an e36 or e46 rack that doesnt leak.

[Roysneon]

My car is RHD.

[Roysneon]

So...thread revival. Stupid ass question here but if I have a torn boot, this would cause me to leak fluid, right? I don't see anything that would stop fluid from getting into the boot area.

[spike68]

Nope. The boot just protects the seals from stuff that flies under the car like rocks and stuff.

Most of the time it is the seals if its leaking like you explained. Mine recently did the same exact thing. I dont have the money to replace the rack yet, so i just cut the power steering belt just so it would stop making an awful noise.
Ive been running no power steering for months now. Its really not bad. You get a workout at low speeds, but for normal driving speeds you dont even notice its gone.

Nice thing is that BMW designed the car by giving the PS is designated belt, so if the rack suddenly exploded you could simply just cut the belt and at least save the pump.

[Roysneon]

It's a pretty slow leak, the car is a dd, I've driven cars including this one without ps, I'm no longer a fan of it. I've taken apart a steering rack before and I can't see anything that would stop fluid from getting into the boot area? Maybe I just didn't realize what I was seeing...I have a good boot, I'm going to throw that on for now, new inner+outer tie rods and boots are on the way anyway.

[spike68]

Trying finding this stuff to see if it helps.

http://www.valvoline.com/products/brands/maxlife/automatic-transmission-fluid-with-stop-leak/38

It needs to be this EXACT stuff cause its the only one that would probably stop the leak if it is the seals.

[Roysneon]

I'll look for that stuff in the mean time. Thanks.

[AndrewBird]

There are seals around the actual "rack" at each end that keep fluid from leaking out. There is a good chance a boot will tear again. The boot will fill with fluid until one time, when compressed from turning, the fluid will have no where to go and burst out of the boot.

[jeffnhiscars]

... until one time, when compressed from turning, the fluid will have no where to go and burst out of the boot.

I think I saw that scene in Alien 3