How much oil is allowed in the rack boot

[Kingb]

I went to pull a e36 318i PS rack and there was some oil in the boots. Not a lot but about a shot glass or 2 worth. Is this rack worth $40 to do the swap?

[jlevie]

No. There shouldn't be any oil in the boot and oil being present means the seals are failing.

[gearheadE30]

The seals are definitely bad. Eventually it will leak out of the boots and all over the ground too, leaving a mess wherever you park. Either run it with manual steering until you find a nice sealed rack just so you have the conversion done or wait, because it isn't worth running ps with bad rack seals.

[Quailane]

The seals are definitely bad. Eventually it will leak out of the boots and all over the ground too, leaving a mess wherever you park. Either run it with manual steering until you find a nice sealed rack just so you have the conversion done or wait, because it isn't worth running ps with bad rack seals.

To run it without power steering, you still need the rack itself filled with oil to lubricate it, so running a leaking rack like that would be worse than running a leaking rack with PS.

[Kingb]

Ok I'll wait then. I just have my motor out right now and it would be so easy to do but I also haven't bought the spacer kit from AKG yet. I'll wait then Thanx

[gearheadE30]

To run it without power steering, you still need the rack itself filled with oil to lubricate it, so running a leaking rack like that would be worse than running a leaking rack with PS.

What I meant was that you can run the rack with no ps pump belt, but keep the lines and reservoir. this means that the rack will still be lubed but the seals won't be under pressure. This is how I ran my old leaky rack. Sorry for not making that clear.

[Kingb]

What I meant was that you can run the rack with no ps pump belt, but keep the lines and reservoir. this means that the rack will still be lubed but the seals won't be under pressure. This is how I ran my old leaky rack. Sorry for not making that clear.

No I understood it, I just like having PS. My first 318i M40 had no PS and no PW or PSunroof. This car has it all and I like the luxury. I'll just keep looking for one. Thanks though.