Drewshepard60

I have a steering rack leak on an 89 s4...upon inspection, I found the culprit...the red rubber drain plug??? Can this be replaced while the rack is still in the vehicle?

Mrmerlin

take the plug out and put a new sealing ring on it
thats an alignment port for centering the rack
Have a pan handy

Drewshepard60

I think i need a whole new piece...

Drewshepard60

I think i need a whole new piece...

Kevin in Atlanta

I have a rack in my storage unit.

Come on by and I'll loan you one.

Speedtoys

If oil is coming from that, its a deeper issue.

This is no more than a dust plug to the piston to view the centering divot. It's not a seal...

Mrmerlin

NOTE if its a gusher then you have other issues,
a small amount of fluid could be OK.

it looks like someone over tightened it,
the plug might take an O ring.

Speedtoys

My rack is 5yrs old, no ring on the plastic plug, and the piston is absolutely dry in there. If that's wet, a seal has to be leaking...ya?

ador117

Same for me. I aligned the car last month and here it is dry.

6 years ago I get a leak at the end of the rack on right side… I put some additive for leak, pray and no leak for 3 years!!! 3 years ago, when the leak came back, I drained oil, put clear oil plus additive again, pray and so far, so good!!! Than you San Shark!!!

good luck!!!
raphael

Mrmerlin

One of the TSBs from Porsche said that a small amount of fluid coming past the seals going into the boots,
is not just cause to replace the rack drain it and monitor it.
I know this side is not the boot side BUT,
if a lil bit of oil comes out and thats it ,
and the rack is otherwise working you could keep it in service till things get worse.
I had a customer that stored his car over the winter,
every spring he came over and I would drain the boots as they had filled with ATF.
Once that was done the rack would operate fine for the summer without leaking as it was being used.

FredR

If the lip seal is buggered oil will come out and keep coming out.

It is quite conceivable that the seal got a speck of crap lodged in it and then spat it out . Remember this is not a particularly tough seal duty with the rod travelling relatively slowly side to side- not spinning at 6k rpm with the engine.