Skiviking

Well was out running errands on the way back this afternoon, The steering started a low groan upon making turns....I pull into an Auto store....checked the resv and the fluid was down low....looked under the car for any leaking or drops of fluid.....nothing....ran in grabbed a couple quarts of fluid for it. Started the car filled it while it was running...it sucked up about a qt. Pulled out slowly to see if anything was pooling...nothing....hit the Hwy alll good until coming off the ramp and the pump is groaning....pulled over fliud level is way down again.....looked under for any dripping..all looked good. Took the rest of the second quart and topped it off but this time move the steering wheel lock to lock...it was droppping fluid big time....looked again this time with the wheels full lock to drivers side....you can see fluid pouring down this time making a puddle on the ground. Has this happened to anyone else here and if so....what had to be done.....my thoughts....worse case...new steering rack or can it be rebuilt or fixed? Just spent the last hour odr so....cleaning the undercarriage of the fluid. so now all is clean and dry.... Any thoughts or suggestions.....I was hoping to run down to Boston next week for the German car show at Larz Anderson and hit the PCA cookout the following weekend....doesn't llook good right now... S.O.S. Thanks in advance for any and all help By the way this is the 86 928s

Mrmerlin

if your lucky its the pressure hose that goes from the pump to the rack you might be able to remove the hose and cut off the crimps and get new hose and reclamp.
You could also pull the inner edges of the rack boots down to see if there is fluid coming out of them if so then you need a new rack i suggest that you go to 928 INTL for your rebuild , very hi quality and its usually a trouble free install.
If you do this then replace the PS reservoir and the 2 hoses that connect it to the system.
If the tie rods are old then replace these as well both inners and outers

Warning dont keep driving with this leak.

Major fire hazard.

OTOH if you do want to drive your car remove the banjo bolts at the bottom of the rack and turn the wheels back and forth a few times( with the front end off the ground) to drain the rack,
then remove the PS belt and drive .
make sure you have strong arms

Marine Blue

Agreed, check the hoses and also the steering rack boots to determine source. Get the necessary parts and replace. If leaking from the rack, buy the rebuilt rack with the new bushings installed and buy new boots. It will improve your steering feel/accuracy dramatically if you haven't done this yet.

See you at Larz in about one week!

cali4sun

Just went through this myself a few weeks back... Ordered a rebuilt steering rack from 928Intl great service I agree with tie rods and while you at it replace the boots....

'89 S4 GP White/Black
'76 912e Silver/Black

Skiviking

Merlin Thanks for the info.....I was worried that it could spray and hit the cats or Exhaust and ignite. ...again thanks for the tip!

Skiviking

Has anyone done the work themselves switching out the rack? I was wondering if the 83 rack is interchangable with the 86? And what I should expect to pay for a steering rack?

Mrmerlin

IIRC the rebuild is 475.00 you can do it yourself if you have jack stands and a 32mm and 22mm wrench to remove the tirods.
Make sure to follow the other instructions i posted about replacing all of the other parts associated with the PS system otherwise your new rack may fail

jcorenman

Yes, it takes a bit of time but is not overly difficult-- there are some write-ups here somewhere. Remove two hydraulic fittings, five large bolts and four small bolts. Either separate tie-rod ends at the steering arm (requires a separator tool) or unscrew the tie rod (mark it for re-assembly), and a pair of large wrenches to remove the inner tie-rod end from the rack (counter-hold the rack).

The 83-95 racks are interchangeable but there are some changes with the later racks and pumps (91+??) to reduce steering effort. Bill Ball and Nicole went around in circles on this, if I recall correctly.

And ditto on a 928 int'l rebuilt rack, here is info:
http://www.mailordercentral.com/928i...347%20010%2027

Skiviking

Again....Many thanks for this info....I have the tools and the time but I may still have it done by a mechanic, but I will give it a good look in the morning.....so I will check the hoses tomorrow first.......but the info from you and everyone else that have answered is MUCH appreciated!! Thanks again......I can never stop learning....

Skiviking

Well finished my full inspection of the rack.....All hoses and resv seem dry and fine.....pulled the boot off the end off the pass side of the rack and the remaining fluid that had built up inside the boot poured out...Damm.....looks like the seal inside the steering piston has blown or is leaking.....
Think I'm going to be doing or having installed is a steering rack....Murphy's Law: Just when it's the last thing you need to find $ to spend on.....oh well......Guess the search is on to find one at a good price or wait until the $$ catches up...Thanks for the Tips!

Mrmerlin

you dont need to search for a rack just call 928 INTL, its the best choice I promise,
that is if you dont want to have to do the job more than once.
A few notes,
what color is the PS fluid your using and what color came out.
IE is the fluid silver red looking if so then the pump may need to be replaced as well,
If the fuid was dark red then the pump is probably OK.

so in addition to the rack you need
New pump belt
New reservoir
New hoses to the reservoir (2)
New Rack boots
New tie rods ( inner and outer)
New banjo bolt sealing washers (they should come with the 928 INTL rack)
Possibly a new pump
Four wheel alignment
So a few things with the new rack ,
when making turns dont hold the wheel all the away at full lock,
back off an inch or so this wont effect the turning radius.
Make sure to flush out the fluid from the lines before connecting to the rack
Use Dextron 3 or 4 to fill it

Skiviking

The Fluid coming out is just as red as the fluid I'm putting in. I have been thinking of removing the steering rack from my 83 as I have been deciding to maybe just part it out as I haven't the time to do the work it needs. As I was hoping to track it....so I might just dismantle it myself and take the rack or buy a rack from 928 Intl and sell the 83 as is...thanks though...