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I attended a tech session at local Porsche dealer last week... I spoke to a tech about the 997, in particular my .2... he noted they were really solid cars but the steering racks go. Really?
153K miles of rough road and lots of steering, and I haven't had a problem. Nor have I heard of a problem. This goes for both .1 and .2 cars.
But if the tech happened to see the rare event that may have him sensitized. Maybe his experience was another model and he spread his concerns across all models. I did have a friend many years ago with a 914-6 that had all kinds of steering problems.
It's kind of like bore scoring, properly referred to as cold seizure in the 9A1 (refer to Baz at Hartech). On the 9A1, this occurs at the bottom of the cylinder. Since you can't view from the bottom you can't see this. But that doesn't stop people from panicking about bore scoping. We know this is a very rare early life failure. If you get past the early miles you're basically immune. But since so many .1 cars suffer bore scoring (some say it is inevitable after enough miles) the 9A1 gets painted with the same brush. Complainers aren't happy without something to complain about!!!
In this world, one case and we become chicken little with the sky falling!!!
I don't have a 997.2 but I do have a 987.2 with 109k miles. The original steering rack, which had a slight weep from both tie rod boots for a long long time, sprung a significant leak earlier this year prompting me to replace it.
While I was looking into the repair I did some research on the situation and based on what I saw with the 9x6 and 9x7.1 cars I suspect the steering rack leaks/failures will become more common as the 9x7.2 cars age.
There are some rebuilt 997.2 racks available, including directly from Porsche (at least there were a few months ago) along with new racks from Porsche. I went with a new rack for my 987.2.
I’ve got a 997.1 C2S and the car pulls slightly left even after having the alignment done. Nothing is bent and the suspension is mostly new. Tech said it could be steering rack because he’s seen a few go on the .1s
A few weeks ago, I had my 120k mile .1S into the dealer for a check and they identified a leaky rack. Suggested a new one, I think $4200 installed.
I bought a rebuilt one for $425 and now it's laying around (along with a bunch of other suspension refresh stuff) waiting for me to gather the courage to tackle the install
A few weeks ago, I had my 120k mile .1S into the dealer for a check and they identified a leaky rack. Suggested a new one, I think $4200 installed.
I bought a rebuilt one for $425 and now it's laying around (along with a bunch of other suspension refresh stuff) waiting for me to gather the courage to tackle the install
I recall Bruce replacing his power steering fluid. It would probably be worth the time to search for that post before you start!!!
Edit ... It seems that there have been more problems with these units leaking than I would have imagined based on what I have read here and elsewhere. I've been lax inspecting this. Probably worth taking a closer look at the cars that go up on my lift.
Last edited by Wayne Smith; 10-16-2023 at 02:16 PM.
Steering racks are not a Porsche part or a Porsche design. They are made by ZF and probably others. Functionally they are all the same Hydraulic cylinder and valve system. They look different only because of the mounting ears and the linkage hookup and tube fittings. The parts that do the work are all the same whether it is a Porsche, VW audi, Volvo etc. They fail by leaking and that is just seals, O-rings etc. Unless there is a very rare failure of scoring the piston or valve, they are all rebuildable with new seal kits. You are not going to do this yourself as you will not be able to get the correct seals or kit. A good rebuilding service will have it all done in about an hour or so and be just as good as new. If you visit a rebuilding service, you may see a pile of a hundred racks and they all look the same (almost0. Have yours rebuilt for a few hundred dollars and in the bigger cities this is a one day service. Nothing special here. Hope this doesn't hurt your ego.
$415 delivered for a rebuilt one is in the ballpark of 'a few hundred dollars' for a rebuild, so I pulled that trigger. Had done some research and came to a very similar conclusion as Floyd posted above, but I couldn't find anyone locally to do the rebuild. Watched some youtube videos on the install and seems do-able, plus I'll replace outer tie rod ends, front control arms and caster arms, and front upper shock mounts. The plan is to get all that done at the same time, and then an alignment.
A few weeks ago, I had my 120k mile .1S into the dealer for a check and they identified a leaky rack. Suggested a new one, I think $4200 installed.
I bought a rebuilt one for $425 and now it's laying around (along with a bunch of other suspension refresh stuff) waiting for me to gather the courage to tackle the install
TRW unit.
Per Wayne, I would flush the power steering fluid too... read here my DIY:
10-15-2023, 04:54 PM
Steering Rack - Issues?
