South San Francisco Auto Repair

Power steering fluid under the front of the car can be hard to trace because the leak doesn't always drip straight down from the failed part. Fluid can run along the steering rack, subframe, hoses, or splash shields before it finally reaches the ground. A leaking steering rack is one possible source, especially on hydraulic power steering systems with some age and mileage on them. The important part is finding where the fluid actually starts. A wet rack does not always mean the rack itself is bad. Internal Rack Seals Can Start Leaking A hydraulic steering rack has seals that keep pressurized power steering fluid inside the housing while the rack moves back and forth. Those seals deal with heat, pressure, and thousands of steering cycles over the life of the vehicle. As they harden or wear, fluid can begin seeping past them. At first, you might only see a damp area around one end of the rack. Later, the reservoir may need frequent top-offs or fluid may begin dri ... read more